Abstract
Small GTP-binding proteins are important regulators of intracellular traffic. The presence of several small GTP-binding proteins was documented in subfractions of rabbit parietal cells. Upon maximal stimulation of the cells with a combination of histamine and forskolin, one 23 kDa GTP-binding band was observed to decrease in a 50,000 g membrane fraction while increasing in 4000 g membranes. The 23 kDa band resolved into one major and two minor species on two-dimensional gels. GTP-binding species of 23 kDa, 24 kDa and 25 kDa were present in purified preparations of tubulovesicles. The three isoelectric species of the 23 kDa proteins observed in parietal cell 50,000 g microsomes were enriched in tubulovesicle preparations. None of the tubulovesicle-associated GTP-binding proteins were substrates for ADP-ribosylation by a preparation of botulinum D toxin. These results indicate that tubulovesicles contain discrete small GTP-binding proteins which redistribute during parietal cell stimulation.