Ras-related protein Rab-13 (RAB13)

Ras-related protein Rab-13 (RAB13) is a small GTPase belonging to the Rab family, which regulates intracellular membrane trafficking, especially between the trans-Golgi network and recycling endosomes. RAB13 is essential for the assembly and regulation of tight junctions in epithelial cells, affecting cellular adhesion and barrier integrity. It also plays roles in endocytic recycling of membrane proteins such as occludin, cell migration, angiogenesis, and glucose transporter (GLUT4) trafficking. In cancer, RAB13 has been associated with increased tumor invasiveness, maintenance of cancer stem cells, resistance to chemotherapy, and modulation of immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint expression, making it both a biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in oncology[1][2][5]. Disease associations include various malignancies (e.g., liver, breast, colorectal, gastric cancers), Warburg micro syndrome 1, and Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome[2][5].

Other names

GIG4Cell growth-inhibiting gene 4 proteinRAS-associated protein RAB13growth-inhibiting gene 4 protein

Not established for any approved drugs; preclinical research focuses on modulation of vesicle trafficking or inhibition of RAB13 activity to affect cancer cell proliferation, migration, and immune escape[1].