Lysosomal membrane glycoprotein which plays an important role in lysosome biogenesis, lysosomal pH regulation and autophagy (   ). Acts as an important regulator of lysosomal lumen pH regulation by acting as a direct inhibitor of the proton channel TMEM175, facilitating lysosomal acidification for optimal hydrolase activity . Plays an important role in chaperone-mediated autophagy, a process that mediates lysosomal degradation of proteins in response to various stresses and as part of the normal turnover of proteins with a long biological half-live (  , ). Functions by binding target proteins, such as GAPDH, NLRP3 and MLLT11, and targeting them for lysosomal degradation (  ). In the chaperone-mediated autophagy, acts downstream of chaperones, such as HSPA8/HSC70, which recognize and bind substrate proteins and mediate their recruitment to lysosomes, where target proteins bind LAMP2 . Plays a role in lysosomal protein degradation in response to starvation (By similarity). Required for the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes during autophagy . Cells that lack LAMP2 express normal levels of VAMP8, but fail to accumulate STX17 on autophagosomes, which is the most likely explanation for the lack of fusion between autophagosomes and lysosomes . Required for normal degradation of the contents of autophagosomes . Required for efficient MHC class II-mediated presentation of exogenous antigens via its function in lysosomal protein degradation; antigenic peptides generated by proteases in the endosomal/lysosomal compartment are captured by nascent MHC II subunits (, ). Is not required for efficient MHC class II-mediated presentation of endogenous antigens .
Modulates chaperone-mediated autophagy. Decreases presentation of endogenous antigens by MHCII. Does not play a role in the presentation of exogenous and membrane-derived antigens by MHCII.
(Microbial infection) Supports the FURIN-mediated cleavage of mumps virus fusion protein F by interacting with both FURIN and the unprocessed form but not the processed form of the viral protein F.
Subcellular locations: Lysosome membrane, Endosome membrane, Cell membrane, Cytoplasmic vesicle, Autophagosome membrane
This protein shuttles between lysosomes, endosomes, and the plasma membrane.
Isoform LAMP-2A is highly expressed in placenta, lung and liver, less in kidney and pancreas, low in brain and skeletal muscle (, ). Isoform LAMP-2B is detected in spleen, thymus, prostate, testis, small intestine, colon, skeletal muscle, brain, placenta, lung, kidney, ovary and pancreas and liver (, ). Isoform LAMP-2C is detected in small intestine, colon, heart, brain, skeletal muscle, and at lower levels in kidney and placenta .