Rab GTPases and microtubule motors

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 1202-1206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conor P. Horgan ◽  
Mary W. McCaffrey
Keyword(s):  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Intracellular Trafficking ◽  
Cytoplasmic Dynein ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Transport Processes ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Rab Proteins ◽  
Rab Gtpases ◽  
Microtubule Motor ◽  
Rab Effector

Rab proteins are a family of small GTPases which, since their initial identification in the late 1980s, have emerged as master regulators of all stages of intracellular trafficking processes in eukaryotic cells. Rabs cycle between distinct conformations that are dependent on their guanine-nucleotide-bound status. When active (GTP-bound), Rabs are distributed to the cytosolic face of specific membranous compartments where they recruit downstream effector proteins. Rab–effector complexes then execute precise intracellular trafficking steps, which, in many cases, include vesicle motility. Microtubule-based kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein motor complexes are prominent among the classes of known Rab effector proteins. Additionally, many Rabs associate with microtubule-based motors via effectors that act as adaptor molecules that can simultaneously associate with the GTP-bound Rab and specific motor complexes. Thus, through association with motor complexes, Rab proteins can allow for membrane association and directional movement of various vesicular cargos along the microtubule cytoskeleton. In this mini-review, we highlight the expanding repertoire of Rab/microtubule motor protein interactions, and, in doing so, present an outline of the multiplicity of transport processes which result from such interactions.

scholarly journals Structures ofDrosophila melanogasterRab2 and Rab3 bound to GMPPNP

2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Lardong ◽  
Jan H. Driller ◽  
Harald Depner ◽  
Christoph Weise ◽  
Astrid Petzoldt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Intracellular Trafficking ◽  
Large Family ◽  
Cysteine Residue ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Rab Proteins ◽  
Rab Gtpases ◽  
Ras Proteins ◽  
Transport Vesicles ◽  
Switch Regions

Rab GTPases belong to the large family of Ras proteins. They act as key regulators of membrane organization and intracellular trafficking. Functionally, they act as switches. In the active GTP-bound form they can bind to effector proteins to facilitate the delivery of transport vesicles. Upon stimulation, the GTP is hydrolyzed and the Rab proteins undergo conformational changes in their switch regions. This study focuses on Rab2 and Rab3 fromDrosophila melanogaster. Whereas Rab2 is involved in vesicle transport between the Golgi and the endoplasmatic reticulum, Rab3 is a key player in exocytosis, and in the synapse it is involved in the assembly of the presynaptic active zone. Here, high-resolution crystal structures of Rab2 and Rab3 in complex with GMPPNP and Mg2+are presented. In the structure of Rab3 a modified cysteine residue is observed with an enigmatic electron density attached to its thiol function.

scholarly journals The Regulation of Rab GTPases by Phosphorylation

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1340
Author(s):  
Lejia Xu ◽  
Yuki Nagai ◽  
Yotaro Kajihara ◽  
Genta Ito ◽  
Taisuke Tomita
Keyword(s):  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Regulatory Proteins ◽  
Rab Proteins ◽  
Rab Gtpases ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factors ◽  
Gtpase Activating Proteins

Rab proteins are small GTPases that act as molecular switches for intracellular vesicle trafficking. Although their function is mainly regulated by regulatory proteins such as GTPase-activating proteins and guanine nucleotide exchange factors, recent studies have shown that some Rab proteins are physiologically phosphorylated in the switch II region by Rab kinases. As the switch II region of Rab proteins undergoes a conformational change depending on the bound nucleotide, it plays an essential role in their function as a ‘switch’. Initially, the phosphorylation of Rab proteins in the switch II region was shown to inhibit the association with regulatory proteins. However, recent studies suggest that it also regulates the binding of Rab proteins to effector proteins, determining which pathways to regulate. These findings suggest that the regulation of the Rab function may be more dynamically regulated by phosphorylation than just through the association with regulatory proteins. In this review, we summarize the recent findings and discuss the physiological and pathological roles of Rab phosphorylation.

scholarly journals FgRab5 and FgRab7 are essential for endosomes biogenesis and non-redundantly recruit the retromer complex to the endosomes in Fusarium graminearum

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yakubu Saddeeq Abubakar ◽  
Han Qiu ◽  
Wenqin Fang ◽  
Huawei Zheng ◽  
Guodong Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fusarium Graminearum ◽  
Retrograde Transport ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Rab Proteins ◽  
Rab Gtpases ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Retromer Complex ◽  
Cargo Proteins ◽  
Endosomal Membranes ◽  
In The Wild

AbstractThe retromer complex, composed of the cargo-selective complex (CSC) Vps35-Vps29-Vps26 in complex with the sorting nexin dimer Vps5-Vps17, mediates the sorting and retrograde transport of cargo proteins from the endosomes to the trans-Golgi network in eukaryotic cells. Rab proteins belong to the Ras superfamily of small GTPases and regulate many trafficking events including vesicle formation, budding, transport, tethering, docking and fusion with target membranes. Herein, we investigated the potential functional relationship between the retromer complex and the 11 Rab proteins that exist in Fusarium graminearum using genetic and high-resolution laser confocal microscopic approaches. We found that only FgRab5 (FgRab5A and FgRab5B) and FgRab7 associate with the retromer complex. Both FgVps35-GFP and FgVps17-GFP are mis-localized and appear diffused in the cytoplasm of ΔFgrab5A, ΔFgrab5B and ΔFgrab7 mutants as compared to their punctate localization within the endosomes of the wild-type. FgRab7 and FgRab5B were found to co-localize with the retromer on endosomal membranes. Most strikingly, we found that these three Rab GTPases are indispensable for endosome biogenesis as both early and late endosomes could not be detected in the cells of the mutants after FM4-64 staining of the cells, while they were very clearly seen in the wild-type PH-1. Furthermore, FgRab7 was found to recruit FgVps35 but not FgVps17 to the endosomal membranes, whereas FgRab5B recruits both FgVps35 and FgVps17 to the membranes. Thus, we conclude that the Rab proteins FgRab5A, FgRab5B and FgRab7 play critical roles in the biogenesis of endosomes and in regulating retromer-mediated trafficking in F. graminearum.

scholarly journals The Ypt1 GTPase is essential for the first two steps of the yeast secretory pathway.

1995 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 583-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Jedd ◽  
C Richardson ◽  
R Litt ◽  
N Segev
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Secretory Pathway ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Rab Proteins ◽  
Restrictive Temperature ◽  
Rab Gtpases ◽  
Curr Opin Cell Biol ◽  
Rab Family ◽  
One Step ◽  
Mutant Cells

Small GTPases of the rab family are involved in the regulation of vesicular transport. The restricted distribution of each of these proteins in mammalian cells has led to the suggestion that different rab proteins act at different steps of transport (Pryer, N. K., L. J. Wuestehube, and R. Sheckman. 1992. Annu Rev. Biochem. 61:471-516; Zerial, M., and H. Stenmark. 1993. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 5:613-620). However, in this report we show that the Ypt1-GTPase, a member of the rab family, is essential for more than one step of the yeast secretory pathway. We determined the secretory defect conferred by a novel ypt1 mutation by comparing the processing of several transported glycoproteins in wild-type and mutant cells. The ypt1-A136D mutant has a change in an amino acid that is conserved among rab GTPases. This mutation leads to a rapid and tight secretory block upon a shift to the restrictive temperature, and allows for the identification of the specific steps in the secretory pathway that directly require Ypt1 protein (Ypt1p). The ypt1-A136D mutant exhibits tight blocks in two secretory steps, ER to cis-Golgi and cis- to medial-Golgi, but later steps are unaffected. Thus, it is unlikely that Ypt1p functions as the sole determinant of fusion specificity. Our results are more consistent with a role for Ypt1/rab proteins in determining the directionality or fidelity of protein sorting.

scholarly journals Novel functions for Rab GTPases in multiple aspects of tumour progression

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 1398-1403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Recchi ◽  
Miguel C. Seabra
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Cell Migration ◽  
Anticancer Drugs ◽  
Tumour Cell ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Intracellular Trafficking ◽  
Tumour Progression ◽  
Rab Proteins ◽  
Rab Gtpases ◽  
Master Regulators

Rab GTPases are master regulators of intracellular trafficking and, in recent years, their role in the control of different aspects of tumour progression has emerged. In the present review, we show that Rab GTPases are disregulated in many cancers and have central roles in tumour cell migration, invasion, proliferation, communication with stromal cells and the development of drug resistance. As a consequence, Rab proteins may be novel potential candidates for the development of anticancer drugs and, in this context, the preliminary results obtained with an inhibitor of Rab function are also discussed.

scholarly journals Human Rab small GTPase- and class V myosin-mediated membrane tethering in a chemically defined reconstitution system

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Motoki Inoshita ◽  
Joji Mima
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Bilayers ◽  
Membrane Trafficking ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Rab Proteins ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Class V ◽  
Rab Family ◽  
Membrane Tethering

AbstractMembrane tethering is a fundamental process essential for compartmental specificity of intracellular membrane trafficking in eukaryotic cells. Rab-family small GTPases and specific sets of Rab-interacting effector proteins, including coiled-coil tethering proteins and multisubunit tethering complexes, have been reported to be responsible for membrane tethering. However, whether and how these key components directly and specifically tether subcellular membranes still remains enigmatic. Using chemically defined proteoliposomal systems reconstituted with purified human Rab proteins and synthetic liposomal membranes to study the molecular basis of membrane tethering, we established here that Rab-family GTPases have a highly conserved function to directly mediate membrane tethering, even in the absence of any types of Rab effectors such as the so-called tethering proteins. Moreover, we demonstrate that membrane tethering mediated by endosomal Rab11a is drastically and selectively stimulated by its cognate Rab effectors, class V myosins (Myo5A and Myo5B), in a GTP-dependent manner. Of note, Myo5A and Myo5B exclusively recognized and cooperated with the membrane-anchored form of their cognate Rab11a to support membrane tethering mediated by trans-Rab assemblies on apposing membranes. Our findings support the novel concept that Rab-family proteins provide a bona fide membrane tether to physically and specifically link two distinct lipid bilayers of subcellular membranes. They further indicate that Rab-interacting effector proteins, including class V myosins, can regulate these Rab-mediated membrane tethering reactions.

Targeting of Rab GTPases to cellular membranes

2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 652-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.R. Ali ◽  
M.C. Seabra
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Trafficking ◽  
Cellular Localization ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Rab Proteins ◽  
Rab Gtpases ◽  
Cellular Membranes ◽  
Structural Determinants ◽  
Cellular Processes

Rab proteins are members of the superfamily of Ras-like small GTPases and are involved in several cellular processes relating to membrane trafficking and organelle mobility throughout the cell. Like other small GTPases, Rab proteins are initially synthesized as soluble proteins and for membrane attachment they require the addition of lipid moiety(ies) to specific residues of their polypeptide chain. Despite their well-documented roles in regulating cellular trafficking, Rab proteins own trafficking is still poorly understood. We still need to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of their recruitment to cellular membranes and the structural determinants for their specific cellular localization. Recent results indicate that Rab cellular targeting might be Rab-dependent, and this paper briefly reviews our current knowledge of this process.

scholarly journals Rab GTPases: Switching to Human Diseases

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noemi Antonella Guadagno ◽  
Cinzia Progida
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Trafficking ◽  
Intracellular Transport ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Regulatory Proteins ◽  
Human Diseases ◽  
Rab Proteins ◽  
Rab Gtpases ◽  
Intracellular Membrane ◽  
And Migration ◽  
And Control

Rab proteins compose the largest family of small GTPases and control the different steps of intracellular membrane traffic. More recently, they have been shown to also regulate cell signaling, division, survival, and migration. The regulation of these processes generally occurs through recruitment of effectors and regulatory proteins, which control the association of Rab proteins to membranes and their activation state. Alterations in Rab proteins and their effectors are associated with multiple human diseases, including neurodegeneration, cancer, and infections. This review provides an overview of how the dysregulation of Rab-mediated functions and membrane trafficking contributes to these disorders. Understanding the altered dynamics of Rabs and intracellular transport defects might thus shed new light on potential therapeutic strategies.

scholarly journals Differential regulation of CXCR2 trafficking by Rab GTPases

Blood ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 101 (6) ◽  
pp. 2115-2124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guo-Huang Fan ◽  
Lynne A. Lapierre ◽  
James R. Goldenring ◽  
Ann Richmond
Keyword(s):  
Intracellular Trafficking ◽  
Chemokine Receptors ◽  
Receptor Trafficking ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Rab Proteins ◽  
Rab Gtpases ◽  
Functional Responses ◽  
Coated Pits ◽  
Short Period

Intracellular trafficking of chemokine receptors plays an important role in fine-tuning the functional responses of neutrophils and lymphocytes in the inflammatory process and HIV infection. Although many chemokine receptors internalize through clathrin-coated pits, regulation of the receptor trafficking is not fully understood. The present study demonstrated that CXCR2 was colocalized with transferrin and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) after agonist treatment for different periods of time, suggesting 2 intracellular trafficking pathways for this receptor. CXCR2 was colocalized with Rab5 and Rab11a, which are localized in early and recycling endosomes, respectively, in response to agonist stimulation for a short period of time, suggesting a recycling pathway for the receptor trafficking. However, overexpression of a dominant-negative Rab5-S34N mutant significantly attenuated CXCR2 sequestration. The internalized CXCR2 was recycled back to the cell surface after removal of the agonist and recovery of the cells, but receptor recycling was inhibited by overexpression of a dominant-negative Rab11a-S25N mutant. After prolonged (4-hour) agonist treatment, CXCR2 exhibited significantly increased colocalization with Rab7, which is localized in late endosomes. The colocalization of CXCR2 with LDL and LAMP-1 suggests that CXCR2 is targeted to lysosomes for degradation after prolonged ligand treatment. However, the colocalization of CXCR2 with Lamp1 was blocked by the overexpression of a dominant-negative Rab7-T22N mutant. In cells overexpressing Rab7-T22N, CXCR2 was retained in the Rab5- and Rab11a-positive endosomes after prolonged (4-hour) agonist treatment. Our data suggest that the intracellular trafficking of CXCR2 is differentially regulated by Rab proteins.

scholarly journals Conformationally variable Rab protein surface regions mapped by limited proteolysis and homology modelling

1998 ◽  
Vol 336 (2) ◽  
pp. 461-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia NIKOLOVA ◽  
Kizhake SOMAN ◽  
Jeffry C. NICHOLS ◽  
D. Sundarsingh DANIEL ◽  
Burton F. DICKEY ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Peptide Mapping ◽  
Homology Modelling ◽  
Limited Proteolysis ◽  
Variable Region ◽  
Peptide Sequencing ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Rab Proteins ◽  
Protein Protein Interactions ◽  
Rab Protein

Tryptic proteolysis of the small GTPases Rab4 and Rab5 is a multi-step, nucleotide-dependent process. Using N-terminal peptide sequencing, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time-of-flight MS and molecular modelling, we identified the three initial sites of proteolysis in Rab5 as Arg-4, Arg-81 and Arg-197. Arg-4 and Arg-81 lie within regions previously implicated in Rab5 endocytic function, and Arg-197 lies in a region involved in membrane targeting. Topologically, Arg-81 lies within the conformationally variable Switch II region shown to be important for protein–protein interactions of other GTPases. Homology modelling studies on Rab5 indicate that the Arg-81 side chain is buried in the Rab5 GTP conformation, but is solvent-accessible in the GDP conformation, explaining the dependence of proteolysis on nucleotides. Peptide mapping of Rab4 was performed to take advantage of additional scissile bonds within Switch II to determine more precisely the limits of the nucleotide-dependent protease-accessible region. The Rab4 cleavage sites corresponded to Arg-81 and Pro-87 of Rab5, and taken together with the finding that Rab5 was not cleaved at Arg-91 this analysis defines an eight-residue surface-exposed conformationally variable region lying in the centre of Switch II. A sequence comparison of Rab proteins shows these eight residues to have a loosely conserved motif that we term Switch II(v) for its relative variability. C-terminal to Switch II(v) is a highly conserved Rab-specific YYRGA motif that we term Switch II(c) for its constant sequence. N-terminal to Switch II(v) is a sequence-invariant G-domain involved in nucleotide binding and hydrolysis. We propose that the Rab Switch II(v) region imparts specificity to nucleotide-dependent protein–protein interactions.

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