ELKS/RAB6-interacting/CAST family member 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ERC1 gene. The name ELKS is derived from "protein rich in the amino acids E, L, K and S"
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of a family of RIM-binding proteins. RIMs are active zone proteins that regulate neurotransmitter release. This gene has been found fused to the receptor-type tyrosine kinase gene RET by gene rearrangement due to the translocation t(10;12)(q11;p13). Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. ELKS has been reported to direct vesicles with RAB6A to melanosomes.
