Trafficking of cGMP-dependent protein kinase II via interaction with Rab11

cGMP-dependent protein kinase II (cGK-II) is implicated in several physiological functions including intestinal secretion, bone growth, and learning and memory, but the detailed mechanisms are still unclear. To identify proteins that are involved in cGMP/cGK-II signaling, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening and identified Rab11b as a cGK-II-interacting protein that regulates the slow-recycling pathway. Interestingly, cGK-II interacted with the GDP-bound form of Rab11b (Rab11b S25N), but not the GTP-bound form, in mammalian cells. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that Rab11b S25N promoted the translocation of cGK-II from the plasma membrane to the cytoplasm and that the localization of cGK-II extensively overlapped with Rab11b. Furthermore, treatment with a membrane-permeable cGMP analog caused the rapid retranslocation of cGK-II and Rab11b S25N to the membrane. These data indicate that Rab11b is necessary for the trafficking of cGK-II and that the cGMP/cGK-II signaling pathway is closely related to Rab11b recycling pathway.