RAB33A, Member RAS Oncogene Family (RAB33A)

Small GTP-binding proteins, including RAB33A, are involved in many cellular functions, including signal transduction, vesicular transport, and control of cytoskeleton and chromatin structure. These proteins all contain conserved regions, termed G1 through G5, that are involved in GTP/GDP binding and GTPase activity.

The deduced 237-amino acid RAB33A protein belongs to the RAB subfamily of small GTPases, other members of which are involved in vesicular transport. Northern blot analysis showed that expression of RAB33A is restricted to lymphoid and monocytic lineage. The mouse Rab33a gene is composed of 2 exons and is predominantly expressed in brain. The mouse protein is 98% identical to the human protein.