The Rab GTPase in the heart: Pivotal roles in development and disease
Jiayi Liu1, Xuanjun Zheng1, Xiaoqian Wu1
1Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology and the State & NMPA Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, PR China.
Abstract:
Rab proteins are a family of small GTPases that function as molecular switches of intracellular vesicle formation and membrane trafficking. As a key factor, Rab GTPase participates in autophagy and protein transport and acts as the central hub of membrane trafficking in eukaryotes. The role of Rab GTPase in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, has been extensively investigated; however, its implication in cardiovascular embryogenesis and diseases remains largely unknown. In this review, we summarize previous findings and reveal their importance in the onset and progression of cardiac diseases, as well as their emergence as potential therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease.
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