ROLE OF RAB PROTEINS IN ADENOVIRUS INFECTION

Adenovirusi su DNA virusi i pripadaju obitelji Adenoviridae, rodu Mastadenovirus a njihova su molekularna i biološka svojstva dobro poznata. Također radi se o virusima čijim se genomom lako manipulira, a mogu se koristiti i za uspješan unos virusnog genoma u stanicu domaćina, zbog čega su to dobri vektori za prijenos gena u svrhu genske terapije i vakcinacije. Da bi infekcija adenovirusa bila uspješna, potrebni su različiti stanični proteini, koje adenovirus koristi kako bi uspješno dostavio svoj genom u jezgru stanice domaćina i osigurao ekspresiju vlastitih gena. U tu grupu proteina koji su važni u procesu infekcije spadaju i Rab proteini koji čine najveću obitelj malih enzima GTPaza i kontroliraju različite korake unutarstaničnog transporta. Za uspješnu infekciju adenovirusa najvažniji su Rab proteini Rab5, Rab7, Rab9 i Rab11. Upravo je razumijevanje dinamike Rab proteina i njihove uključenosti u unutarstanični transport, važno za rasvjetljavanje mehanizma adenovirusne infekcije, endocitoze kao procesa te razvijanje novih strategija u pristupu liječenja raznih bolesti nastalih poremećajem funkcije Rab proteina. Ovaj diplomski rad stoga daje detaljni teorijski pregled o ulozi Rab proteina u infekciji stanica čovjeka adenovirusom.
Adenoviruses are DNA viruses that belong to the Adenoviridae family, genus Mastadenovirus and their molecular biology is well-known. They are also viruses whose genome is easly manipulated, and can very successful introduct the viral genome into the host cell, which has shown why they are recognized as an excellent candidates for gene therapy and vaccination purposes. In order to maintain efficient infection, adenoviruses use different cellular proteins to successfully deliver genome into the cell nucleus and ensure the expression of its own genes. One of the most important proteins involved in adenovirus infection are Rab proteins, which make largest family of small GTPases and control the various steps of intracellular transport. Understanding the dynamics of Rab proteins and their involvement in intracellular transport, allows better understanding of the adenoviral infection mechanism, endocytosis as a process and development of new strategies in the treatment of various diseases caused by Rab protein dysfunction. This thesis consists of detailed theoretical overview of the Rab protein role in human adenovirus cell infection, specifically Rab5, Rab7, Rab9 and Rab11.