Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Affinity Precipitation of Active Rho-GEFs Using a GST-tagged Mutant Rho Protein (GST-RhoA(G17A)) from Epithelial Cell Lysates
Published on: March 31, 2012
Rho GTPases in cell biology
Sandrine Etienne-Manneville1, Alan Hall
1MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Cell Biology Unit, Cancer Research UK Oncogene and Signal Transduction Group, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
Abstract:
Rho GTPases are molecular switches that control a wide variety of signal transduction pathways in all eukaryotic cells. They are known principally for their pivotal role in regulating the actin cytoskeleton, but their ability to influence cell polarity, microtubule dynamics, membrane transport pathways and transcription factor activity is probably just as significant. Underlying this biological complexity is a simple biochemical idea, namely that by switching on a single GTPase, several distinct signalling pathways can be coordinately activated. With spatial and temporal activation of multiple switches factored in, it is not surprising to find Rho GTPases having such a prominent role in eukaryotic cell biology.
Related Concept Videos
GTPases and their Regulation
Large G-proteins, also known...
Rab Proteins
Rab proteins switch between a cytosolic, GDP-bound inactive state and a membrane-anchored, GTP-bound active state. By themselves, Rabs show slow rates of GDP/GTP exchange and GTP hydrolysis. Thus, Rab proteins are considered...
Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins
GTPases and their Regulation
Large G-proteins, also known...
Small GTPases - Ras and Rho
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins

