Coordination of Rab8 and Rab11 in primary ciliogenesis

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Apr 6;107(14):6346-51. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1002401107. Epub 2010 Mar 22.

Abstract

Primary cilia are microtubule-based membrane projections located at the surface of many cells. Defects in primary cilia formation have been implicated in a number of genetic disorders, such as Bardet-Biedl Syndrome and Polycystic Kidney Disease. Recent studies have demonstrated that polarized vesicular transport involving Rab8 and its guanine nucleotide-exchange factor Rabin8 is essential for primary ciliogenesis. Here we report that Rabin8 is a direct downstream effector of Rab11, which functions in membrane trafficking from the trans-Golgi network and recycling endosomes. Rab11, in its GTP-bound form, interacts with Rabin8 and kinetically stimulates the guanine nucleotide-exchange activity of Rabin8 toward Rab8. Rab11 is enriched at the base of the primary cilia and inhibition of Rab11 function by a dominant-negative mutant or RNA interference blocks primary ciliogenesis. Our results suggest that Rab GTPases coordinate with each other in the regulation of vesicular trafficking during primary ciliogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Cilia / metabolism
  • Endosomes / metabolism
  • Germinal Center Kinases
  • Guanosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • trans-Golgi Network / metabolism

Substances

  • Germinal Center Kinases
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Guanosine Triphosphate
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • rab11 protein
  • RAB8A protein, human
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins