Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Perspectives on Neuroscience
26:41

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Published on: July 31, 2007

5.3K

Perspectives of RAS and RHEB GTPase Signaling Pathways in Regenerating Brain Neurons

Hendrik Schöneborn1, Fabian Raudzus2, Mathieu Coppey3

  • 1Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry II-Molecular Neurobiochemistry, 44801 Bochum, Germany. hendrik.schoeneborn@ruhr-uni-bochum.de.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|December 19, 2018
PubMed

Insights

RAS GTPases are crucial for brain function and neuronal health. Activating these signaling pathways, potentially with magnetic nanoparticles, may offer new therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • RAS GTPases, including rat sarcoma (RAS) and RAS homolog protein enriched in brain (RHEB), act as key molecular switches regulating vital brain functions.
  • Their activation into the GTP-binding "ON" state and subcellular membrane localization are critical for signaling pathways controlling synaptic plasticity, neuronal growth, differentiation, and survival.
  • Dysregulation of these pathways is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, with neuronal H-RAS activity showing potential benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the structural elements and localization of RAS/RHEB GTPases in regulating neuronal functions.
  • To explore optogenetic and magnetic guidance strategies for controlling RAS/mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) pathways.
  • To propose a novel therapeutic concept for Parkinson's disease using magnetic nanoparticles to guide axonal regeneration.

Main Methods:

  • Review of molecular protein structural elements and subcellular localization of RAS/RHEB GTPases.
  • Discussion of optogenetic regulation of RAS/MAPK and PI3K pathways.
  • Exploration of magnetic guidance of axonal growth using protein-functionalized intracellular magnetic nanoparticles.

Main Results:

  • RAS GTPases play a fundamental role in diverse neuronal processes, including synaptic connectivity, axonal growth, and neural protection.
  • Optogenetic approaches provide spatiotemporal control over RAS signaling pathways.
  • Magnetic guidance of axons presents a promising complementary strategy, especially for deep brain regions and long-distance regeneration.

Conclusions:

  • Neuronal RAS GTPase activity is essential for brain function and offers therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative conditions.
  • Targeting RAS signaling pathways, possibly through magnetic nanoparticle-guided axonal regeneration, represents a novel therapeutic avenue for diseases like Parkinson's.
Keywords:
Magneto Protein TherapyParkinson’s diseaseRAS GTPaseRHEB GTPaseaxonal guidancebrain regenerationmagnetogeneticsnanoparticleoptogeneticssurvival

More Related Videos

Detection of Small GTPase Prenylation and GTP Binding Using Membrane Fractionation and GTPase-linked Immunosorbent Assay13:51

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

Published on: November 11, 2018

10.4K
Identification of EGFR and RAS Inhibitors using Caenorhabditis elegans08:12

Identification of EGFR and RAS Inhibitors using Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: October 5, 2020

3.4K

Related Concept Videos

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:
5.4K
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,...
9.8K
Notch Signaling Pathway03:14

Notch Signaling Pathway

The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not...
6.6K
Hedgehog Signaling Pathway02:33

Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

The Hedgehog gene (Hh) was first discovered due to its control of the growth of disorganized, hair-like bristles phenotype in Drosophila, much like hedgehog spines. Hh plays a crucial role in the development of organs and the maintenance of homeostasis in both invertebrates and vertebrates. However, while Drosophila has only one Hh protein, mammals have multiple functional Hedgehog proteins - Sonic (Shh), Desert (Dhh), and Indian Hedgehog (Ihh). All of these homologous proteins have adapted to...
10.1K
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
7.4K
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...
7.3K