The retromer complex has been shown to mediate retrieval of various transmembrane receptors, such as the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor, functional mammalian counterparts of Vps10 such as SORL1, and the Wnt receptor Wntless.  Retromer is required for the recycling of Kex2p and DPAP-A, which also cycle between the trans-Golgi network and a pre-vacuolar (yeast endosome equivalent) compartment in yeast.  It is also required for the recycling of the cell surface receptor CED-1, which is necessary for phagocytosis of apoptotic cells.
Retromer plays a central role in the retrieval of several different cargo proteins from the endosome to the trans-Golgi network, or for direct recycling back to the cell surface.  However, it is clear that there are other complexes and proteins that act in this retrieval process.  So far it is not clear whether some of the other components that have been identified in the retrieval pathway act with retromer in the same pathway or are involved in alternative pathways. Recent studies have implicated retromer sorting defects in Alzheimer's disease and late-onset Parkinson disease
Retromer also seems to play a role in Hepatitis C Virus replication.