Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) is a type II Golgi membrane protein discovered in recent years. Although underappreciated, the Golgi apparatus is indispensable to normal cellular function by ensuring proteins are properly folded and sorted, and to direct diverse functions including autophagy. Disruptions to proper Golgi function can lead to many disease states, including diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. GOLM1 is a key protein in ensuring that proteins taken in from the endoplasmic reticulum are properly transported to their final destination in and out of the cell, and also may be involved in responses to viral infection.

The GOLM1 protein expression level increases in a variety of diseases and cancerous tissues. It is especially closely related to liver diseases. Many studies have shown that GOLM1 is more sensitive and more specific than alpha-fetoprotein (AFP, the most specific marker for primary liver cancer and the main indicator for the diagnosis of liver cancer) in the serological diagnosis of liver cancer. GOLM1 is expected to be the serological marker for the early diagnosis of liver cancer. It has also been reported to be highly expressed in patients with viral hepatitis and cirrhosis. The study of GOLM1 and other Golgi markers remains crucial to our understanding of human disease, and offers new avenues to develop more effective targeted therapies to alleviate the burdens of these ailments.