Regulation of EGFR endocytic trafficking by rab proteins.

The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is a member of the receptor tyrosine kinase family and has important roles in development and cancer. Through ligand stimulation, the EGFR initiates a number of biochemical pathways that integrate to form specific physiological responses. In addition to these signaling pathways, the ligand stimulation also causes the EGFR to internalize and be transported through the endocytic pathway. The endocytic pathway regulates the rate of EGFR degradation and recycling, as well as the signaling mediated by the EGFR. In this review, the role of rabs, a family of small molecular weight guanine nucleotide binding proteins, is examined in how they regulate endocytic trafficking.