Use of hsp90 inhibitors to disrupt GDI-dependent rab recycling

Guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor (GDI) is a central regulator of Rab GTPase family members. GDI recycles Rab proteins from the membrane and sequesters the inactive GDP-bound form of Rab in the cytosol for use in multiple rounds of transport. The balance between the membrane-bound form of Rab and the cytosolic reserve pool of the Rab-GDI complex is critical for vesicular trafficking between membrane compartments. Recycling of Rab GTPases is likely to require a membrane-bound complex of GDI, Hsp90, and Rab given that alpha GDI-dependent recycling of Rab3A at the synapse and neurotransmitter transmitter release is inhibited by Hsp90-specific inhibitors. Here we describe methods required for establishing the dependence of Rab recycling pathways on Hsp90 in vitro.