The small GTPases Rab are key regulators of intracellular membrane trafficking, from the formation of transport vesicles to their fusion with membranes. Rabs cycle between active GTP-bound and inactive GDP-bound states. In their active state, drive transport of vesicular carriers from donor organelles to acceptor organelles to regulate the membrane traffic that maintains organelle identity and morphology. Required for protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi complex. Regulates the compacted morphology of the Golgi (Probable). Together with RAB2B redundantly required for efficient autophagic flux (PubMed:28483915).