Disease relevance of Rab32

• However, in melanoma samples, amelanotic due to a mutation in the tyrosinase gene, the expression of Rab32 remains at levels comparable to those observed in pigmented melanoma samples [1].

High impact information on Rab32

• We report that cht Rab38(G19V) is inactive and that the nearly normal pigmentation in cht melanocytes results from functional compensation by the closely related Rab32 [2].
• This work identifies a key role for the Rab38/Rab32 subfamily of Rab proteins in the biogenesis of melanosomes and potentially other lysosome-related organelles [2].
• We show that in murine amelanotic in vitro transformed melanocytes as well as in human amelanotic metastatic melanoma cell lines, the expression of Rab32 is markedly reduced or absent, in parallel with the loss of expression of two key enzymes for the production of melanin, tyrosinase and Tyrp1 [1].
• Three cell types with highly specialized organelles, melanocytes, platelets and mast cells, exhibit relatively high level of Rab32 [1].

References