Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026

13:51
Detection of Small GTPase Prenylation and GTP Binding Using Membrane Fractionation and GTPase-linked Immunosorbent Assay
Published on: November 11, 2018
Rab GTPases, membrane trafficking and diseases
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA. guangpu-li@ouhsc.edu
Current Drug Targets
|May 13, 2011
Summary
Rab GTPases regulate intracellular membrane transport, crucial for cell function. Disruptions in these pathways are linked to diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's, highlighting Rab GTPases' role in human health.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- The Rab family of GTPases comprises over 60 human genes.
- These proteins are essential regulators of intracellular membrane trafficking.
- Dysfunctional membrane trafficking is implicated in various pathologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the specific Rab GTPases involved in disease.
- To highlight the connection between Rab GTPase alterations and disease pathogenesis.
- To provide an overview of current research on Rab GTPases and disease.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific publications.
- Analysis of studies linking Rab GTPase expression and mutations to diseases.
- Synthesis of information on Rab GTPase function in cellular pathways.
Main Results:
- Altered expression levels and mutations in Rab GTPases are associated with cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and genetic disorders.
- Specific Rab GTPases play critical roles in endocytic and exocytic pathways.
- Disruptions in these pathways contribute to disease development.
Conclusions:
- Rab GTPases are key players in maintaining cellular homeostasis through membrane trafficking.
- Aberrant Rab GTPase activity is a significant factor in the development of various human diseases.
- Further research into Rab GTPases may offer therapeutic targets for disease treatment.
Related Concept Videos
GTPases and their Regulation
Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins), also known as GTPases, are a superfamily of proteins that regulate many cellular processes, such as cell signaling, vesicular transport, and the regulation of cell shape and motility. Mutation or dysfunction of these proteins can lead to disease. There are around 40,000 known G-proteins that can broadly be classified into two groups ‒ small G-proteins consisting of a single domain and large multi-domain G-proteins.
Large G-proteins, also known...
Large G-proteins, also known...
GTPases and their Regulation
Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins), also known as GTPases, are a superfamily of proteins that regulate many cellular processes, such as cell signaling, vesicular transport, and the regulation of cell shape and motility. Mutation or dysfunction of these proteins can lead to disease. There are around 40,000 known G-proteins that can broadly be classified into two groups ‒ small G-proteins consisting of a single domain and large multi-domain G-proteins.
Large G-proteins, also known...
Large G-proteins, also known...
Rab Proteins
Rab proteins constitute the largest family of monomeric GTPases, of which 70 members are present in humans. Rab proteins and their effectors regulate consecutive stages of vesicle transport such as vesicle transport, docking, and fusion to the correct recipient membrane.
Rab proteins switch between a cytosolic, GDP-bound inactive state and a membrane-anchored, GTP-bound active state. By themselves, Rabs show slow rates of GDP/GTP exchange and GTP hydrolysis. Thus, Rab proteins are considered...
Rab proteins switch between a cytosolic, GDP-bound inactive state and a membrane-anchored, GTP-bound active state. By themselves, Rabs show slow rates of GDP/GTP exchange and GTP hydrolysis. Thus, Rab proteins are considered...
Rab Cascades
Rab GTPases act in a regulated cascade during membrane fusion, helping the lipid bilayers mix. The Rab family of proteins are active when bound to GTP, and inactive when bound to GDP. Hence, they act as guanine nucleotide-dependent molecular switches. Rab-GTP recognizes and binds to long or short-range tethering proteins to capture the target vesicle. These tethers coordinate with SNAREs on the vesicle and the target membrane to assemble the trans SNARE complex that locks the mixing bilayers.
Small GTPases - Ras and Rho
Ras and Rho are small monomeric GTPases that act downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and regulate various cellular processes. These GTPases switch between active and inactive states by binding to guanine nucleotides.
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
Coat Assembly and GTPases
Vesicles incorporate different coat protein subunits in different cell locations, which changes the properties of the coat, such as the shape and geometry of the transport vesicles. Thus, vesicle coat proteins also play a significant role in cargo selection.
Coat assembly depends on the local availability of phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs and GTP-binding proteins. Adaptor proteins, which link the coat proteins to the membrane, bind to these PIPs and play a crucial role in controlling...
Coat assembly depends on the local availability of phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs and GTP-binding proteins. Adaptor proteins, which link the coat proteins to the membrane, bind to these PIPs and play a crucial role in controlling...

