Rab family small GTPases-mediated regulation of intracellular logistics in neural development
Mima Shikanai1, Michisuke Yuzaki1 and Takeshi Kawauchi1,2
1Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan and 2Laboratory of Molecular Life Science, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation, Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation, Minatojima-Minamimachi Chuo-Ku, Kobe, Japan
Offprint requests to: Takeshi Kawauchi, Laboratory of Molecular Life Science, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation, Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation, 2-2 Minatojima-Minamimachi Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan. e-mail: takeshi-kawauchi@umin.ac.jp
Summary. Rab family small GTPases play essential roles in various cellular events via the regulation of intracellular logistics comprising a large number of membrane traffic pathways. Emerging evidence reveals the physiological roles of Rab proteins in several tissues, including developing brains. Many Rab proteins, such as Rab5, Rab6, Rab7, Rab8, Rab10, Rab11, Rab17 and Rab18, are shown to regulate neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells and/or axon and dendrite formation in primary cultured neurons. Recent studies have also revealed in vivo roles of several Rab family small GTPases in brain development and its related neurological disorders. In this review, we introduce the physiological function of Rab family proteins in neural development with particular focus on neurite outgrowth and neuronal migration. Histol Histopathol 33, 765-771 (2018)
Key words: Brain development, Neurite outgrowth, Neuronal migration, Membrane traffic, Endocytosis, Rab5, Rab6, Rab7, Rab8, Rab10, Rab11, Rab17, Rab18, CdK5, JNK
DOI: 10.14670/HH-11-956