Rabproteïnefunctie

Rabproteïnefunctie refers to the role of Rab proteins in cellular processes. Rab proteins are a large family of small GTPases that act as molecular switches, regulating the trafficking and fusion of intracellular vesicles. These vesicles are crucial for transporting proteins, lipids, and other molecules to their correct destinations within the cell, as well as for their secretion outside the cell.

The function of Rab proteins is dictated by their ability to cycle between an inactive, GDP-bound state and an active, GTP-bound state. This cycling is regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), which promote GDP to GTP exchange, and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs), which stimulate GTP hydrolysis. When bound to GTP, Rab proteins recruit effector proteins that mediate vesicle budding, movement along the cytoskeleton, and docking to target membranes, ultimately leading to vesicle fusion.

Different Rab proteins are localized to specific organelles and membrane compartments, ensuring that vesicle trafficking is precisely controlled and directed. For example, Rab5 is involved in early endosome fusion, Rab7 in late endosome maturation, and Rab11 in recycling endosome transport. This compartmental specificity allows Rabs to orchestrate complex intracellular transport pathways essential for cell growth, differentiation, and response to stimuli. Dysregulation of Rab protein function has been implicated in various diseases, including cancer and neurological disorders.