Binding of insulin to the insulin receptor initiates a cascade of protein phosphorylation and effector recruitment events leading to the activation of multiple distinct signaling pathways. Previous studies suggested that the diversity and specificity of insulin signal transduction are accomplished by both subcellular localization of receptor and the selective activation of downstream signaling molecules. The small GTPase Rab5 is a key regulator of endocytosis. Three Rab5 isoforms (Rab5a, -5b, and -5c) have been identified. Here we exploited the RNA interference technique to specifically knock down individual Rab5 isoforms to determine the cellular function of Rab5 in distinct insulin signaling pathways. Small interference RNA against a single Rab5 isoform had no effect on protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt or MAPK activation by insulin in NIH3T3 cells overexpressing human insulin receptor. However, simultaneous knockdown of all three Rab5 isoforms dramatically attenuated PKB/Akt activation by insulin without affecting MAPK activation. This inhibition of PKB/Akt activation was because of the impaired interaction between insulin receptor substrate 1 and the p85␣ subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. These results indicate a requirement of Rab5 in presenting p85 to insulin receptor substrate 1. Additional evidence supporting a role for Rab5 was suggested by studies with GAPex-5, a vps9 domain containing exchange factor. Down-regulation of GAPex-5 impaired insulin-stimulated PKB/Akt activation. Collectively, this study indicates the involvement of Rab5 in insulin signaling.Both environmental and genetic factors contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although detailed mechanisms underlying the development of this disorder remain unknown, impairment of insulin action has been clearly established as an early defect in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (1, 2). Binding of insulin to the insulin receptor (IR) 2 causes receptor autophosphorylation and activation of its intrinsic kinase activity. Activated IR phosphorylates a variety of intracellular substrates, most notably the insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins (3, 4). Tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins provides binding sites for downstream effectors with Src homolog 2 domains or phosphotyrosine binding domains that activate multiple signaling pathways required for insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and maintenance of energy homeostasis (5, 6). Type 1A phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) represents a primary target of insulin action (7). Phosphorylation of IRS1 and/or IRS2 on tyrosine residues by activated IR creates recognition sites for the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3K, thereby allowing the activation of the p110 catalytic subunit (8). PI3K-generated phosphoinositides PI(3,4,5)P 3 and PI(3,4)P 2 recruit protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt and 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase to the membrane, resulting in PKB/Akt phosphorylation and activation (9 -11). Recent studies also demonstrated a second requisite pathway that involves recruitment of ty...