Rab5 regulates motility of early endosomes on microtubules

Erik Nielsen, Fedor Severin, Jonathan M. Backer, Anthony A. Hyman, Marino Zerial

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

275 Scopus citations

Abstract

The small GTPase Rab5 regulates membrane docking and fusion in the early endocytic pathway. Here we reveal a new role for Rab5 in the regulation of endosome interactions with the microtubule network. Using Rab5 fused to green fluorescent protein we show that Rab5-positive endosomes move on microtubules in vivo. In vitro, Rab5 stimulates both association of early endosomes with microtubules and early-endosome motility towards the minus ends of microtubules. Moreover, similarly to endosome membrane docking and fusion, Rab5-dependent endosome movement depends on the phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase hVPS34. Thus, Rab5 functionally links regulation of membrane transport, motility and intracellular distribution of early endosomes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)376-382
Number of pages7
JournalNature Cell Biology
Volume1
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1999

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cell Biology

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