Rab15 colocalizes with the transferrin receptor in early endosome compartments, but not with late endosomal markers. It codistributes with Rab4 and Rab5 on early/sorting endosomes, and with Rab11 on pericentriolar recycling endosomes. It is believed to function as an inhibitory GTPase that regulates distinct steps in early endocytic trafficking [, ]. Rabs are regulated by GTPase activating proteins (GAPs), which interact with GTP-bound Rab and accelerate the hydrolysis of GTP to GDP. Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) interact with GDP-bound Rabs to promote the formation of the GTP-bound state. Rabs are further regulated by guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors (GDIs), which facilitate Rab recycling by masking C-terminal lipid binding and promoting cytosolic localization. Most Rab GTPases contain a lipid modification site at the C terminus, with sequence motifs CC, CXC, or CCX. Lipid binding is essential for membrane attachment, a key feature of most Rab proteins [, ].
