Enhanced prenyltransferase activity and Rab protein content in the regenerating rat liver regeneration

Rabs are small GTP-binding proteins with a regulatory role in intracellular vesicular traffic. The modulation of their levels and activity in different physiological situations is poorly understood. During the first cell cycle of rat liver regeneration we observed a differential regulation of some Rabs, with a progressive increase of those involved in exocytosis and a progressive decrease of one involved in endocytosis. This could be related with the need of exposing growth factor receptors and prolonging the transduction of their signal in preparation for mitosis. Moreover, we observed an increased activity of protein prenyltransferases, the enzymes responsible for the prenylation of several proteins involved in crucial processes of proliferation, without a corresponding increase in the amount of prenyltransferase protein.