DENN domains at an interface of Rab signaling pathways

人类基因组中编码的信息被翻译成蛋白质，蛋白质是细胞的基石，并执行所有细胞活动。某些种类的蛋白质被称为酶，它们催化生化相互作用。通过我们NSERC资助的研究，我们最近发现了一类新的酶，称为GEF，它可以激活一个名为RABS的蛋白质大家族中的一个成员。RABS是一种细胞开关，在开启和关闭包括细胞生长和分化在内的多种细胞活动方面至关重要。然而，打开RABS的开关并没有被很好地理解。在人类体内有18种环境基金蛋白，我们认为每一种都在RABS的激活中发挥作用。此外，令人兴奋的是，这些蛋白似乎也作用于激活的Rab的下游。因此，我们假设全球环境基金蛋白位于不同的Rab信号通路之间，这将是此次Discovery Grant应用中研究的重点。如果是真的，我们的研究将揭示一种关键的新调控机制，用于控制细胞中庞大的Rab调控网络。

The information encoded in the human genome is translated into proteins, which are the building blocks for cells and carry out all cellular activities. Certain classes of proteins are known as enzymes, which catalyze biochemical interactions. Through our NSERC funded research, we have recently identified a new class of enzymes, called GEFs that activate a member of a large family of proteins known as Rabs. Rabs are a type of cellular switch and are vital in turning on and turning off multiple cellular activities including cell growth and differentiation. However, the switches that turn on the Rabs are not well understood. There are 18 of the GEF proteins in humans and we think that each plays a role in the activation of Rabs. Moreover, and excitingly, these proteins also appear to act downstream of the activated Rab. Thus, we hypothesize that the GEF proteins are positioned between different Rab signaling pathways and this will be the focus of the research in this Discovery Grant application. If true, our studies will reveal a key new regulatory mechanism for controlling the vast Rab regulatory network in cells.