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Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Analyzing the Function of Small GTPases by Microinjection of Plasmids into Polarized Epithelial Cells
Published on: May 31, 2011
Role of rab proteins in epithelial membrane traffic
Sven C D van Ijzendoorn1, Keith E Mostov, Dick Hoekstra
1Department of Membrane Cell Biology, University of Groningen, Groningen 9713AV, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Small GTPase rab proteins play an important role in various aspects of membrane traffic, including cargo selection, vesicle budding, vesicle motility, tethering, docking, and fusion. Recent data suggest also that rabs, and their divalent effector proteins, organize organelle subdomains and as such may define functional organelle identity. Most rabs are ubiquitously expressed. However, some rabs are preferentially expressed in epithelial cells where they appear intimately associated with the epithelial-specific transcytotic pathway and/or tight junctions. This review discusses the role of rabs in epithelial membrane transport.
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