Molecular cloning and subcellular localization of three GTP-binding proteins of the rab subfamily

ABSTRACT Small GTPases of the rab subfamily are involved in reg-ulation of intracellular membrane transport events. We recently used a PCR approach to isolate short cDNA fragments of a number of novel rab sequences. These PCR fragments have now been used with cDNA library screening and PCR-based techniques to clone the cDNAs encoding three of these proteins, rab12, rab22, and rab24. By northern blot analysis, the messages were found to be present in a wide variety of mouse tissues. However, quantitative differences in the mRNA levels between the tissues were detected. We determined the subcellular localization of the GTPases by expressing the c-myc epitope-tagged proteins with the Semliki Forest virus and the vaccinia T7 vector systems. Transiently expressed rab12 was localized to the Golgi complex. This localization was confirmed using a polyclonal anti-peptide antibody detecting the endogenous protein in BHK cells. rab22 expressed from the cDNA was local-ized to endosomal compartments and to the plasma membrane. After longer periods of expression, the protein was found on abnormally large perinuclear endo-somal structures, suggesting that it is a potent regulator of events in the endocytic pathway. Finally, rab24 was found in the endoplasmic reticulum/cis-Golgi region and on late endosomal structures. The localization of rab24 may indicate its involvement in autophagy-related processes.