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Characterization of RAB-like4, the first identified RAB-like protein from Trypanosoma cruzi with GTPase activity
Ist Teil von
Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 2005-08, Vol.333 (3), p.808-817
Ort / Verlag
United States: Elsevier Inc
Erscheinungsjahr
2005
Quelle
MEDLINE
Beschreibungen/Notizen
RAB proteins, which belong to the RAS superfamily, regulate exocytic and endocytic pathways of eukaryotic cells, controlling vesicle docking and fusion. Few RAB proteins have been identified in parasites. Molecular markers for cellular compartments are important to studies concerning about the protein traffic in
Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas disease. In this work, we describe the characterization of
TcRABL4, the first
RAB-like gene identified in
T. cruzi (GenBank Accession No.:
AY371275), present as a single-copy gene.
TcRABL4 contains all five consensus RAB motifs but lacks cysteine residues at the C terminus, which are essential to isoprenylation, an absolute prerequisite for membrane association of these proteins.
TcRABL4 is a functional GTPase that is able to bind and hydrolyze GTP, and its gene is transcribed as a single 1.2
kb mRNA in epimastigotes.
TcRABL4 appears to be differentially regulated in the three cell forms of the parasite, and the protein is not associated to membranes, unlike other RAB proteins. It is possible that
TcRABL4 may be a member of a novel family of small GTPases.