Related Experiment Videos
Characterization of proteins that interact with the cell-cycle regulatory protein Ran/TC4
E Coutavas1, M Ren, J D Oppenheim
1Department of Biochemistry, NYU Medical Center, New York 10016.
Nature
|December 9, 1993
Summary
Researchers identified a novel GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for the Ras-related nuclear protein Ran (Ran/TC4). This discovery aids in understanding Ran
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The Ras-related nuclear protein Ran/TC4 is a conserved GTPase regulating cell-cycle progression and mRNA transport.
- Ran functions as a GTPase switch, with distinct interactions for GTP- and GDP-bound forms.
- RCC1 regulates Ran by catalyzing guanine nucleotide exchange; both are involved in mitotic checkpoint control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the GTPase-switch model of Ran function.
- To identify a Ran-specific GTPase-activating protein (GAP).
- To discover effector proteins that specifically bind Ran/TC4-GTP.
Main Methods:
- Screening for Ran-specific GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs).
- Characterizing GTP-hydrolyzing properties of mutant Ran proteins using the identified GAP.
- Identifying and cloning proteins that bind specifically to Ran/TC4-GTP.
Main Results:
- Identification of a novel Ran-specific GTPase-activating protein (GAP).
- Characterization of the GTP-hydrolyzing activity of mutant Ran proteins.
- Identification and cloning of a binding protein specific for the Ran/TC4-GTP form.
Conclusions:
- The identified Ran GAP is crucial for understanding Ran's GTPase cycle.
- The findings support and extend the GTPase-switch model for Ran.
- The discovery of a Ran/TC4-GTP specific binding protein provides insights into Ran's effector interactions.