The small GTPases Rab are key regulators of intracellular membrane trafficking, from the formation of transport vesicles to their fusion with membranes. Rabs cycle between an inactive GDP-bound form and an active GTP-bound form that is able to recruit to membranes different set of downstream effectors directly responsible for vesicle formation, movement, tethering and fusion. RAB1B regulates vesicular transport between the endoplasmic reticulum and successive Golgi compartments. Plays a role in the initial events of the autophagic vacuole development which take place at specialized regions of the endoplasmic reticulum.
