Exocyst complex component 8 (EXOC8)

Exocyst complex component 8 (EXOC8), also known as Exo84 or SEC84, is a core subunit of the octameric exocyst complex—a conserved multi-protein assembly essential for tethering post-Golgi vesicles to the plasma membrane, thus mediating vesicular trafficking and exocytosis. EXOC8 regulates the spatiotemporal delivery of cargo crucial for cell polarity, growth, and differentiation. Through direct interaction with small GTPases (e.g., RalA, RalB, and Rab10), EXOC8 integrates multiple signaling pathways linking membrane trafficking to autophagy, the secretory pathway, actin cytoskeleton remodeling, cell junction formation, targeted protein delivery (such as ciliary and neuronal proteins), and tumor cell invasion. Mutations in EXOC8 have been associated with human diseases including Joubert syndrome and neurodevelopmental disorders, while altered function or regulation contributes to cancer cell invasiveness and potentially metabolic disease. While no direct pharmacological inhibitors are currently in use, the multifunctional nature of EXOC8 within the exocyst suggests it is a fundamental node regulating cell physiology and disease progression, though clinical targeting may pose challenges due to its central mechanical roles

Other names

EXOC8EXO84SEC84Exo84pexocyst complex 84 kDa subunitNEDMISB

Not applicable / None established. No drugs are known to act on EXOC8’s mechanism directly.