COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF RHD3 MOBILITY IN THE CORITCAL AND NONCORTICAL ER: ASSESSING POSSIBLE INTERACTIONS OF RHD3 WITH THE PLASMA MEMBRANE

Abstract

RHD3, an integral membrane protein with active GTPase activity found in plants, has been recently highlighted as an ER remodeling protein. While the function of this protein is unknown, it is proposed that RHD3 acts in the movement of ER tubules to and from the cell cortex via interactions with the cell membrane. Preliminary research has indicated that the GTP-GDP isoform of RHD3 present may act to regulate an interaction with the cell membrane as is observed for small lipid linked G proteins. Another family of proteins known to interact with RHD3 is the reticulons, proteins thought to affect ER tubule stability. By functioning as an anchor for the ER and by interacting with other ER remodeling proteins such as reticulons, RHD3 may change the mobility of other ER remodeling proteins and thus alter ER structural stability. This paper provides an analysis of RHD3 interaction with the cell membrane.