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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Spatio-Temporal Manipulation of Small GTPase Activity at Subcellular Level and on Timescale of Seconds in Living Cells
Published on: March 9, 2012
Current molecular models for NADPH oxidase regulation by Rac GTPase
Gary M Bokoch1, Becky A Diebold
1Departments of Immunology and Cell Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. bokoch@scripps.edu
Abstract:
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been increasingly recognized as important components of cell signaling in addition to their well-established roles in host defense. The formation of ROS in phagocytic and nonphagocytic cells involves membrane-localized and Rac guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase)-regulated reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase(s). We discuss here the current molecular models for Rac GTPase action in the control of the phagocytic leukocyte NADPH oxidase. As a mechanistically detailed example of Rac GTPase signaling, the NADPH oxidase provides a potential paradigm for signaling by Rho family GTPases in general.
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