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Related Concept Videos

GTPases and their Regulation02:14

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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.
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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...
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Rab GTPases act in a regulated cascade during membrane fusion, helping the lipid bilayers mix. The Rab family of proteins are active when bound to GTP, and inactive when bound to GDP. Hence, they act as guanine nucleotide-dependent molecular switches. Rab-GTP recognizes and binds to long or short-range tethering proteins to capture the target vesicle. These tethers coordinate with SNAREs on the vesicle and the target membrane to assemble the trans SNARE complex that locks the mixing bilayers.
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Rab proteins constitute the largest family of monomeric GTPases, of which 70 members are present in humans. Rab proteins and their effectors regulate consecutive stages of vesicle transport such as vesicle transport, docking, and fusion to the correct recipient membrane.
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Small GTPases in C. elegans metabolism.

Daniel Z Bar1, Chayki Charar2, Yosef Gruenbaum2

  • 1a National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , MD , USA.

Small Gtpases
|November 18, 2016
PubMed
Summary

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway regulates cell growth and metabolism. This study highlights Caenorhabditis elegans as a model for exploring mTOR signaling, particularly the role of RHEB in regulating mTOR activity and its impact on animal size and fat content.

Keywords:
ATX-2; C. elegansGDI-1GTPaseataxin-2mTORmetabolism

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a crucial protein kinase regulating fundamental cellular processes like growth, proliferation, and autophagy.
  • mTOR functions within two large complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, with their activities modulated by various GTPases.
  • Understanding mTOR regulation is key to deciphering cellular responses to nutrient availability and stress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the advantages of using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism for studying the mTOR pathway.
  • To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of mTOR, focusing on the GTPase RHEB and its interaction with other proteins.
  • To investigate the role of these regulators in mediating the effects of dietary restriction on animal physiology.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing C. elegans for studying mTOR pathway components' subcellular localization.
  • Analyzing tissue-specific protein overexpression and knockdown phenotypes in C. elegans.
  • Reviewing in vitro and in vivo data on RHEB function and its regulation by Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor β and ATX-2.

Main Results:

  • C. elegans offers advantages for visualizing mTOR pathway signaling and observing phenotypic consequences of genetic manipulation.
  • RHEB, a key regulator, may inhibit mTOR when in a GTP-unbound state.
  • RHEB-1 is regulated by Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor β, which interacts with ATX-2, influencing dietary restriction-dependent changes in size and fat.

Conclusions:

  • Caenorhabditis elegans is a powerful model for dissecting mTOR pathway regulation and its physiological outcomes.
  • RHEB's GTP-bound state is critical for mTOR activation, with potential inhibitory roles when unbound.
  • The RHEB-1/Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor β/ATX-2 axis plays a significant role in mediating the metabolic effects of dietary restriction in C. elegans.