RAB-Like Small GTPase 1 is part of the Rab family of small GTPases, which are key regulators of intracellular membrane trafficking. These proteins are involved in various steps of vesicle transport, including vesicle formation, movement along actin and tubulin networks, and membrane fusion .
Rab proteins possess a GTPase fold, consisting of a six-stranded beta sheet flanked by five alpha helices . They switch between an inactive GDP-bound form and an active GTP-bound form, regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) . Rab proteins are anchored to membranes via prenyl groups on their C-terminus, allowing them to interact with various effector proteins .
Rab GTPases play a critical role in maintaining cellular homeostasis by regulating membrane trafficking processes. Mutations in Rab genes can lead to a wide range of genetic diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, as well as various cancers . Rab1, a well-studied member of this family, is involved in the secretory pathway, Golgi complex maintenance, and macroautophagy regulation .