Sorting out the cellular functions of sorting nexins.

Sorting nexins are a diverse group of cellular trafficking proteins that are unified by the presence of a phospholipid-binding motif - the PX domain. The ability of these proteins to bind specific phospholipids, as well as their propensity to form protein-protein complexes, points to a role for these proteins in membrane trafficking and protein sorting. It will be interesting to determine whether the various sorting nexins have specialized or generalized roles in protein trafficking.