Prokaryotic expression and polyclonal antibody preparation of a novel Rab-like protein mRabL5.

Rab GTPases, which belong to the Ras superfamily, represent a group of small molecular weight GTP binding proteins that are involved in various steps along the exocytic and endocytic pathways. We first identified mRabL5 (GenBank Accession No. NP_080349), a novel Mus musculus Rab-like protein, present as a Golgi-associated protein. Here we presented the results of the cloning, prokaryotic expression, purification, and polyclonal antibody production of the novel Rab-like protein. In order to obtain a specific antibody against mRabL5, we prepared two GST fusion proteins, full-length mRabL5 GST fusion protein and mRabL5 C terminus GST fusion protein, to immunize rabbits. Western blot analysis showed that both antibodies prepared against full length of mRabL5 and its C terminus, respectively, can recognize mRabL5 protein. Immunofluorescence of mRabL5 in NIH3T3 cells using the two antibodies showed its perinuclear clustering distribution pattern. The polyclonal antibodies preparation against mRabL5 provided a good tool for us to study the functional involvement of mRabL5.