Abstract
Late endosomal biogenesis depends on the Rab7 GTPase and its interaction with effectors. Within this review, we will focus on the Rab7 activation and inactivation cycle, and identify the critical regulators and interaction partners. We will highlight the role of Rab7 in membrane tethering between late endosome and lysosome, and its function in nutrient sensing, which is coupled to the establishment of membrane contact zones and late endosomal distribution within the cell.