An ADP-Ribosylation-Factor(ARF)-Like Protein involved in Regulated Secretion

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Abstract
A rat ADP‐ribosylation factor(ARF)‐like protein named ARL184 was identified by cDNA cloning. The corresponding recombinant protein had an apparent molecular mass of 22000. The deduced amino acid sequence had 55% identity with the human ARL1 and four functional GTP‐binding sites. Immuno‐fluorescent confocal microscopy studies showed that ARL184 was present in the cytosol as well as in the Golgi apparatus, raising the possibility that it has a role in a secretory pathway. The involvement of this ARF‐like protein in secretion was confirmed by demonstrating that ARL184 potentiated acetylcholine release in stably transfected PC12 cells. Collectively these results suggest that this ARL protein is a component of a regulated secretory pathway involved in Ca2+‐dependent release of acetylcholine.