6533b871fe1ef96bd12d245d

RESEARCH PRODUCT

The RAB GTPase RAB18 modulates macroautophagy and proteostasis

Christian BehlSarah UlbrichFazilet BekbulatJörg TatzeltAnne FeldmannAndreas KernHeike Huesmann

subject

0301 basic medicineRecombinant Fusion Proteinsrab3 GTP-Binding ProteinsPrimary Cell CultureBiophysicsGTPaseBiochemistry03 medical and health sciencesUbiquitinGenes ReporterAutophagyHumansRNA Small InterferingMolecular BiologyGene knockdownbiologyProtein StabilityChemistryfungiAutophagyCell BiologyFibroblastsCell biologyLuminescent Proteins030104 developmental biologyProteostasisGene Expression Regulationrab GTP-Binding ProteinsProteolysisbiology.proteinCancer researchRabSignal transductionRAB18Signal Transduction

description

Macroautophagy is a conserved degradative pathway and its deterioration is linked to disturbances in cellular proteostasis and multiple diseases. Here, we show that the RAB GTPase RAB18 modulates autophagy in primary human fibroblasts. The knockdown of RAB18 results in a decreased autophagic activity, while its overexpression enhances the degradative pathway. Importantly, this function of RAB18 is dependent on RAB3GAP1 and RAB3GAP2, which might act as RAB GEFs and stimulate the activity of the RAB GTPase. Moreover, the knockdown of RAB18 deteriorates proteostasis and results in the intracellular accumulation of ubiquitinated degradation-prone proteins. Thus, the RAB GTPase RAB18 is a positive modulator of autophagy and is relevant for the maintenance of cellular proteostasis.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2017-03-01Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.03.112