title: Specific localization of Rabs at intracellular membranes.
abstract: Despite over two decades of research, the mechanism of Rab targeting to specific intracellular membranes is still not completely understood. Present evidence suggests that the original hypothesis that the message for targeting resides solely in the hypervariable C-terminus is incorrect, and a second mechanism involving a GDF [GDI (guanine-nucleotide-dissociation inhibitor) displacement factor] to disrupt stable Rab-GDI complexes has only been shown to apply in one case, despite the need for targeting over 60 human Rab proteins. Evidence for the involvement of Rab-effector interactions has only been presented for a few cases or in a very specific context. There is mounting evidence that GEFs (guanine-nucleotide-exchange factors) are essential for membrane targeting, although contributions from additional factors are likely to be of importance, at least in specific cases.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Physiology, Department of Physical Biochemistry, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 6, Dortmund 44227, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blümer
authors.forename: Yao-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Roger S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Goody
authors.forename: Aymelt
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Itzen
mesh_terms: D020730:Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000201:enzymology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D021381:Protein Transport; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020730:Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins