The efficient engulfment of apoptotic cells by professional or nonprofessional phagocytes is
critical to maintain mammalian homeostasis. To identify molecules involved in the
engulfment of apoptotic cells, we established a retrovirus-based expression cloning system
coupled with the engulfment assay. By screening a cDNA library of a mouse macrophage
cell line, we identified two small GTPase family members (RhoG and Rab5) that enhanced
the engulfment of apoptotic cells. By examining other small GTPase family members, we …