Arfrp1 - ADP-ribosylation factor related protein 1

The gene encodes a membrane-associated GTPase that is related to the ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) and ARF-like (ARL) genes. It plays an essential role in Golgi function controlling recruitment of GRIP domain proteins and ARL1 to the trans-Golgi and trans-Golgi to plasma membrane trafficking of cell surface proteins such as E-cadherin. Deletion of this gene in mice leads to embryonic lethality during early gastrulation, which is at least partly caused by the disruption of E-cadherin trafficking to the cell surface and therefore lack of sufficient cell-cell adhesion in the embryo. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2009]