INTERACTION OF A GOLGI-ASSOCIATED KINESIN-LIKE PROTEIN WITH RAB6

Rab guanosine triphosphatases regulate vesicular transport and membran e traffic within eukaryotic cells. Here, a kinesin-like protein that i nteracts with guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-bound forms of Rab6 was ide ntified. This protein, termed Rabkinesin-6, was localized to the Golgi apparatus and shown to play a role in the dynamics of this organelle. The carboxyl-terminal domain of Rabkinesin-6, which contains the Rab6 -interacting domain, inhibited the effects of Rab6-GTP on intracellula r transport, Thus, a molecular motor is a potential effector of a Rab protein, and coordinated action between members of these two families of proteins could control membrane dynamics and directional vesicular traffic.