The Human Rab Genes Encode a Family of GTP-binding Proteins Related to Yeast YPT1 and SEC4 Products Involved in Secretion

作者：Ahmed Zahraoui, Nicolas Touchot, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Armand Tavitian · 发表于：Journal of Biological Chemistry · 年份：1989 · DOI：10.1016/s0021-9258(18)63872-4 · 被引用次数：389 · 研究领域：Cellular transport and secretion、Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways、Skin and Cellular Biology Research

Seven cDNA clones corresponding to the rab1, rab2, rab3A, rab3B, rab4, rab5, and rab6 genes were isolated from a human pheochromocytoma cDNA library. They encode 23-25 kDa polypeptides which share approximately 30-50% homology and belong to the ras superfamily. The rab1, rab2, rab3A, and rab4 proteins are the human counterparts of the rat rab gene products that we have previously characterized. Comparison of the seven human rab proteins with the yeast YPT1 (YPT1p) and SEC4 (SEC4p) proteins reveals highly significant sequence similarities. H-rab1p shows 75% amino acid identity with YPT1p and may be therefore considered as its human counterpart. The other proteins share approximately 40% homology with YPT1p and SEC4p. The homology (approximately 30%) between these rab proteins and p21ras is restricted to the four conserved domains involved in the GTP/GDP binding. Human rab proteins were produced in Escherichia coli. Large amounts of rab proteins in soluble form can be extracted and purified without the use of detergents. All six proteins bind GTP and exhibit GTPase activities. A possible involvement of the rab proteins in secretion is discussed.