background:
Rab17 belongs to the Rab family of small Ras-like GTPases. It is specifically expressed in epithelial cells and is upregulated during cell polarization. Immunofluorescence staining studies indicate that Rab17 is associated with the perinuclear recycling endosome in nonpolarized epithelial cells and with the apical recycling endosome in polarized epithelial cells. The function of Rab17 remains unclear. Reports of Rab17 colocalization with internalized IgA in the apical endosome suggest that it may regulate receptor-mediated transcytosis. Rab17 has also been shown to regulate melanocytic filopodia formation and melanosome trafficking. siRNA knockdown of Rab17 in melanoma cells induces melanosome accumulation in the cell periphery.
Function:
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 an inactive GDP-bound form and an active GTP-bound form that is able to recruit to membranes different set of downstream effectors directly responsible for vesicle formation, movement, tethering and fusion. That Rab is involved in transcytosis, the directed movement of endocytosed material through the cell and its exocytosis from the plasma membrane at the opposite side. Mainly observed in epithelial cells, transcytosis mediates for instance, the transcellular transport of immunoglobulins from the basolateral surface to the apical surface. Most probably controls membrane trafficking through apical recycling endosomes in a post-endocytic step of transcytosis. Required for melanosome transport and release from melanocytes, it also regulates dendrite and dendritic spine development (By similarity). May also play a role in cell migration.
Subcellular Location:
Recycling endosome membrane; Lipid-anchor; Cytoplasmic side (By similarity). Cell projection, dendrite (By similarity). Note=May also localize at the basolateral and apical plasma membrane. In neurons, localizes to the cell body and dendritic shaft and spine (By similarity).
Tissue Specificity:
Expressed in melanocytes (at protein level).
Similarity:
Belongs to the small GTPase superfamily. Rab family.
Database links:
UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot: Q9H0T7.2
Important Note:
This product as supplied is intended for research use only, not for use in human, therapeutic or diagnostic applications.
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