# PICALM

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/picalm/  
OnCo record `picalm` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

PICALM (Phosphatidylinositol-binding clathrin assembly protein) is a gene whose normal job is to hold cell growth in check. The public catalogues list it as a tumour suppressor and a fusion partner, and it is called a cancer driver by mutation analysis of patient cohorts. Tied to Thyroid cancer and Papillary thyroid cancer.

## Summary

Cytoplasmic adapter protein that plays a critical role in clathrin-mediated endocytosis which is important in processes such as internalisation of cell receptors, synaptic transmission or removal of apoptotic cells. Recruits AP-2 and attaches clathrin triskelions to the cytoplasmic side of plasma membrane leading to clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs) assembly. Furthermore, regulates clathrin-coated vesicle size and maturation by directly sensing and driving membrane curvature.

IntOGen calls it a driver in 1 cohort (0 activating, 1 loss-of-function), covering Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-23
- Also known as: phosphatidylinositol binding clathrin assembly protein; Phosphatidylinositol-binding clathrin assembly protein
- Tags: cancer-genes-wave
- Symbol: PICALM
- Class: tumor-suppressor
- Biology: Cytoplasmic adapter protein that plays a critical role in clathrin-mediated endocytosis which is important in processes such as internalisation of cell receptors, synaptic transmission or removal of apoptotic cells. Recruits AP-2 and attaches clathrin triskelions to the cytoplasmic side of plasma membrane leading to clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs) assembly. Furthermore, regulates clathrin-coated vesicle size and maturation by directly sensing and driving membrane curvature. In addition to binding to clathrin, mediates the endocytosis of small R-SNARES (Soluble NSF Attachment Protein REceptors) between plasma membranes and endosomes including VAMP2, VAMP3, VAMP4, VAMP7 or VAMP8. In turn, PICALM-dependent SNARE endocytosis is required for the formation and maturation of autophagic precursors. Modulates thereby autophagy and the turnover of autophagy substrates such as MAPT/TAU or amyloid precursor protein cleaved C-terminal fragment (APP-CTF). Location: Cell membrane; Membrane, clathrin-coated pit; Golgi apparatus; Cytoplasmic vesicle, clathrin-coated vesicle (UniProt). Locus 11q14.2 (HGNC).
- Where found: Thyroid cancer: IntOGen driver in 1 cohort (WDTC); Papillary thyroid cancer: IntOGen driver in 1 cohort (WDTC)

## Notes

- Written by scripts/fetch-cancer-genes.ts from CIViC, Open Targets, IntOGen, HGNC and UniProt; the function text is UniProt's, condensed and in UK spelling. Roles: IntOGen calls it a loss-of-function (LoF) driver in 1 cohort; UniProt disease notes describe a translocation or gene fusion involving the gene. Evidence tier "cohort-driver" is the strongest of those signals.
- Prevalence not recorded: none of the sources gives a positivity rate.

## Sources

- HGNC HGNC:15514: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:15514
- UniProt Q13492: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/Q13492/entry
- NCBI Gene 8301: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/8301
- Ensembl ENSG00000073921: https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000073921

## Connected records

- collections: [IntOGen](https://onco.cc/collections/intogen/)
- cancers: [Papillary thyroid cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/papillary-thyroid-cancer/), [Thyroid cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/thyroid/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/picalm.json