TBC1D13 is a Rab35 specific GAP that plays an important role in glut4 trafficking in adipocytes (#71)
Insulin stimulates glucose transport in
adipocytes by triggering translocation of GLUT4 glucose transporters to the
plasma membrane (PM) and several Rabs including Rab10 have been implicated in
this process. To delineate the molecular regulation of this pathway, we
conducted a TBC/RabGAP overexpression screen in adipocytes. This identified
TBC1D13 as a potent inhibitor of insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation without
affecting other trafficking pathways. To determine the potential Rab substrate
for TBC1D13 we conducted a yeast two-hybrid screen and found that the GTP bound
forms of Rabs 1 and 10 specifically interacted with TBC1D13 but not with eight
other TBC proteins. Surprisingly, a comprehensive in vitro screen for TBC1D13 GAP activity revealed Rab35 but not
Rab10 as a specific substrate. TBC1D13 also displayed in vivo GAP activity towards Rab35. Overexpression of
constitutively active Rab35 but not constitutively active Rab10 reversed the
block in insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation observed with TBC1D13
overexpression. These studies implicate an important role for Rab35 in
insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation in adipocytes.