Ivor Joseph

Graduate Student

Ras proteins are a family of proteins that function as molecular switches that control many intracellular signaling networks. One member of this Ras superfamily of genes is the Rab family of proteins. Rab proteins are small GTP-binding molecules that are heavily involved in many functions such as the docking and fusion of many transport vesicles with their target locations. The Rab11 proteins include three isoforms. These isoforms are Rab11a, Rab11b and Rab11c/Rab25. Many of Rab11a functions are currently already known. These functions include the recycling of thromboxane receptor-B and internalizing B2-adrenic receptors. Rab25 is known to be involved in colon cancer, ovarian and breast cancer and is major player in cancer pathogenesis. However not much is known about Rab11b function. What is known about Rab11b is that Rab11b associates with myosin and carries a huge cargo with many proteins to localize at the plasma membrane. However many of these proteins have not been identified. I am particularly focusing on identifying the proteins that are in the Rab11b vesicles cargo. 

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Ras proteins are a family of proteins that function as molecular switches that control many intracellular signaling networks. One member of this Ras superfamily of genes is the Rab family of proteins. Rab proteins are small GTP-binding molecules that are heavily involved in many functions such as the docking and fusion of many transport vesicles with their target locations. The Rab11 proteins include three isoforms. These isoforms are Rab11a, Rab11b and Rab11c/Rab25. Many of Rab11a functions are currently a