Characterization of Rabaptin-5 γ isoform

Biochemistry (Mosc). 2014 Sep;79(9):856-64. doi: 10.1134/S000629791409003X.

Abstract

Rab GTPases are key regulators of intracellular membrane traffic acting through their effector molecules. Rabaptin-5 is a Rab5 effector in early endosome fusion and connects Rab5- and Rab4-positive membrane compartments owing to its ability to interact with Rab4 GTPase. Recent studies showed that Rabaptin-5 transcript is subjected to extensive alternative splicing, thus resulting in expression of Rabaptin-5 isoforms mostly bearing short deletions in the polypeptide chain. As interactions of a Rab GTPase with different effectors lead to different responses, functional characterization of Rabaptin-5 isoforms becomes an attractive issue. Indeed, it was shown that Rab GTPase effector properties of Rabaptin-5 and its α and δ isoforms are different. This work focused on another Rabaptin-5 isoform, Rabaptin-5γ. Despite its ability to interact with Rab5, endogenously produced Rabaptin-5γ was absent from early endosomes. Rather, it was found to be tightly associated with trans-Golgi network and partially localized to a Rab4-positive membrane compartment. The revealed intracellular localization of Rabaptin-5γ indicates that it is not involved in Rab5-driven events; rather, it functions in other membrane transport steps. Our study signifies the role of alternative splicing in determination of functional activities of Rab effector molecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Endosomes / metabolism
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Isoforms / chemistry
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / chemistry
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • rab4 GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • rab5 GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • trans-Golgi Network / metabolism

Substances

  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Protein Isoforms
  • RabGEF1 protein, mouse
  • Rabep1 protein, mouse
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins
  • rab4 GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rab5 GTP-Binding Proteins