The function of RAB2A (RAB2A, member RAS oncogene family, Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000104388) is as follows. The small GTPases Rab are key regulators of intracellular membrane trafficking, from the formation of transport vesicles to their fusion with membranes. Rabs cycle between active GTP-bound and inactive GDP-bound states. In their active state, drive transport of vesicular carriers from donor organelles to acceptor organelles to regulate the membrane traffic that maintains organelle identity and morphology (PubMed:37821429). RAB2A regulates autophagy by promoting autophagosome-lysosome fusion via recruitment of the HOPS endosomal tethering complex; this process involves autophagosomal RAB2A and lysosomal RAB39A recruitment of HOPS subcomplexes VPS39-VPS11 and VPS41-VPS16-VPS18-VPS33A, respectively, which assemble into a functional complex to mediate membrane tethering and SNAREs-driven membrane fusion (PubMed:37821429). Required for protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi complex. Regulates the compacted morphology of the Golgi (PubMed:26209634). Together with RAB2B, redundantly required for efficient autophagic flux (PubMed:28483915). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:26209634, ECO:0000269|PubMed:28483915, ECO:0000269|PubMed:37821429}.