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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
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Methods to Discover Alternative Promoter Usage and Transcriptional Regulation of Murine Bcrp1
Published on: May 27, 2016
RasGRP, a Ras activator: mouse and human cDNA sequences and chromosomal positions
D Bottorff1, J Ebinu, J C Stone
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2H7.
Summary
Researchers identified the full-length Ras guanyl nucleotide releasing protein (RasGRP) gene in humans and mice. This Ras activator is crucial for cell signaling and understanding its genetic location aids further research.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Cell Signaling
Background:
- Previously identified rat brain cDNA (rbc7) encodes a Ras activator.
- rbc7 was proposed to be a truncated version of a larger transcript encoding Ras guanyl nucleotide releasing protein (RasGRP).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structure of mouse and human RasGRP sequences.
- To confirm the nature of the 5' truncation in the previously identified cDNA.
- To determine the genetic localization of the human and mouse RasGRP genes.
Main Methods:
- Sequence analysis of mouse and human cDNA.
- In situ hybridization for human gene localization.
- Linkage analysis for mouse gene localization.
Main Results:
- Confirmed the 5' truncation of the previously reported rat cDNA.
- Localized the human RasGRP gene to chromosome 15q15.
- Mapped the mouse RasGRP gene to chromosome 2 near thrombospondin.
Conclusions:
- The novel transforming rat brain cDNA (rbc7) is a truncated version of the Ras guanyl nucleotide releasing protein (RasGRP) gene.
- The full-length human and mouse RasGRP genes have been characterized and localized.
- Further studies can explore the function and regulation of RasGRP based on its genetic information.
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02:38The Ras Gene
The Ras-gene-encoded proteins are regulators of signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, or cell survival. The Ras-gene family in humans constitutes three primary members—the HRas, NRas, and KRas. These genes code for four functionally distinct yet closely related proteins—the HRas, NRas, KRas4A, and KRas4B. The involvement of mutant Ras genes in human cancer was first discovered in 1982 and is among the most common causes of human tumorigenesis.
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01:24Small GTPases - Ras and Rho
Ras and Rho are small monomeric GTPases that act downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and regulate various cellular processes. These GTPases switch between active and inactive states by binding to guanine nucleotides.
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
Three regulatory proteins control their activity: