ATP6V1C1 Research Notes

Gene overview

ATP6V1C1 encodes the C1 subunit of the V1 peripheral domain of the vacuolar-type H+-ATPase (V-ATPase). The C subunit (also called subunit C or subunit C1) is a regulatory subunit of the V1 complex, present in a single copy per V1 complex. ATP6V1C1 is one of two isoforms of the C subunit; the other is ATP6V1C2, which is expressed specifically in testes.

Core function — V-ATPase regulatory C subunit

Subunit C is necessary for assembly of the catalytic sector (V1) of V-ATPase and is likely to have a specific function in its catalytic activity. Structural data from the complete human V-ATPase places C in the V1 complex along with subunits A, B, D, E, F, G, and H.

PMID:33065002

[file:human/ATP6V1C1/ATP6V1C1-uniprot.txt "Subunit C is necessary for the assembly of the catalytic sector of the enzyme and is likely to have a specific function in its catalytic activity"]

Tissue specificity

ATP6V1C1 is ubiquitously expressed. The C2 paralog (ATP6V1C2) has a more restricted expression pattern in testes.

[PMID:12384298 - "Molecular cloning and characterization of novel tissue-specific isoforms of the human vacuolar H(+)-ATPase C, G and d subunits"]
[file:human/ATP6V1C1/ATP6V1C1-uniprot.txt "Ubiquitous."]

Discovery and cloning

ATP6V1C1 was originally cloned from human osteoclastoma tissue (PMID:8250920). The abstract notes: "The catalytic site of the V-ATPase consists of a hexamer of three A subunits and three B subunits which bind and hydrolyse ATP and are regulated by accessory subunits C, D and E."

PMID:8250920

Interaction with ARF6/ARNO

ATP6V1C1 interacts with ARF6 (ADP-ribosylation factor 6) as shown in UniProt INTERACTION records (IntAct EBI-988663, EBI-638181; NbExp=4). This interaction was identified in the context of the V-ATPase/ARNO/Arf6 system in early endosomes (PMID:16415858).

Note: The PMID:16415858 paper reports that Arf6 interacts with the c-subunit (V0 c-subunit, not V1 C subunit) and ARNO interacts with the a2-isoform of V-ATPase. The protein binding annotation for ATP6V1C1 from PMID:16415858 may reflect the broader V-ATPase complex interaction rather than a specific direct interaction of V1 C subunit with ARNO/Arf6.

PMID:16415858

Subcellular localizations

ATP6V1C1 is found at:
- Synaptic vesicle membrane (by similarity with rat C subunit)
- Clathrin-coated vesicle membrane (by similarity with rat C subunit)
- Lysosomal membrane (detected by proteomics, PMID:17897319)
- Cytosol (during V1-V0 disassembly)

Annotation quality notes

• Protein binding (GO:0005515) IPI from PMID:16415858 should be MARK_AS_OVER_ANNOTATED. The specific functional interaction with ARF6/ARNO involves the V0 c-subunit and a2 isoform; the C subunit involvement is via the intact V-ATPase complex.
• Membrane (GO:0016020) from ARBA IEA is over-annotated (too broad); better captured by specific compartment terms.
• Regulation of macroautophagy (NAS, PMID:22982048) is an indirect effect of lysosomal acidification.
• Extracellular exosome (HDA, PMID:19056867) likely reflects contamination.
• Multiple Reactome TAS annotations for cytosol reflect V1-V0 disassembly; valid but non-core.
• The TAS annotations from PMID:8250920 provide the original characterization of the C subunit as part of V-ATPase.

Falcon deep research synthesis (2026-06-21)

Falcon deep research has now completed (file:human/ATP6V1C1/ATP6V1C1-deep-research-falcon.md,
33 citations). It corroborates the C1 regulatory-subunit core above and adds new
human-genetics evidence.

• Core confirmed / sharpened. C1 is a single-copy V1 subunit forming part of
  the stator/collar: it interacts with the peripheral stalks and the V0
  a-subunit to keep non-rotating components fixed, coupling A3B3 ATP hydrolysis to
  rotor-driven proton translocation, and is required for V1 assembly. It is not
  catalytic itself. The C subunit is also the classic point of reversible
  V1–V0 dissociation regulation. No change to the assembly/regulatory calls.
• New: ATP6V1C1 is now a monogenic disease gene (Carpentieri 2024).
  Dominantly-acting variants cause a multisystem/lysosomal neurodevelopmental
  syndrome with DOORS-like features via gain-of-function over-acidification
  (abnormal lysosomal pH, defective autophagic flux, substrate accumulation,
  impaired cilium biogenesis) — paralleling the ATP6V1B2 GOF mechanism. Disease
  context; does not change normal-function calls.
• Other (non-core) context: LAMTOR5/Ragulator–mTORC1 link to lupus-like
  autoimmunity (Zhang 2024); cancer roles incl. androgen-receptor handling in
  prostate cancer; plasma-membrane V-ATPase in osteoclast/renal acid secretion.

Net: no change to calls — C1 is the single-copy regulatory/stator V1 subunit
essential for V-ATPase assembly and energy coupling.