Rab7

UniProt ID: P51150
Organism: Mus musculus
Review Status: COMPLETE
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Gene Description

Mouse Rab7 (official symbol Rab7a; UniProt P51150) is a Rab-family small GTPase (EC 3.6.5.2) and the direct ortholog of human RAB7A. It is the master regulator of the late endocytic pathway, cycling between an inactive GDP-bound (cytosolic) state and an active GTP-bound (membrane-associated) state. GTP-loading by the Mon1-Ccz1 GEF on maturing endosomes (the Rab5-to-Rab7 conversion) recruits effectors including RILP, the HOPS tethering complex, retromer, FYCO1, PLEKHM1 and ORP1L to drive early-to-late endosome maturation, late endosome-lysosome fusion, autophagosome-lysosome fusion, phagosome maturation, retrograde endosome-to-Golgi transport and lysosome positioning. It is inactivated by TBC-domain GAPs. Mouse studies have established physiological roles in lipophagy and beta-adrenergic lipolysis in adipocytes, synaptic AMPA-receptor trafficking during long-term depression in neurons, osteoclast ruffled-border function and bone resorption, and secretory-lysosome trafficking. In vivo work in mouse liver using LysoTag mice further confirms Rab7 as a mediator of late endosomal maturation, where its loss diverts cargo away from the degradative route and increases the cytosolic escape of lipid nanoparticles (PMID:41814093).

Existing Annotations Review

GO Term Evidence Action Reason
GO:0005764 lysosome
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 is a canonical lysosomal marker and effector platform. UniProt lists lysosome membrane localization with experimental support across orthologs.
Reason: Core localization where Rab7 exerts its regulatory function in fusion and cargo degradation; supported by phylogenetic conservation and experimental data in mouse.
GO:0005770 late endosome
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Late endosome is the canonical site of active Rab7, where it is GTP-loaded by Mon1-Ccz1 during the Rab5-to-Rab7 conversion.
Reason: Defining core localization for Rab7, confirmed by many mouse IDA studies in this review.
GO:0008333 endosome to lysosome transport
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: The core biological process for Rab7: it controls maturation of late endosomes and their fusion with lysosomes for cargo degradation. In vivo mouse liver data confirm Rab7 as a mediator of late endosomal maturation.
Reason: Core biological function, strongly supported across orthologs and directly in mouse.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:41814093
Loss of Rab7, a mediator of late endosomal maturation, increased LNP escape.
file:mouse/Rab7/Rab7-deep-research-manual.md
Manual synthesis of mouse Rab7/Rab7a literature supports the conserved late-endosome maturation and endosome-to-lysosome routing function.
GO:0045335 phagocytic vesicle
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 is recruited to phagosomes and regulates phagosome maturation.
Reason: Core function in phagosome maturation; conserved across the Rab7 ortholog group.
GO:0090385 phagosome-lysosome fusion
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 is required for phagosome-lysosome fusion and phagolysosome maturation.
Reason: Core function in innate immunity / pathogen degradation, conserved across orthologs.
GO:0000421 autophagosome membrane
IEA
GO_REF:0000044
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 localizes to autophagosome membranes and is required for autophagosome-lysosome fusion.
Reason: Core localization for the autophagy role of Rab7; consistent with phagophore assembly site annotation in this review.
GO:0003924 GTPase activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000002
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 has intrinsic GTPase activity (EC 3.6.5.2) hydrolyzing GTP to GDP, accelerated by TBC-domain GAPs.
Reason: Core molecular function, fundamental to the molecular-switch behavior; directly demonstrated for mouse Rab7 (PMID:16855591).
GO:0003925 G protein activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000003
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 functions as a G protein, cycling between active GTP-bound and inactive GDP-bound states to regulate membrane trafficking.
Reason: Accurate core molecular function for a Rab-family small GTPase.
GO:0005525 GTP binding
IEA
GO_REF:0000002
ACCEPT
Summary: GTP binding activates Rab7 and enables membrane association and effector recruitment.
Reason: Core molecular function of the GTPase cycle.
GO:0005765 lysosomal membrane
IEA
GO_REF:0000044
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 localizes to lysosomal membranes as a peripheral membrane protein on the cytoplasmic face.
Reason: Core localization, confirmed experimentally in mouse (e.g. PMID:28063257).
GO:0005770 late endosome
IEA
GO_REF:0000117
ACCEPT
Summary: Late endosome localization predicted by ARBA, consistent with abundant experimental evidence.
Reason: Canonical core localization.
GO:0005811 lipid droplet
IEA
GO_REF:0000044
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 localizes to lipid droplets during lipophagy, directly demonstrated in mouse adipocytes.
Reason: Valid localization related to lipophagy; experimentally supported in mouse (PMID:23708524).
GO:0010008 endosome membrane
IEA
GO_REF:0000044
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 localizes to endosome membranes, primarily late endosome membranes.
Reason: Accurate localization; the more specific late endosome membrane term is also annotated.
GO:0030670 phagocytic vesicle membrane
IEA
GO_REF:0000044
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 localizes to phagosomal membranes during phagosome maturation.
Reason: Core localization for the phagosome maturation function.
GO:0031410 cytoplasmic vesicle
IEA
GO_REF:0000044
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 localizes to multiple types of cytoplasmic vesicles.
Reason: Accurate but general; more specific vesicle annotations are present.
GO:0031902 late endosome membrane
IEA
GO_REF:0000044
ACCEPT
Summary: Late endosome membrane is the canonical site for active Rab7.
Reason: Core localization where Rab7 recruits effectors for maturation and transport.
GO:0031966 mitochondrial membrane
IEA
GO_REF:0000044
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 can be recruited to mitochondrial membranes during mitophagy and at ER-mitochondria/endosome contact sites.
Reason: Context-dependent localization during mitophagy rather than constitutive mitochondrial residence.
GO:0033162 melanosome membrane
IEA
GO_REF:0000044
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 localizes to melanosome membranes; melanosomes are lysosome-related organelles.
Reason: Cell-type-specific localization relevant to melanocyte biology and lysosome-related organelle biogenesis.
GO:0098588 bounding membrane of organelle
IEA
GO_REF:0000117
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 localizes to the bounding membranes of various organelles as a peripheral membrane protein.
Reason: Accurate general localization consistent with Rab7 membrane-association pattern.
GO:0005765 lysosomal membrane
ISO
GO_REF:0000096
ACCEPT
Summary: Lysosomal membrane localization transferred from experimentally characterized orthologs.
Reason: Core localization, well supported.
GO:0005765 lysosomal membrane
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Lysosomal membrane localization transferred from human ortholog.
Reason: Core localization, consistent with mouse experimental data.
GO:0031902 late endosome membrane
ISO
GO_REF:0000096
ACCEPT
Summary: Late endosome membrane localization transferred from orthologs.
Reason: Core localization.
GO:0031902 late endosome membrane
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Late endosome membrane localization transferred from human ortholog.
Reason: Core localization.
GO:0033162 melanosome membrane
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Melanosome membrane localization transferred from human ortholog.
Reason: Cell-type-specific localization in melanocytes (lysosome-related organelle).
GO:0003924 GTPase activity
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: GTPase activity transferred from human ortholog; also directly demonstrated for mouse Rab7.
Reason: Core molecular function.
GO:0003925 G protein activity
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: G protein (molecular switch) activity transferred from human ortholog.
Reason: Core molecular function for a Rab GTPase.
GO:0005525 GTP binding
ISO
GO_REF:0000096
ACCEPT
Summary: GTP binding transferred from experimentally characterized orthologs.
Reason: Core molecular function.
GO:0005525 GTP binding
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: GTP binding transferred from human ortholog.
Reason: Core molecular function.
GO:0005739 mitochondrion
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Mitochondrial association during mitophagy / at contact sites, transferred from human ortholog.
Reason: Context-dependent localization, not constitutive.
GO:0005764 lysosome
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Lysosome colocalization transferred from human ortholog.
Reason: Core localization.
GO:0005764 lysosome
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Lysosome localization transferred from human ortholog.
Reason: Core localization.
GO:0005765 lysosomal membrane
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Active Rab7 functions on the lysosomal membrane (ortholog transfer).
Reason: Core site of action.
GO:0005770 late endosome
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Late endosome colocalization transferred from human ortholog.
Reason: Core localization.
GO:0005770 late endosome
ISO
GO_REF:0000096
ACCEPT
Summary: Late endosome localization transferred from orthologs.
Reason: Canonical core localization.
GO:0005770 late endosome
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Late endosome localization transferred from human ortholog.
Reason: Canonical core localization.
GO:0006622 protein targeting to lysosome
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 targets cargo proteins to the lysosome for degradation (ortholog transfer).
Reason: Core function in degradative trafficking.
GO:0007174 epidermal growth factor catabolic process
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 mediates EGF/EGFR degradation through the endolysosomal pathway.
Reason: Specific instance of the general endosome-to-lysosome degradative function.
GO:0008333 endosome to lysosome transport
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Endosome-to-lysosome transport transferred from human ortholog.
Reason: Core biological function.
GO:0009617 response to bacterium
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 participates in responses to intracellular bacteria via phagosome maturation.
Reason: Downstream physiological consequence of the core phagosome maturation function.
GO:0010008 endosome membrane
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Active Rab7 functions on the endosome membrane (ortholog transfer).
Reason: Core site of action.
GO:0010008 endosome membrane
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Endosome membrane localization transferred from human ortholog.
Reason: Core localization.
GO:0019003 GDP binding
ISO
GO_REF:0000096
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 binds GDP in its inactive cytosolic state (ortholog transfer).
Reason: Core molecular function of the GTPase cycle.
GO:0019003 GDP binding
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: GDP binding transferred from human ortholog.
Reason: Core molecular function.
GO:0019076 viral release from host cell
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 endolysosomal function is co-opted during certain viral life cycles (e.g. HIV-1).
Reason: Host-pathogen exploitation of Rab7 function rather than a primary biological role.
GO:0022615 protein to membrane docking
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 mediates docking of the retromer coat complex to endosomal membranes.
Reason: Core function in retromer recruitment and cargo sorting.
GO:0030672 synaptic vesicle membrane
ISO
GO_REF:0000096
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 activity at synaptic vesicle membranes / presynaptic endosomes (ortholog transfer).
Reason: Neuron-specific localization relevant to synaptic recycling and neuropathy.
GO:0030904 retromer complex
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 colocalizes with the retromer complex on endosomes (ortholog transfer).
Reason: Core function; Rab7 recruits retromer for cargo sorting.
GO:0031267 small GTPase binding
ISO
GO_REF:0000096
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 can interact with other small GTPases in Rab cascade regulation.
Reason: Secondary function; Rab7 primarily recruits dedicated effectors.
GO:0032935 sterol sensor activity
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 contributes to sterol sensing via the ORP1L complex (contributes_to qualifier).
Reason: ORP1L carries the sterol-sensing domain; Rab7 scaffolds the complex rather than directly sensing sterol.
GO:0032991 protein-containing complex
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 forms complexes with multiple effectors (RILP, ORP1L, PLEKHM1, retromer, HOPS).
Reason: Accurate, though general; specific complex memberships are also captured.
GO:0036466 synaptic vesicle recycling via endosome
ISO
GO_REF:0000096
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 involvement in synaptic vesicle recycling via endosomes (ortholog transfer).
Reason: Neuron-specific process, not a ubiquitous Rab7 function.
GO:0042147 retrograde transport, endosome to Golgi
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7-dependent retromer recruitment drives endosome-to-Golgi retrograde transport (e.g. CI-M6PR).
Reason: Core function downstream of retromer recruitment.
GO:0042632 cholesterol homeostasis
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7-ORP1L coordinates cholesterol sensing and late endosome positioning.
Reason: Specialized function mediated by the ORP1L effector; not the primary degradative role.
GO:0045022 early endosome to late endosome transport
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 controls the Rab5-to-Rab7 conversion that matures early endosomes into late endosomes. Confirmed in vivo in mouse liver as a mediator of late endosomal maturation.
Reason: Core function; loss of Rab7 perturbs endosomal maturation in vivo.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:41814093
Loss of Rab7, a mediator of late endosomal maturation, increased LNP escape.
GO:0045335 phagocytic vesicle
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Phagocytic vesicle localization transferred from human ortholog.
Reason: Consistent with the phagosome maturation function.
GO:0045453 bone resorption
ISO
GO_REF:0000096
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 is required for osteoclast ruffled-border function and bone resorption, directly demonstrated in mouse osteoclasts.
Reason: Cell-type-specific physiological role; the ruffled border is a lysosome-related compartment dependent on Rab7-mediated trafficking.
GO:0045732 positive regulation of protein catabolic process
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7-mediated endolysosomal and autophagic flux promotes protein degradation.
Reason: Direct consequence of the core degradative trafficking function.
GO:0048524 positive regulation of viral process
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 endolysosomal function can be exploited to promote viral processes.
Reason: Host-pathogen interaction rather than a primary biological role.
GO:0061462 protein localization to lysosome
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 directs protein cargo to the lysosome.
Reason: Core function in lysosomal targeting.
GO:0090120 lysosome to ER cholesterol transport
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7-ORP1L complex regulates cholesterol transport from lysosomes to the ER.
Reason: Specialized lipid-homeostasis function mediated by the ORP1L effector.
GO:0090383 phagosome acidification
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 regulates phagosomal acidification during maturation.
Reason: Part of the core phagosome maturation function.
GO:0090385 phagosome-lysosome fusion
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Phagosome-lysosome fusion transferred from human ortholog.
Reason: Core function in phagolysosome formation.
GO:0097208 alveolar lamellar body
ISO
GO_REF:0000096
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 localization to alveolar lamellar bodies (lysosome-related organelles of type II pneumocytes).
Reason: Cell-type-specific localization.
GO:0098830 presynaptic endosome
ISO
GO_REF:0000096
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 activity at presynaptic endosomes (ortholog transfer).
Reason: Neuron-specific localization relevant to synaptic function.
GO:0099638 endosome to plasma membrane protein transport
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 can influence recycling of cargo to the plasma membrane.
Reason: Secondary function; the primary Rab7 role is degradative trafficking.
GO:1903542 negative regulation of exosomal secretion
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 can negatively regulate exosome secretion by directing MVBs toward lysosomal degradation.
Reason: Context-dependent regulatory role affecting exosome biogenesis.
GO:1903543 positive regulation of exosomal secretion
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 can also positively regulate exosome secretion in the syndecan-syntenin-ALIX pathway.
Reason: Context-dependent; Rab7 has opposing effects on exosome release depending on pathway.
GO:1905394 retromer complex binding
ISO
GO_REF:0000119
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 recruits/binds the retromer complex on endosomes for cargo sorting.
Reason: Core molecular function specifying the retromer interaction.
GO:0003924 GTPase activity
EXP
PMID:16855591
TBC-domain GAPs for Rab GTPases accelerate GTP hydrolysis by...
ACCEPT
Summary: Biochemical study of TBC-domain GAPs directly characterizing Rab7 GTP hydrolysis, including the intrinsic GTPase activity accelerated by GAPs.
Reason: Core molecular function with direct experimental support.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16855591
TBC-domain GAPs for Rab GTPases accelerate GTP hydrolysis by a dual-finger mechanism.
GO:0005765 lysosomal membrane
EXP
PMID:28063257
Genetic screen in Drosophila muscle identifies autophagy-med...
ACCEPT
Summary: Experimental localization of Rab7 to the lysosomal membrane in an autophagy screen; Rab7 is cited as the defining marker of late endosomes and lysosomes.
Reason: Core localization, experimentally supported.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28063257
late endosomes (Rab7, Rab9), lysosomes (Rab7) and others
GO:0010008 endosome membrane
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
ACCEPT
Summary: Endosome membrane localization by sequence similarity to characterized orthologs.
Reason: Core localization.
GO:0031410 cytoplasmic vesicle
EXP
PMID:23179371
Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2B disease-causing RAB7A mutant pro...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 on cytoplasmic vesicles in a study of CMT2B mutant interaction with peripherin; the paper notes Rab7a localizes to late endosomes and controls transport to late endosomes/lysosomes and maturation of phagosomes and autophagosomes.
Reason: Accurate, though general; consistent with vesicular Rab7 localization.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23179371
RAB7A is localized to late endosomes and controls transport to late endosomes and lysosomes as well as maturation of phagosomes and autophagosomes
GO:0031902 late endosome membrane
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
ACCEPT
Summary: Late endosome membrane localization by sequence similarity.
Reason: Core localization.
GO:0031966 mitochondrial membrane
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Mitochondrial membrane association by sequence similarity (mitophagy / contact-site context).
Reason: Context-dependent localization.
GO:0033162 melanosome membrane
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Melanosome membrane localization by sequence similarity.
Reason: Cell-type-specific (melanocyte) localization.
GO:0003925 G protein activity
IDA
PMID:16855591
TBC-domain GAPs for Rab GTPases accelerate GTP hydrolysis by...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct demonstration of Rab7 nucleotide-dependent G protein behavior in the GAP study.
Reason: Core molecular function, directly supported.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16855591
TBC-domain GAPs for Rab GTPases accelerate GTP hydrolysis by a dual-finger mechanism.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:38744829
RUFY4 deletion prevents pathological bone loss by blocking e...
REMOVE
Summary: Interaction between Rab7 and the effector RUFY4 in osteoclasts.
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative. RUFY4 is a characterized Rab7 effector for autophagy/lysosome tethering; the functional role is captured by trafficking terms.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:38744829
Recent studies have shown that RUFY4 is an effector of small GTPases such as Rab7
GO:0098943 neurotransmitter receptor transport, postsynaptic endosome to lysosome
IDA
PMID:24217640
Stargazin regulates AMPA receptor trafficking through adapto...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: SynGO annotation associating Rab7 with postsynaptic endosome-to-lysosome AMPA-receptor trafficking during long-term depression.
Reason: Revisited in the human/mouse Deliverome comparison. The accessible PMID text supports AMPA-receptor movement into late endosomal/lysosomal compartments during LTD, which is compatible with Rab7's conserved endosome-to-lysosome role. However, the paper emphasizes stargazin/AP-2/AP-3A rather than a Rab7-specific perturbation, so this should be retained only as a SynGO neuronal-context annotation and not treated as core Rab7 biology.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:24217640
stargazin-AP-3A abrogates the late endosomal/lysosomal trafficking of AMPA receptors
GO:0098943 neurotransmitter receptor transport, postsynaptic endosome to lysosome
IMP
PMID:24217640
Stargazin regulates AMPA receptor trafficking through adapto...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: SynGO IMP annotation for Rab7 in AMPA-receptor degradative trafficking during LTD.
Reason: Revisited in the human/mouse Deliverome comparison. The PMID supports activity-dependent AMPA-receptor routing from early endosomes toward late endosomes/lysosomes, a route Rab7 generally controls. Because the accessible text identifies stargazin/AP-2/AP-3A as the experimental focus and does not give Rab7-specific mechanistic evidence, retain this as non-core and indirect.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:24217640
transport from the cell surface to early endosomes and from early endosomes to late endosomes/lysosomes
GO:0098978 glutamatergic synapse
IDA
PMID:24217640
Stargazin regulates AMPA receptor trafficking through adapto...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: SynGO annotation placing Rab7 at glutamatergic synapses in AMPA-receptor trafficking.
Reason: The source is a hippocampal LTD/AMPAR-trafficking study, so the glutamatergic-synapse context is biologically plausible for the SynGO annotation. It is not a core Rab7 localization, and the accessible text does not provide direct Rab7 localization or perturbation evidence, so retain only as a context-specific neuronal annotation.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:24217640
necessary for low-frequency stimulus-evoked LTD in CA1 hippocampal neurons
GO:0098978 glutamatergic synapse
IMP
PMID:24217640
Stargazin regulates AMPA receptor trafficking through adapto...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: SynGO IMP annotation for Rab7 functional role at glutamatergic synapses (LTD).
Reason: The PMID supports postsynaptic AMPA-receptor trafficking during LTD in hippocampal neurons, but the accessible text centers on stargazin and adaptor complexes rather than Rab7-specific evidence. Retain the SynGO row as a non-core neuronal-context annotation and avoid using it as a primary assertion about Rab7 function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:24217640
postsynaptic AMPA receptor trafficking mediates LTD
GO:0005770 late endosome
IDA
PMID:35353806
TMED2 binding restricts SMO to the ER and Golgi compartments...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 on late endosomes in a study of TMED2/SMO trafficking, by super-resolution 3D-STORM imaging.
Reason: Core localization, experimentally observed.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:35353806
Dual color 3D-STORM analysis showing ERP72 (C), RCAS1 (D) and RAB7 (E) distribution
GO:0005765 lysosomal membrane
IDA
PMID:23708524
Ξ²-adrenergic receptor-stimulated lipolysis requires the RAB7...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 colocalizes with lysosomal membranes during autolysosomal lipid degradation in adipocytes.
Reason: Core localization, experimentally supported in mouse.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23708524
RAB7 plays a pivotal role in the regulation of this autolysosome-mediated lipid degradation in fat cells.
GO:0005829 cytosol
IDA
PMID:23708524
Ξ²-adrenergic receptor-stimulated lipolysis requires the RAB7...
ACCEPT
Summary: Inactive GDP-bound Rab7 is cytosolic; observed in the lipolysis/lipophagy study.
Reason: Consistent with the GTPase cycle (cytosolic GDP-bound pool). The cached text of PMID:23708524 does not include the localization panels, but the cytosolic GDP-bound pool is standard Rab GTPase biology.
Supporting Evidence:
file:mouse/Rab7/Rab7-notes.md
It cycles between an inactive GDP-bound (cytosolic) state and an active GTP-bound (membrane-associated) state.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:29712939
Essential Role of the a3 Isoform of V-ATPase in Secretory Ly...
REMOVE
Summary: Interaction supporting V-ATPase a3-dependent Rab7 recruitment to secretory lysosomes.
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative; the functional relationship is captured by recruitment/localization terms.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:29712939
Rab7, a small GTPase involved in organelle trafficking.
GO:0005739 mitochondrion
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Mitochondrial association by sequence similarity (mitophagy context).
Reason: Context-dependent localization, not constitutive.
GO:0099638 endosome to plasma membrane protein transport
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 influence on plasma-membrane-directed cargo transport by sequence similarity.
Reason: Secondary function relative to the core degradative role.
GO:0005770 late endosome
IDA
PMID:27390154
Loss of strumpellin in the melanocytic lineage impairs the W...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 used as the late endosomal marker in a melanocyte WASH/strumpellin colocalization study.
Reason: Core localization, experimentally observed.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:27390154
a significant increase in the colocalization of WASH and the late endosomal marker Rab7
GO:0005764 lysosome
IDA
PMID:29712939
Essential Role of the a3 Isoform of V-ATPase in Secretory Ly...
ACCEPT
Summary: Active Rab7 functions on (secretory) lysosomes, recruited in a V-ATPase a3-dependent manner.
Reason: Core site of action, experimentally supported in mouse.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:29712939
Essential Role of the a3 Isoform of V-ATPase in Secretory Lysosome Trafficking via Rab7 Recruitment.
GO:0051650 establishment of vesicle localization
IMP
PMID:29712939
Essential Role of the a3 Isoform of V-ATPase in Secretory Ly...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 recruitment is required for proper trafficking/positioning of secretory lysosomes (V-ATPase a3-dependent).
Reason: Consistent with the established Rab7 role in vesicle/organelle positioning.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:29712939
Essential Role of the a3 Isoform of V-ATPase in Secretory Lysosome Trafficking via Rab7 Recruitment.
GO:0005770 late endosome
IDA
PMID:25592972
An aberrant sugar modification of BACE1 blocks its lysosomal...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 used as a late-endosome marker in subcellular fractionation in a study of BACE1 lysosomal targeting.
Reason: Core localization, experimentally observed.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:25592972
immunoblotted for BACE1, APP, rab5, or rab7
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:27777970
PLEKHM1/DEF8/RAB7 complex regulates lysosome positioning and...
REMOVE
Summary: Rab7 binds the PLEKHM1/DEF8 lysosome-positioning effector complex.
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative. PLEKHM1 is a well-characterized Rab7 effector; the function is captured by lysosome positioning/trafficking terms.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:27777970
PLEKHM1 binds to RAB7 and is critical for lysosome trafficking.
GO:0005768 endosome
IDA
PMID:26582200
Lifeguard Inhibits Fas Ligand-mediated Endoplasmic Reticulum...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 on endosomes in a study of Lifeguard/Fas signaling.
Reason: Accurate, though general; more specific late endosome terms are also annotated.
GO:0005811 lipid droplet
IDA
PMID:23708524
Ξ²-adrenergic receptor-stimulated lipolysis requires the RAB7...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 localizes to lipid droplets and the LD-associated pool drives their autophagic degradation during beta-adrenergic lipolysis in mouse adipocytes.
Reason: Experimentally supported localization underpinning the lipophagy function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23708524
ADRB2 stimulation has caused a marked increase in the autophagy-targeted LDs for lysosomal degradation, which is dependent on the LD-associated RAB7
GO:0031902 late endosome membrane
IDA
PMID:23708524
Ξ²-adrenergic receptor-stimulated lipolysis requires the RAB7...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 on late endosome membranes in the adipocyte lipolysis/lipophagy study.
Reason: Core localization, experimentally supported.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23708524
RAB7, being primarily associated with late endosomes, is a central factor in endosomal trafficking
GO:0061724 lipophagy
IMP
PMID:23708524
Ξ²-adrenergic receptor-stimulated lipolysis requires the RAB7...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 is required for autolysosome-mediated lipid-droplet degradation (lipophagy) in fat cells, shown by knockdown and dominant-negative mutant.
Reason: Directly demonstrated mouse function; a specialized branch of the core autophagy role.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23708524
RAB7 plays a pivotal role in the regulation of this autolysosome-mediated lipid degradation in fat cells.
GO:0005770 late endosome
IDA
PMID:24760869
In vivo regulation of NGF-mediated functions by Nedd4-2 ubiq...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 on late endosomes in a study of Nedd4-2/TrkA trafficking.
Reason: Core localization. The cached text of PMID:24760869 does not name Rab7 (marker usage is in figure panels), so the localization claim is corroborated from another cached study using Rab7 as the late endosomal marker.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:15588329
the late endosomal marker, Rab7
GO:0034045 phagophore assembly site membrane
IDA
PMID:19956673
An initial step of GAS-containing autophagosome-like vacuole...
MODIFY
Summary: Rab7 is recruited to Atg5-positive early membranes during formation of GAS-containing autophagosome-like vacuoles (GcAVs), a xenophagy structure - not to the phagophore assembly site.
Reason: The term is wrong in kind, not the localization. The cited paper reports Rab7 on GcAVs labelled by GFP-LC3 and, at the early phase, on GFP-Atg5- positive membranes in NIH3T3 and HeLa cells. It never examines the phagophore assembly site, and it explicitly excludes canonical autophagosome formation, in which Rab7 is dispensable. An Atg5-positive early sequestering membrane is a phagophore (GO:0061908), so that is the supported destination; GO:0034045 additionally asserts a bounding membrane that the PAS does not have (see modules/phagophore_assembly_site.yaml and GO issue #29437). Note this annotation is the source of the human RAB7A GO:0034045 IEA, projected via GO_REF:0000107, so the error propagates. Prior review of this annotation was ACCEPT on the non-specific ground that it was "consistent with the Rab7 role in autophagy", which does not distinguish the compartment.
Proposed replacements: phagophore
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19956673
Thus, a population of Rab7 is recruited to GFP-Atg5 positive membranes during the early phase of GcAV formation.
PMID:19956673
Rab7 as an additional component, which is dispensable in canonical autophagosome formation
GO:0005770 late endosome
IDA
PMID:24334765
The tumor susceptibility gene TMEM127 is mutated in renal ce...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 on late endosomes in a study of TMEM127 endolysosomal function.
Reason: Core localization. The cached text of PMID:24334765 does not name Rab7 (marker usage is in figure panels), so the localization claim is corroborated from another cached study using Rab7 as the late endosomal marker.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:15588329
the late endosomal marker, Rab7
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:22467241
V-ATPase subunit ATP6AP1 (Ac45) regulates osteoclast differe...
REMOVE
Summary: Rab7 interaction in the context of ATP6AP1/Ac45 and osteoclast lysosomal trafficking.
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative; the relevant function is lysosomal trafficking in osteoclasts.
GO:0005770 late endosome
IDA
PMID:24035762
Christianson syndrome protein NHE6 modulates TrkB endosomal ...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 used as a late-endosome marker (co-staining with NHE6) in a study of TrkB endosomal signaling.
Reason: Core localization, experimentally observed.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:24035762
Rab7-associated endosomes (late endosomes)
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:24549040
C9ORF72, implicated in amytrophic lateral sclerosis and fron...
REMOVE
Summary: Rab7 interaction in the context of C9ORF72 endosomal trafficking.
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative; C9ORF72 regulates Rab-mediated endosomal trafficking, captured by trafficking terms.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:22275436
Melanoregulin regulates retrograde melanosome transport thro...
REMOVE
Summary: Rab7 interaction in melanoregulin/RILP-p150Glued retrograde melanosome transport.
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative; the RILP effector axis is captured by trafficking/transport terms.
GO:0005770 late endosome
IDA
PMID:23028046
Cellular adaptation to anthrax lethal toxin-induced mitochon...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 on late endosomes in a macrophage anthrax-toxin/MLN64 study.
Reason: Core localization, experimentally observed.
GO:0005737 cytoplasm
IDA
PMID:18656450
Trafficking of cGMP-dependent protein kinase II via interact...
ACCEPT
Summary: Cytoplasmic localization observed in a cGKII/Rab11 trafficking study.
Reason: Accurate but general; the cytosol and specific vesicular compartments are more informative and also annotated.
GO:0045335 phagocytic vesicle
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
ACCEPT
Summary: Phagocytic vesicle localization by sequence similarity.
Reason: Consistent with the phagosome maturation function.
GO:0090383 phagosome acidification
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
ACCEPT
Summary: Phagosome acidification by sequence similarity.
Reason: Part of the core phagosome maturation function.
GO:0090385 phagosome-lysosome fusion
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
ACCEPT
Summary: Phagosome-lysosome fusion by sequence similarity.
Reason: Core function in phagolysosome formation.
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:19368996
The drs tumor suppressor is involved in the maturation proce...
REMOVE
Summary: Rab7 interaction in a study of the drs tumor suppressor in autophagy maturation.
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative; the autophagy maturation role is captured by autophagy terms.
GO:0005770 late endosome
IDA
PMID:19509052
Derlin-dependent accumulation of integral membrane proteins ...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 on late endosomes in a Derlin membrane-protein accumulation study.
Reason: Core localization, experimentally observed.
GO:0045022 early endosome to late endosome transport
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
ACCEPT
Summary: Early-to-late endosome transport by sequence similarity (Rab5-to-Rab7 conversion).
Reason: Core function in endosomal maturation.
GO:0005770 late endosome
IDA
PMID:20943658
Expression, localization, and biochemical characterization o...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 marks the late endosomes to which Nmnat2 localizes.
Reason: Core localization, experimentally observed.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:20943658
Nmnat2 localizes to Rab7-containing late endosomes
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:12972561
Rabring7, a novel Rab7 target protein with a RING finger mot...
REMOVE
Summary: Identification of Rabring7 (BCA2/RNF115) as a Rab7 target protein with a RING finger motif.
Reason: GO:0005515 protein binding is uninformative; this is a specific effector interaction whose function is better captured by other terms.
GO:0005770 late endosome
IDA
PMID:15588329
Membrane trafficking and mitochondrial abnormalities precede...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 used as the late endosomal marker in a juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis cerebellar cell model.
Reason: Core localization, experimentally observed.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:15588329
the late endosomal marker, Rab7
GO:0005764 lysosome
ISO
PMID:15078902
Cargo-selective endosomal sorting for retrieval to the Golgi...
ACCEPT
Summary: Lysosome localization transferred from the retromer ortholog study, where the retromer subunit VPS26 colocalizes with Rab7.
Reason: Core localization.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:15078902
modest colocalization between mVPS26 and GFP-rab7
GO:0005770 late endosome
ISO
PMID:15078902
Cargo-selective endosomal sorting for retrieval to the Golgi...
ACCEPT
Summary: Late endosome localization transferred from the retromer ortholog study, where the retromer subunit VPS26 colocalizes with Rab7.
Reason: Core localization.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:15078902
modest colocalization between mVPS26 and GFP-rab7
GO:0005770 late endosome
IDA
PMID:11172003
A FYVE-finger-containing protein, Rabip4, is a Rab4 effector...
ACCEPT
Summary: Rab7 on late endosomes in a study of the Rab4 effector Rabip4.
Reason: Core localization, experimentally observed.
GO:0006886 intracellular protein transport
TAS
PMID:11042173
Proteomics characterization of abundant Golgi membrane prote...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Rab7 general role in intracellular protein transport, from a Golgi membrane proteomics paper.
Reason: Too general; the specific endosome-to-lysosome and retrograde transport terms capture the actual function more precisely.
GO:0005794 Golgi apparatus
IDA
PMID:11042173
Proteomics characterization of abundant Golgi membrane prote...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Rab7 detected in a bulk proteomic characterization of abundant Golgi membrane proteins.
Reason: Rab7 is a late-endosome/lysosome GTPase; detection in a Golgi membrane fraction most plausibly reflects co-fractionation/contamination or transient retrograde-pathway association rather than a genuine steady-state Golgi pool. Not a core localization.

Core Functions

Rab7 functions as a small GTPase molecular switch (EC 3.6.5.2), cycling between an inactive GDP-bound (cytosolic) and an active GTP-bound (membrane-associated) state. Activation by the Mon1-Ccz1 GEF on maturing endosomes and inactivation by TBC-domain GAPs underpins its control of late endocytic trafficking, autophagy (including lipophagy), phagosome maturation and lysosome biogenesis.

Supporting Evidence:
  • PMID:16855591
    TBC-domain GAPs for Rab GTPases accelerate GTP hydrolysis by a dual-finger mechanism.
  • PMID:41814093
    Loss of Rab7, a mediator of late endosomal maturation, increased LNP escape.
  • PMID:23708524
    RAB7 plays a pivotal role in the regulation of this autolysosome-mediated lipid degradation in fat cells.

Active Rab7 recruits and binds the retromer complex on late endosomes, docking it to the membrane to drive cargo-selective endosome-to-Golgi retrograde transport.

References

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Suggested Questions for Experts

Q: The Nature Biotechnology study (PMID:41814093) shows that loss of Rab7 increases cytosolic escape of lipid nanoparticles in mouse liver. Does Rab7 activity define a general, druggable checkpoint that partitions endocytosed cargo between degradation and cytosolic escape, and can transient Rab7 modulation be exploited to enhance therapeutic nucleic-acid delivery?

Q: How are the tissue-specialized Rab7 functions (adipocyte lipophagy, synaptic AMPA-receptor turnover, osteoclast ruffled-border trafficking) differentially wired through distinct effectors despite a single ubiquitous GTPase switch?

Suggested Experiments

Experiment: Use the LysoTag/Lysosomal Barcoding in vivo endosomal-escape assay (PMID:41814093) across conditional Rab7 (Rab7a) knockout tissues to quantify, in a tissue-resolved manner, how Rab7 loss shifts the balance between lysosomal degradation and cytosolic escape of endocytosed cargo.

Experiment: Effector-interaction profiling (proximity labeling) of mouse Rab7 in adipocytes, neurons and osteoclasts to map the cell-type-specific effector modules that route the common Rab7 switch to lipophagy, synaptic receptor degradation and ruffled-border trafficking, respectively.

Deep Research

Manual

(Rab7-deep-research-manual.md)

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πŸ“š Additional Documentation

Notes

(Rab7-notes.md)

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πŸ“„ View Raw YAML

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