Association of the GTP-binding protein Rab3A with bovine adrenal chromaffin granules

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.87.15.5692· OSTI ID:5988548

Darchen, F; Hammel, F; Monteils, M P; Scherman, D ^[1]; Zahraoui, A; Tavitian, A ^[2]

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1. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris (France)
2. Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale, Paris (France)

The Rab3A protein belongs to a large family of small GTP-binding proteins that are present in eukaryotic cells and that share amino acid identities with the Ras proteins (products of the ras protooncogenes). Rab3A, which is specifically located in nervous and endocrine tissues, is suspected to play a key role in secretion. Its localization was investigated in bovine adrenal gland by using a polyclonal antibody. Rab3A was detected in adrenal medulla but not in adrenal cortex. In cultured adrenal medulla cells, Rab3A was specifically expressed in the catecholamine-secreting chromaffin cells. Subcellular fractionation suggested that Rab3A is about 30% cytosolic and that particulate Rab3A is associated with the membrane of chromaffin granules (the catecholamine storage organelles) and with a second compartment likely to be the plasma membrane. The Rab3A localization on chromaffin granule membranes was confirmed by immunoadsorption with an antibody against dopamine {beta}-hydroxylase. Rab3A was not extracted from this membrane by NaCl or KBr but was partially extracted by urea and totally solubilized by Triton X-100, suggesting either an interaction with an intrinsic protein or a membrane association through fatty acid acylation. This study suggests that Rab3A, which may also be located on other secretory vesicles containing noncharacterized small GTP-binding proteins, is involved in their biogenesis or in the regulated secretion process.

• OSTI ID: 5988548
• Journal Information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA), Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA) Vol. 87:15; ISSN 0027-8424; ISSN PNASA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ADRENAL GLANDS
AMINES
ANTIBODIES
AROMATICS
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
AZAARENES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOCHEMISTRY
BODY
CARDIOTONICS
CARDIOVASCULAR AGENTS
CATECHOLAMINES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISTRIBUTION
DOPAMINE
DRUGS
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
ENZYMES
FLUORESCENCE
GLANDS
GUANOSINE
HALOGENATION
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
HYDROXYLASES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINATION
IODINE 125
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LUMINESCENCE
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES
NEUROREGULATORS
NUCLEI
NUCLEOSIDES
NUCLEOTIDES
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PHENOLS
POLYPHENOLS
PROTEINS
PURINES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIORECEPTOR ASSAY
RIBOSIDES
SECRETION
SUBCELLULAR DISTRIBUTION
SYMPATHOMIMETICS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS