title: Controlling the location and activation of Rab GTPases.
abstract: The remarkable degree of specificity with which Rab GTPases recognise distinct subsets of intracellular membranes forms the basis of their ability to act as key cellular regulators, determining the recruitment of downstream effectors to the right membrane at the right time. The molecular mechanisms controlling Rab localisation, however, have proved tricky issues to address. It is becoming increasingly apparent that multiple factors contribute to the specificity of Rab localisation and the close coordination of membrane targeting with Rab activation. With important new insights into the mode of action of the general Rab regulators REP and RabGDI, as well as the demonstration that novel factors such as Yip3/Pra1 act as GDI displacement factors and that signals within Rab proteins contribute to targeting specificity, a better understanding of the concepts governing Rab recruitment and function is now beginning to emerge. The diversity of cellular processes regulated by Rab family members is made possible, not only by the wide range of effectors they recruit, but also by the different mechanisms regulating their own targeting and activation.
authors.affiliation: Cell and Molecular Biology Section, Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK. m.seabra@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Miguel C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Seabra
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wasmeier
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D020730:Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008954:Models, Biological; D021381:Protein Transport; D015398:Signal Transduction; D022161:Transport Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C081787:CHM protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C086796:GDP dissociation inhibitor 1; D020730:Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; C108941:RABAC1 protein, human; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins