Crosstalk between Rab GTPases and cell junctions

For the past several years, studies from other laboratories, as well as ours, have begun to unravel the mechanism of germ cell movement in the testis by using several in vitro and in vivo models of tight and adherens junction assembly and disassembly, two cellular phenomena that confer cell movement...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Contraception (Stoneham) 2005-10, Vol.72 (4), p.280-290
Main Authors: Mruk, Dolores D., Lau, Ann S.N., Conway, Anne M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adherens junction
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Biological Transport
Cytoskeleton - ultrastructure
Endocytosis
Exocytosis
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Germ cell
Homeostasis
Humans
Intercellular Junctions - physiology
Male
Mammalian male genital system
Morphology. Physiology
Phosphorylation
Protein Prenylation
rab GTP-Binding Proteins - analysis
rab GTP-Binding Proteins - chemistry
rab GTP-Binding Proteins - classification
rab GTP-Binding Proteins - physiology
Rab GTPase
Sertoli cell
Structure-Activity Relationship
Testis
Testis - ultrastructure
Vertebrates: reproduction
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Summary:For the past several years, studies from other laboratories, as well as ours, have begun to unravel the mechanism of germ cell movement in the testis by using several in vitro and in vivo models of tight and adherens junction assembly and disassembly, two cellular phenomena that confer cell movement. However, for cell movement to be fully appreciated, the importance of “intracellular” cell movements, such as those involving actin and microtubule filaments, must be better understood. Recent research on Rab GTPases has shown that members of this superfamily function in the trafficking of vesicles containing cargo to distinct subcellular sites such as the plasma membrane while utilizing actin and microtubule filaments as tracks. In this mini-review, we provide an overview of Rab GTPase structure, function, and regulation, while placing added emphasis on the role of Rabs in cell junction dynamics in the testis.
ISSN:0010-7824
1879-0518
DOI:10.1016/j.contraception.2005.03.013