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Related Concept Videos

GTPases and their Regulation02:14

GTPases and their Regulation

Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins), also known as GTPases, are a superfamily of proteins that regulate many cellular processes, such as cell signaling, vesicular transport, and the regulation of cell shape and motility. Mutation or dysfunction of these proteins can lead to disease. There are around 40,000 known G-proteins that can broadly be classified into two groups ‒  small G-proteins consisting of a single domain and large multi-domain G-proteins.
Large G-proteins, also known...
The Ras Gene02:38

The 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.
Ras is a superfamily...
Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins01:21

Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins

Cell polarity is the asymmetric distribution of cellular and membrane components, making one side of the cell different from the other. This polarity is essential to many processes such as embryogenesis, axon migration, glucose transport across epithelial cells, and directional cell migration. A migrating cell responds to intracellular or extracellular signals via molecular cascades that reorganize the actin cytoskeleton to establish this polarity. In these cells, the Rho family proteins Cdc42,...
GTPases and their Regulation02:14

GTPases and their Regulation

Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins), also known as GTPases, are a superfamily of proteins that regulate many cellular processes, such as cell signaling, vesicular transport, and the regulation of cell shape and motility. Mutation or dysfunction of these proteins can lead to disease. There are around 40,000 known G-proteins that can broadly be classified into two groups ‒  small G-proteins consisting of a single domain and large multi-domain G-proteins.
Large G-proteins, also known...
Small GTPases - Ras and Rho01:24

Small 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:
Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins01:22

Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins

Heterotrimeric G proteins are guanine nucleotide-binding proteins. As the name suggests, heterotrimeric G proteins are composed of three subunits: alpha, beta, and gamma. They remain GDP-bound or GTP-bound inside the cells and switch between inactive/active states. The Gα subunit possesses the nucleotide-binding pocket that binds guanine nucleotides and switches between GDP or GTP-bound states. In contrast, the Gꞵ and Gγ subunits are always bound together with high affinity and are together...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Affinity Precipitation of Active Rho-GEFs Using a GST-tagged Mutant Rho Protein (GST-RhoA(G17A)) from Epithelial Cell Lysates
11:28

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 and the control of cell behaviour.

A Hall1

  • 1MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cancer Research UK Oncogene and Signal Transduction Group, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK. alan.hall@ucl.ac.uk

Biochemical Society Transactions
|October 26, 2005
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Rho GTPases regulate cell structure and gene transcription. Rac controls cell protrusion, while Cdc42 controls cell polarity, coordinating cellular processes like movement.

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Comparing the Affinity of GTPase-binding Proteins using Competition Assays
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Comparing the Affinity of GTPase-binding Proteins using Competition Assays

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Detection of Small GTPase Prenylation and GTP Binding Using Membrane Fractionation and GTPase-linked Immunosorbent Assay

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Affinity Precipitation of Active Rho-GEFs Using a GST-tagged Mutant Rho Protein (GST-RhoA(G17A)) from Epithelial Cell Lysates
11:28

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

Comparing the Affinity of GTPase-binding Proteins using Competition Assays
10:37

Comparing the Affinity of GTPase-binding Proteins using Competition Assays

Published on: October 8, 2015

Detection of Small GTPase Prenylation and GTP Binding Using Membrane Fractionation and GTPase-linked Immunosorbent Assay
13:51

Detection of Small GTPase Prenylation and GTP Binding Using Membrane Fractionation and GTPase-linked Immunosorbent Assay

Published on: November 11, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Rho GTPases are key regulators of the actin cytoskeleton.
  • They link cell surface receptors to intracellular signaling pathways.
  • Specific Rho GTPases like Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 control distinct cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the biochemical roles of Rho GTPases in cell movement.
  • To elucidate the specific functions of Rac and Cdc42 in cellular dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Rho GTPase signaling pathways.
  • Biochemical assays to study actin cytoskeleton dynamics.
  • Investigation of cell movement and polarity.

Main Results:

  • Rac GTPase is identified as a critical regulator of cell protrusion.
  • Cdc42 GTPase is determined to control cell polarity.
  • Rho GTPases collectively regulate actin cytoskeleton assembly and gene transcription.

Conclusions:

  • Rho GTPases are essential for coordinated cell behavior, including movement and polarity.
  • Rac and Cdc42 play distinct but crucial roles in cell shape and directional migration.
  • Understanding Rho GTPase function is vital for comprehending cellular processes.