Ras-related protein Rab-11B is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RAB11B gene. [5] [6] Rab11b is reported as most abundantly expressed in brain, heart and testes.
Rab (Ras-related in brain) proteins form the largest section of the Ras superfamily of small GTPases. The Rab family proteins regulate intracellular membrane trafficking processes including vesicle budding, tethering, and fusion. The isoforms Rab11a, Rab11b, and Rab11c/Rab25 constitute the Rab11 subfamily based on specific sequence motifs. [7] While RAB11A is located on chromosome 15 [8] and RAB11C on chromosome 1, RAB11B is placed on chromosome 19. Rab11 proteins are implicated in endocytosis and exocytosis. [9] Rab11b is reported as most abundantly expressed in brain, heart and testes. [10] Early studies with deletions of RAB11 homologs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae proved their importance in cell survival. [11] [12] Despite sharing high sequence homology, Rab11a and Rab11b appear to reside within distinct vesicle compartments. [13] Majority of Rab11b neither colocalize with transferrin receptor nor with the polymeric IgA receptor. This protein also exhibits a dependence on the microtubule cytoskeleton that is different from Rab11a. [13] High sequence diversity in the C-terminal hypervariable region is responsible for variable membrane targeting between these proteins.
Members of the Rab11 subfamily act in recycling of proteins from the endosomes to the plasma membrane, in transport of molecules from the trans-Golgi network to the plasma membrane and in phagocytosis. This subfamily also acts in polarized transport in epithelial cells. [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] Whereas most studies refer to the Rab11a isoform, little is known about Rab11b so far. Rab11b localizes predominantly in the pericentriolar recycling compartment and serves as an important component of the vesicular machinery. [19] It is required for the transfer of internalized transferrin from the recycling compartment to the plasma membrane for which active Rab11b as well as GTP hydrolysis is necessary. [19]
All Ras GTPases consist of a similar core structure and highly conserved P-loop, switch 1 and switch 2 regions. The Rab11b monomer exhibits a typical Ras-like, small GTPase fold with a six stranded β-sheet core (β1-β6) surrounded by five major α-helices (α1-α5) [16] and one minor α-helix (α6). According to the sequence similarity to other Rab GTPases can be assumed that they show closely resembling characteristics in nucleotide binding and hydrolysis. However, Rab11 isoforms could differ in hydrolysis kinetics owing to the differences in conformation, since Rab11a and Rab11b do not show an α-helical switch 2 region like other Rab GTPases. Rab11b shares 90% amino acid identity to Rab11a. [16] Kinetic experiments with Rab11a/b and Rab11-interacting proteins (FIPs) indicate that FIPs cannot differentiate between GTP-bound Rab11a and Rab11b in vitro. [20] The major divergence reveals in the inactive state. While Pasqualato et al. crystallized inactive Rab11a as a dimer in the asymmetric unit, Scapin et al. observed single crystallographically independent monomers of both the GDP- and the GppNHp-bound Rab11b structures. [16] [21]
Due to their crucial importance in vesicle transport and recycling, Rab11 proteins are linked to various non-pathogen or pathogen induced diseases. Most of the published data do not specify whether it is the a- or the b-isoform. Rab11 proteins have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease, [22] [23] Arthrogryposis-renal dysfunction-cholestasis (ARC), [24] Batten disease, [25] and Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathy Type 4C (CMT4C). [26] Intracellular bacteria Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis that replicate in membrane bound compartments hijack the trafficking machinery recruiting Rab GTPases to promote their replication within the host cell. Knock down of Rab11 decreased the formation of infectious particles. [27] [28] [29] Recent studies report a similar use of intracellular trafficking by Hantavirus and Influenza A virus. Replicated viruses benefit from Rab11 mediated recycling endosome pathway to exit the cell and infect surrounding tissue. [30] [31] [32] [33]
Endocytosis is a cellular process in which substances are brought into the cell. The material to be internalized is surrounded by an area of cell membrane, which then buds off inside the cell to form a vesicle containing the ingested material. Endocytosis includes pinocytosis and phagocytosis. It is a form of active transport.
The Golgi apparatus, also known as the Golgi complex, Golgi body, or simply the Golgi, is an organelle found in most eukaryotic cells. Part of the endomembrane system in the cytoplasm, it packages proteins into membrane-bound vesicles inside the cell before the vesicles are sent to their destination. It resides at the intersection of the secretory, lysosomal, and endocytic pathways. It is of particular importance in processing proteins for secretion, containing a set of glycosylation enzymes that attach various sugar monomers to proteins as the proteins move through the apparatus.
The Coat Protein Complex II, or COPII, is a group of proteins that facilitate the formation of vesicles to transport proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus or endoplasmic-reticulum–Golgi intermediate compartment. This process is termed anterograde transport, in contrast to the retrograde transport associated with the COPI complex. COPII is assembled in two parts: first an inner layer of Sar1, Sec23, and Sec24 forms; then the inner coat is surrounded by an outer lattice of Sec13 and Sec31.
Endosomes are a collection of intracellular sorting organelles in eukaryotic cells. They are parts of endocytic membrane transport pathway originating from the trans Golgi network. Molecules or ligands internalized from the plasma membrane can follow this pathway all the way to lysosomes for degradation or can be recycled back to the cell membrane in the endocytic cycle. Molecules are also transported to endosomes from the trans Golgi network and either continue to lysosomes or recycle back to the Golgi apparatus.
The Rab family of proteins is a member of the Ras superfamily of small G proteins. Approximately 70 types of Rabs have now been identified in humans. Rab proteins generally possess a GTPase fold, which consists of a six-stranded beta sheet which is flanked by five alpha helices. Rab GTPases regulate many steps of membrane trafficking, including vesicle formation, vesicle movement along actin and tubulin networks, and membrane fusion. These processes make up the route through which cell surface proteins are trafficked from the Golgi to the plasma membrane and are recycled. Surface protein recycling returns proteins to the surface whose function involves carrying another protein or substance inside the cell, such as the transferrin receptor, or serves as a means of regulating the number of a certain type of protein molecules on the surface.
Retromer is a complex of proteins that has been shown to be important in recycling transmembrane receptors from endosomes to the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and directly back to the plasma membrane. Mutations in retromer and its associated proteins have been linked to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Ras-related protein Rab-5A is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RAB5A gene.
Ras-related protein Rab-7a is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RAB7A gene.
Ras-related protein Rab-11A is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RAB11A gene.
Ras-related protein Rab-8A is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RAB8A gene.
Vesicle-associated membrane protein 3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the VAMP3 gene.
Rab11 family-interacting protein 1 (Rab11-FIP1) also known as Rab-coupling protein is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RAB11FIP1 gene.
Rab11 family-interacting protein 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RAB11FIP2 gene.
Rab11 family-interacting protein 5 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RAB11FIP5 gene.
Rab11 family-interacting protein 3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RAB11FIP3 gene.
Ras-related protein Rab-22A is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RAB22A gene.
Ras-related protein Rab-25 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RAB25 gene. It is thought to act as a promoter of tumor development.
The EHD protein family is a relatively small group of proteins which have been shown to play a role in several physiological functions, the most notable being the regulation of endocytotic vesicles. This family is recognized by its highly conserved EH domain, a structural motif that has been shown to facilitate specificity and interaction between protein and ligand. The four mammalian EHD proteins that have been classified are: EHD1, EHD2, EHD3, and EHD4.
Membrane vesicle trafficking in eukaryotic animal cells involves movement of biochemical signal molecules from synthesis-and-packaging locations in the Golgi body to specific release locations on the inside of the plasma membrane of the secretory cell. It takes place in the form of Golgi membrane-bound micro-sized vesicles, termed membrane vesicles (MVs).
Ras-related protein Rab-2B is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RAB2B gene.