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Proteins regulating Ras and its relatives

M S Boguski1, F McCormick

  • 1National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20894.

Nature
|December 16, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Ras superfamily GTPases control cell functions by switching between active and inactive states. Researchers are identifying numerous proteins that regulate these GTPases, which are often larger and more complex than their targets.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular and Cellular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • Ras superfamily GTPases are critical regulators of fundamental cellular processes, including growth, differentiation, and motility.
  • Their activity is tightly controlled by cycles of GTP binding and hydrolysis, influencing their cellular localization and function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the known regulators of Ras superfamily GTPases.
  • To highlight the complexity of these regulatory proteins and their interactions within cellular networks.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on Ras superfamily GTPases and their interacting proteins.
  • Analysis of protein domain structures and functional interactions.

Main Results:

  • Numerous proteins that modulate GTPase activity, nucleotide exchange, and membrane localization have been identified.
  • Many identified regulators are significantly larger and possess multiple domains compared to the target GTPases.
  • These regulators interact with a complex network of cellular enzymes and structures.

Conclusions:

  • The regulation of Ras superfamily GTPases involves a diverse array of complex proteins.
  • Understanding these intricate regulatory networks is crucial for comprehending cell signaling pathways.
  • Further research into these interactions will elucidate fundamental cellular mechanisms.

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