Function of Rab GTPases in Regulating the Development, Protein Secretion and Virulence of Fungi

Rab GTPases are small guanosine triphosphatases with organelle-specific localization, and very stable in size in fungi, ranging from 8 to 12 in most of the sequenced fungi. Extensive studies about Rab GTPases in model eukaryotic cells indicated that they are master regulators of membrane trafficking, responsible for many essential processes including exocytosis, endocytosis and cellular differentiation. However, the function of Rab GTPases in fungi, especially in the plant pathogenic fungi, needs to be explored in recent. Here, we mainly summarize the research advances on the function of Rab GTPases in the life progress of fungi.