Vesicle docking subtree obsoletion

GO:0048278 and 8 related process terms → MFs GO:0160321 docking and GO:7770062 tethering

AI Gene Review · projects/VESICLE_DOCKING_OBSOLETION · 2026

Bottom line

  • GO retired the vesicle docking process subtree (9 terms) and minted two MFs: GO:0160321 docking and GO:7770062 tethering activity.
  • This is the parent tracker (#6379): 130 upstream annotations, 96 still pending; siblings cover regulation, tethering and targeting.
  • Refresh fixed in #3237 (merged): USO1 → GO:7770062 tethering; STX12 → GO:0005484 SNAP receptor activity, obsolete BP out of core_functions.

Docking is one step of vesicle delivery

Why a process became a function

  • Upstream: each term "represents a molecular function", the binding of a protein that attaches the vesicle to its target.
  • The OLS text says annotations go to GO:0160321 or GO:7770062, so each row needs a choice between docking and tethering.
  • Regulation of vesicle docking terms (GO:0106020-22) are obsolete too, with only a consider pointer to GO:0160321, so each regulatory row needs a curator's choice.
  • Do not reuse GO:0099023 vesicle tethering complex: it is a cellular component.

Who holds the rows

State in this repo

Review Obsolete term Row Action (#3237, merged) New target
human/USO1 (p115) GO:0048211 Golgi vesicle docking IBA ACCEPT → MODIFY GO:7770062 vesicle membrane tethering activity
human/STX12 GO:0048278 vesicle docking (also in core_functions) IBA ACCEPT → MODIFY GO:0005484 SNAP receptor activity; core BP dropped
mouse/Camk2a GO:0099148 (sibling tracker) IMP, IDA ACCEPT → MODIFY GO:0048172 regulation of short-term neuronal synaptic plasticity

STX12 was reviewed in June 2026 (#1217), after this page's impact scan. GOA term.ids stay as GOA supplies them; only actions and targets change.

Next steps

  1. #3237 merged (USO1, STX12, plus Camk2a and TMF1 for the sibling trackers).
  2. Queue new reviews: STX1A, STXBP1, EXOC4, EXOC6, NSF; yeast Uso1 and Sec1 later.

Siblings: SYNAPTIC_VESICLE_DOCKING_OBSOLETION (#6415) · VESICLE_TETHERING_OBSOLETION (#6375) · VESICLE_TARGETING_OBSOLETION (#6424) · ciliary, ER-PM, mito-ER trackers
Upstream: go-annotation#6379 · go-ontology#31880