background:
The Ras-related superfamily of guanine nucleotide binding proteins, which includes the R-Ras, Rap, Ral/Rec and Rho/Rab superfamilies exhibit 30-60% homology with Ras p21. Accumulating data suggests an important role for Rab proteins, either in endocytosis or in biosynthetic protein transport. The transport of newly synthesized proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to various stacks of the Golgi complex and to secretory vesicles involves at each stage the movement of carrier vesicles, a process that appears to involve Rab protein function. The possiblity that Rab proteins might also direct the exocytosis from secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane is supported by the observation that in yeast, the SEC4 protein, which is 40% homologous to Rab proteins, is associated with secretory vesicles. At least eight members of the Rab family have been identified, each of which is found at a particular stage of a membrane transport pathway.
Function:
May be involved in melanosomal transport and docking. Involved in the proper sorting of TYRP1. Plays a role in the maturation of phagosomes that engulf pathogens, such as S.aureus and M.tuberculosis.
Subcellular Location:
Cell membrane; Lipid-anchor; Cytoplasmic side (Potential). Melanosome. Cytoplasmic vesicle, phagosome. Cytoplasmic vesicle, phagosome membrane; Lipid-anchor; Cytoplasmic side (By similarity). Note=Recruited to phagosomes containing S.aureus or M.tuberculosis.
Tissue Specificity:
Expressed in melanocytes.
Post-translational modifications:
Although at least one in vitro system can process and methylate the prenylated SLCterminal, in an in vitro system that normally express Rab-38 and in vivo the prenylated SLCterminal is not proteolytically processed and not methylated.
Similarity:
Belongs to the small GTPase superfamily. Rab family.
Database links:
UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot: P57729.1
Important Note:
This product as supplied is intended for research use only, not for use in human, therapeutic or diagnostic applications.
|
|
