During skeletal growth and remodeling the mineralized bone matrix is resorbed by
osteoclasts through the constant secretion of protons and proteases to the bone surface.
This relies on the formation of specialized plasma membrane domains, the sealing zone and
the ruffled border, and vectorial transportation of intracellular vesicles in bone-resorbing
osteoclasts. Here we show that Rab7, a small GTPase that is associated with late
endosomes, is highly expressed and is predominantly localized at the ruffled border in bone …