Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Rab Proteins

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 Cascades

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.

SNAREs and Membrane Fusion

SNAREs and Membrane Fusion

Once a transport vesicle has recognized its target organelle, the vesicular membrane needs to fuse with the target membrane to unload the cargo. Transmembrane proteins called SNAREs present on organelle membranes and their vesicles, mediate vesicle fusion.
SNAREs exist in pairs that symmetrically interact and catalyze the fusion of the lipid bilayers in vesicle and target organelle. v-SNARE in the vesicle membrane are single polypeptide chains that bind to a complementary t-SNARE, composed of 2...

The Early Endosome: Endocytosis of Transferrin

The Early Endosome: Endocytosis of Transferrin

Essential proteins such as insulin or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and micronutrients such as iron enter a eukaryotic cell through receptor-mediated endocytosis. Subsequently, the early endosomes fuse with the vesicles containing such receptor-ligand complexes and play a vital role in sorting the incoming ligands and receptors. While the ligands are either degraded inside the vesicle or released into the cytosol, their receptors are returned to the plasma membrane for further rounds of...

Directing Proteins to the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

Directing Proteins to the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

The organelle-specific signaling sequences direct proteins synthesized in the cytosol to their final destination like ER, mitochondria, peroxisomes, etc. Some of the proteins directed to ER are then trafficked via vesicles to other organelles within the cell or the extracellular environment through the Golgi complex. For example, the rough ER synthesizes soluble proteins for transportation to the lysosomes or secretion out of the cell. It can also synthesize transmembrane proteins that can...

Integration of Synaptic Events

Integration of Synaptic Events

Synaptic integration mainly includes the summation of graded potentials. Graded potentials, regardless of their type, cause subtle alterations in membrane voltage, resulting in either depolarization or hyperpolarization. These incremental changes, when combined or summed, can propel the neuron toward its threshold. Consider, for example, a membrane experiencing a +15 mV shift, causing it to depolarize from -70 mV to -55 mV. In this scenario, graded potentials govern the membrane's ability to...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Neural precursor cells tune striatal connectivity through the release of IGFBPL1.

Nature communications·2022

Same author

Scn1a gene reactivation after symptom onset rescues pathological phenotypes in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome.

Nature communications·2022

Same author

Administration of aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 to K18-hACE2 mice uncouples respiratory infection from fatal neuroinvasion.

Science immunology·2021

Same author

Clinical characterization of a novel RAB39B nonstop mutation in a family with ASD and severe ID causing RAB39B downregulation and study of a Rab39b knock down mouse model.

Human molecular genetics·2021

Same author

RAB39B-mediated trafficking of the GluA2-AMPAR subunit controls dendritic spine maturation and intellectual disability-related behaviour.

Molecular psychiatry·2021

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins

Published on: August 15, 2017

Critical importance of RAB proteins for synaptic function.

Maria Lidia Mignogna¹, Patrizia D'Adamo¹

¹a Molecular Genetics of Intellectual Disabilities Unit, Division of Neuroscience at IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute , Milan , Italy.

|February 2, 2017

Summary

RAB GTPases are crucial for neuronal vesicular trafficking, ensuring proper protein movement and spatial organization. This review details their roles in maintaining neuronal polarity and synaptic function in the central nervous system.

Keywords:

RAB GTPases axon dendrite neuronal cells neuronal trafficking post-synaptic pre-synaptic synaptic function vesicle transport

More Related Videos

Preparation of Synaptic Plasma Membrane and Postsynaptic Density Proteins Using a Discontinuous Sucrose Gradient

Preparation of Synaptic Plasma Membrane and Postsynaptic Density Proteins Using a Discontinuous Sucrose Gradient

Published on: September 3, 2014

An Optical Assay for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Cultured Neurons Overexpressing Presynaptic Proteins

An Optical Assay for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Cultured Neurons Overexpressing Presynaptic Proteins

Published on: June 26, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins

Published on: August 15, 2017

Preparation of Synaptic Plasma Membrane and Postsynaptic Density Proteins Using a Discontinuous Sucrose Gradient

Preparation of Synaptic Plasma Membrane and Postsynaptic Density Proteins Using a Discontinuous Sucrose Gradient

Published on: September 3, 2014

An Optical Assay for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Cultured Neurons Overexpressing Presynaptic Proteins

An Optical Assay for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Cultured Neurons Overexpressing Presynaptic Proteins

Published on: June 26, 2018

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Neurons possess complex morphologies critical for information transmission.
Intracellular trafficking dictates vesicle dynamics, essential for neuronal communication.
Maintaining protein trafficking integrity is vital for neuronal cell function.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the roles of RAB GTPases in neuronal vesicular trafficking.
To differentiate RAB GTPase functions in axonal pre-synaptic and dendritic post-synaptic trafficking.
To highlight the necessity of vesicle movement orchestration for neuronal polarity and synaptic activity.

Main Methods:

Literature review of RAB GTPase functions in the central nervous system.
Analysis of RAB GTPase involvement in axonal and dendritic trafficking pathways.
Synthesis of current knowledge on RAB GTPases and neuronal function.

Main Results:

RAB GTPases spatially and temporally regulate specific vesicular trafficking steps.
Distinct roles of RAB GTPases are identified in pre-synaptic and post-synaptic neuronal compartments.
Proper vesicle movement orchestrated by RAB GTPases is essential for neuronal polarity.

Conclusions:

RAB GTPases are key regulators of neuronal vesicular trafficking.
Understanding RAB GTPase function is critical for neuronal architecture and synaptic activity.
Targeting RAB GTPases may offer therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders.