Expression analysis and chromosomal assignment of PRA1 and RILP genes

PRA1 (prenylated Rab acceptor) is a general regulator of Rab proteins, whil e RILP (Rab interacting lysosomal protein) is a specific effector for Rab7. It has been shown that PRA1 interacts with Rab proteins and with VAMP2. Th erefore PRA1 is probably an important factor for membrane traffic, linking together the function of Rab proteins and SNAREs. RILP has a key role in th e control of transport to degradative compartments together with Rab7 and p robably links Rab7 function to the cytoskeleton. Here we have studied by No rthern blot the expression of the two genes in several different human tiss ues. The 0.8-kb mRNA for human PRA1 is ubiquitously expressed, while the tw o mRNAs for RILP are differentially expressed. In addition, we have assigne d the human PRA1 gene to chromosome 19q13.13-q13.2 and the human RILP gene to chromosome 17p13.3. (C) 2001 Academic Press.