VMP1 is a stress-induced protein that, when overexpressed, promotes formation of intracellular vacuoles followed by cell death. May be involved in the cytoplasmic vacuolization of acinar cells during the early stage of acute pancreatitis.VMP1 is a transmembrane protein that co-localizes with LC3, a marker of the autophagosomes. It interacts with beclin-1, a mammalian autophagy initiator, through the VMP1-Atg domain, which is essential for autophagosome formation.?