BACKGROUND RAB GTPases constitute the largest family of small GTPases and are found in all eukaryotes. RAB GTPases regulate components of the endomembrane system, the nucleus and the plasma membrane, and are involved in intracellular actin/tubulin-dependent vesicle movement, membrane fusion and cell growth in mitosis. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE RAB GTPases play multiple critical roles during both female and male meiosis. This review summarizes the progress made in our understanding of the role of RAB GTPases in female and male meiosis in different species. We also discuss the potential relationship between RAB GTPases and oocyte/sperm quality, which may help in understanding the mechanisms underlying oogenesis and spermatogenesis and potential genetic causes of infertility. SEARCH METHODS The PubMed database was searched for articles published between 1991 and 2020 using the following terms: ‘RAB’, ‘RAB oocyte’, ‘RAB sperm’ and ‘RAB meiosis’. OUTCOMES An analysis of 126 relevant articles indicated that RAB GTPases are present in all eukaryotes, and ten subfamilies (almost 70 members) are expressed in human cells. The roles of 25 RAB proteins and orthologues in female meiosis and 12 in male meiosis have been reported. RAB proteins are essential for the accurate continuity of genetic material, successful fertilization and the normal growth of offspring. Distinct and crucial functions of RAB GTPases in meiosis have been reported. In oocytes, RAB GTPases are involved in spindle organization, kinetochore–microtubule attachment, chromosome alignment, actin filament-mediated spindle migration, cytokinesis, cell cycle and oocyte–embryo transition. RAB GTPases function in mitochondrial processes and Golgi-mediated vesicular transport during female meiosis, and are critical for cortical granule transport during fertilization and oocyte–embryo transition. In sperm, RAB GTPases are vital for cytoskeletal organization and successful cytokinesis, and are associated with Golgi-mediated acrosome formation, membrane trafficking and morphological changes of sperm cells, as well as the exocytosis-related acrosome reaction and zona reaction during fertilization. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Abnormal expression of RAB GTPases disrupts intracellular systems, which may induce diverse diseases. The roles of RAB proteins in female and male reproductive systems, thus, need to be considered. The mechanisms underlying the function of RAB GTPases and the binding specificity of their effectors during oogenesis, spermatogenesis and fertilization remain to be studied. This review should contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of oogenesis and spermatogenesis and potential genetic causes of infertility.

中文翻译：

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RAB GTP酶在雌性和雄性减数分裂中的多重作用

背景 RAB GTP酶构成最大的小GTP酶家族并且存在于所有真核生物中。RAB GTP酶调节内膜系统、细胞核和质膜的成分，并参与细胞内肌动蛋白/微管蛋白依赖性囊泡运动、膜融合和有丝分裂中的细胞生长。目标和基本原理 RAB GTP 酶在雌性和雄性减数分裂过程中发挥多种关键作用。本综述总结了我们在理解 RAB GTP 酶在不同物种雌性和雄性减数分裂中的作用方面取得的进展。我们还讨论了 RAB GTP 酶与卵母细胞/精子质量之间的潜在关系，这可能有助于了解卵子发生和精子发生的机制以及不孕症的潜在遗传原因。搜索方法 PubMed 数据库使用以下术语搜索 1991 年至 2020 年间发表的文章：“RAB”、“RAB 卵母细胞”、“RAB 精子”和“RAB 减数分裂”。结果 对 126 篇相关文章的分析表明，RAB GTPases 存在于所有真核生物中，并且在人类细胞中表达了 10 个亚家族（近 70 个成员）。已经报道了 25 种 RAB 蛋白和直系同源物在女性减数分裂中的作用和 12 种在男性减数分裂中的作用。RAB 蛋白对于遗传物质的准确连续性、成功受精和后代的正常生长至关重要。已经报道了 RAB GTP 酶在减数分裂中的独特和关键功能。在卵母细胞中，RAB GTP 酶参与纺锤体组织、动粒-微管附着、染色体排列、肌动蛋白丝介导的纺锤体迁移、胞质分裂、细胞周期和卵母细胞 - 胚胎转变。RAB GTP 酶在女性减数分裂过程中的线粒体过程和高尔基体介导的囊泡运输中发挥作用，并且对受精和卵母细胞 - 胚胎转变过程中的皮质颗粒运输至关重要。在精子中，RAB GTP酶对于细胞骨架组织和成功的胞质分裂至关重要，并且与高尔基体介导的顶体形成、膜运输和精子细胞的形态变化，以及受精过程中与胞吐作用相关的顶体反应和透明带反应有关。更广泛的影响 RAB GTP 酶的异常表达会破坏细胞内系统，从而可能诱发多种疾病。因此，需要考虑 RAB 蛋白在女性和男性生殖系统中的作用。RAB GTP酶的功能机制及其在卵子发生、精子发生和受精过程中效应子的结合特异性仍有待研究。这篇综述应该有助于我们了解卵子发生和精子发生的分子机制以及不孕症的潜在遗传原因。