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GTPases and their Regulation

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,...

GTPases and their Regulation

GTPases and their Regulation

Small GTPases - Ras and Rho

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:

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...

Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins

Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins

Heterotrimeric G proteins are guanine nucleotide-binding proteins. As the name suggests, heterotrimeric G proteins are composed of three subunits: alpha, beta, and gamma. They remain GDP-bound or GTP-bound inside the cells and switch between inactive/active states. The Gα subunit possesses the nucleotide-binding pocket that binds guanine nucleotides and switches between GDP or GTP-bound states. In contrast, the Gꞵ and Gγ subunits are always bound together with high...

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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Comparing the Affinity of GTPase-binding Proteins using Competition Assays

Comparing the Affinity of GTPase-binding Proteins using Competition Assays

Published on: October 8, 2015

Rab GTPases and cell division.

Paulius Gibieža¹, Rytis Prekeris²

¹a Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences , Kaunas , Lithuania.

|May 5, 2017

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Rab GTPases regulate cell division by coordinating cytoskeleton and membrane trafficking during cytokinesis. These small proteins are crucial for the final separation of daughter cells, known as abscission.

Keywords:

Rab GTPases abscission cell polarity cytokinesis endosomes

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Spatio-Temporal Manipulation of Small GTPase Activity at Subcellular Level and on Timescale of Seconds in Living Cells

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Last Updated: Mar 3, 2026

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Detection of Small GTPase Prenylation and GTP Binding Using Membrane Fractionation and GTPase-linked Immunosorbent Assay

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Spatio-Temporal Manipulation of Small GTPase Activity at Subcellular Level and on Timescale of Seconds in Living Cells

Spatio-Temporal Manipulation of Small GTPase Activity at Subcellular Level and on Timescale of Seconds in Living Cells

Published on: March 9, 2012

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Cytokinesis, the physical separation of two daughter cells, requires coordinated cytoskeleton and membrane trafficking.
Rab GTPases are small proteins regulating diverse cellular functions, notably membrane transport.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the latest findings on Rab GTPase function in cell division.
To highlight the role of polarized membrane transport during cytokinesis and abscission.

Main Methods:

Literature review of recent studies on Rab GTPases and cytokinesis.
Analysis of the role of membrane trafficking pathways in cell division.

Main Results:

Rab GTPases are key regulators of membrane transport steps essential for cytokinesis.
Specific Rab GTPases have been identified to control cell division progression and abscission.

Conclusions:

Rab GTPases and polarized membrane transport are critical for successful cytokinesis.
Further research into Rab GTPase functions can elucidate mechanisms of cell division and abscission.