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Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Rab10 Phosphorylation Detection by LRRK2 Activity Using SDS-PAGE with a Phosphate-binding Tag
Published on: December 14, 2017
LRRK2 and Rab10 coordinate macropinocytosis to mediate immunological responses in phagocytes
Zhiyong Liu1, Enquan Xu1, Hien Tran Zhao2
1Duke Center for Neurodegeneration Research, Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Abstract:
Genetic variation in LRRK2 associates with the susceptibility to Parkinson's disease, Crohn's disease, and mycobacteria infection. High expression of LRRK2 and its substrate Rab10 occurs in phagocytic cells in the immune system. In mouse and human primary macrophages, dendritic cells, and microglia-like cells, we find that Rab10 specifically regulates a specialized form of endocytosis known as macropinocytosis, without affecting phagocytosis or clathrin-mediated endocytosis. LRRK2 phosphorylates cytoplasmic PI(3,4,5)P3-positive GTP-Rab10, before EEA1 and Rab5 recruitment to early macropinosomes occurs. Macropinosome cargo in macrophages includes CCR5, CD11b, and MHCII, and LRRK2-phosphorylation of Rab10 potently blocks EHBP1L1-mediated recycling tubules and cargo turnover. EHBP1L1 overexpression competitively inhibits LRRK2-phosphorylation of Rab10, mimicking the effects of LRRK2 kinase inhibition in promoting cargo recycling. Both Rab10 knockdown and LRRK2 kinase inhibition potently suppress the maturation of macropinosome-derived CCR5-loaded signaling endosomes that are critical for CCL5-induced immunological responses that include Akt activation and chemotaxis. These data support a novel signaling axis in the endolysosomal system whereby LRRK2-mediated Rab10 phosphorylation stalls vesicle fast recycling to promote PI3K-Akt immunological responses.
Insights
The leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) protein regulates macropinocytosis, a cellular process. LRRK2-mediated phosphorylation of Rab10 protein stalls vesicle recycling, impacting immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Genetic variations in LRRK2 are linked to Parkinson's disease, Crohn's disease, and mycobacteria infection.
- LRRK2 and its substrate Rab10 are highly expressed in immune phagocytic cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Rab10 in endocytosis within immune cells.
- To elucidate the mechanism by which LRRK2 influences cellular processes and immune signaling.
Main Methods:
- Studied primary macrophages, dendritic cells, and microglia-like cells from mice and humans.
- Utilized Rab10 knockdown and LRRK2 kinase inhibition.
- Analyzed macropinocytosis, phagocytosis, and clathrin-mediated endocytosis.
- Investigated protein phosphorylation and cargo trafficking in endosomes.
Main Results:
- Rab10 specifically regulates macropinocytosis, not phagocytosis or clathrin-mediated endocytosis.
- LRRK2 phosphorylates Rab10, stalling EHBP1L1-mediated recycling of macropinosome cargo.
- Suppression of Rab10 or LRRK2 activity inhibits the maturation of signaling endosomes, affecting immune responses like Akt activation and chemotaxis.
Conclusions:
- LRRK2-mediated Rab10 phosphorylation is a novel mechanism that stalls vesicle recycling in the endolysosomal system.
- This process promotes PI3K-Akt immunological responses, highlighting a new signaling axis.
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12:49Human Peripheral Blood Neutrophil Isolation for Interrogating the Parkinson's Associated LRRK2 Kinase Pathway by Assessing Rab10 Phosphorylation
Published on: March 21, 2020
07:31Measuring the pH, Redox Chemistries, and Degradative Capacity of Macropinosomes using Dual-Fluorophore Ratiometric Microscopy
Published on: August 19, 2021
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