A mitochondrial recruitment assay to characterize a family of DENN‐domain proteins, Rab GDP/GTP exchange factors.

Intracellular membrane trafficking controls the levels, localization and functional activity of a myriad of proteins and is thus critical for cellular function. Rab GTPases are molecular switches that regulate membrane trafficking by toggling between GTP‐bound (active; membrane‐bound) and GDP‐bound (inactive; cytosolic) states. These GTPases are controlled largely by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that mediate the exchange of GDP for GTP. Mammalian cells possess 61 Rabs but many of their GEFs are unknown. One of the largest family of Rab GEFs contain an evolutionarily conserved protein module called the DENN domain. There are 18 DENN domain proteins but many of their corresponding Rab GTPase partner(s) are either not known or are controversial. This is due to the fact that all studies concerning DENN domains have used biochemical and in‐vitro assays, which do not reflect physiological conditions. Here we describe a cell‐based GEF assay as a method to identify GTPase substrates of DENN domain proteins. By overexpressing DENN domains fused to a mitochondrial targeting sequence we can drive the recruitment of physiological GTPase substrates to the mitochondrial membrane, which can then be detected by immunofluorescence analysis. We validated our assay with a known DENN/Rab pair, DENND1A and Rab35. Using a panel of GFP‐tagged Rabs we have resolved controversies over previously reported DENN/Rab pairs and have identified new Rab substrates for DENN domains. Identifying the full complement of DENN/Rab pairs will provide new insights into membrane trafficking and cellular function. Support or Funding Information 1) Canada First Research Excellence Fund, awarded to McGill University for Healthy Brains for Healthy Lives. 2) ALS Canada