Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
16:33
Detection of Protein Palmitoylation in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons by Immunoprecipitation and Acyl-Biotin Exchange (ABE)
Published on: February 18, 2013
The role of palmitoylation in regulating Ras localization and function.
Sharon Eisenberg1, Alex J Laude, Alison J Beckett
1Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
Biochemical Society Transactions
|January 30, 2013
Summary
Ras GTPases regulate cell growth and division. A palmitoylation cycle ensures proper localization of H-Ras and N-Ras, influencing their signaling pathways through membrane organization.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Ras GTPases are key regulators of cellular processes like proliferation, differentiation, and transformation.
- Three highly similar Ras genes (H-Ras, N-Ras, K-Ras) are ubiquitously expressed but possess distinct functions.
- Functional divergence is linked to unique trafficking and localization patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on the regulation of Ras GTPase compartmentalization.
- To elucidate the role of the palmitoylation cycle in H-Ras and N-Ras localization.
- To understand how membrane organization influences Ras signaling dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent research on Ras GTPases.
- Analysis of data concerning palmitoylation and protein trafficking.
- Examination of studies on cell membrane organization and signaling.
Main Results:
- The palmitoylation cycle is crucial for the correct compartmentalization of H-Ras and N-Ras.
- Membrane organization, including lipid rafts and membrane curvature, actively regulates this cycle.
- Spatiotemporal control of Ras signaling is modulated by these localization mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- The palmitoylation cycle provides a critical regulatory mechanism for Ras GTPase localization.
- Dynamic regulation by membrane organization fine-tunes Ras signaling output.
- Understanding these processes is vital for comprehending cell growth and transformation control.
Related Concept Videos
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.
Ras is a superfamily...
Ras is a superfamily...
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:
01:07MAPK Signaling Cascades
Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...
01:32Lipids as Anchors
In the plasma membrane, the lipids forming the bilayer can also act as an anchor to tether proteins to the membrane. The three main types of lipid anchors found in eukaryotes are – prenyl groups, fatty acyl groups, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol or GPI groups. Prenyl and fatty acyl groups act as anchors on the cytosolic surface of the membrane, whereas GPI anchors proteins on the extracellular side.
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains the...
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains the...
01:22PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast, mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
02:54Protein Kinases and Phosphatases
Proteins undergo chemical modifications that trigger changes in the charge, structure, and conformation of the proteins. Phosphorylation, acetylation, glycosylation, nitrosylation, ubiquitination, lipidation, methylation, and proteolysis are various protein modifications that regulate protein activity. Such modifications are usually enzyme-driven.
Protein kinases
Many proteins in the cell are regulated by phosphorylation, the addition of a phosphate group. A family of enzymes called kinases...
Protein kinases
Many proteins in the cell are regulated by phosphorylation, the addition of a phosphate group. A family of enzymes called kinases...