rheb, a growth factor- and synaptic activity-regulated gene, encodes a novel Ras-related protein.
Neuronal activity results in long term cellular changes that underlie normal brain development and synaptic plasticity. To examine the molecular basis of activity-dependent plasticity, we have used differential cloning techniques to identify genes that are rapidly induced in brain neurons by synaptic activity. Here we describe an inducible novel member of the Ras family of small GTP-binding proteins we have termed Rheb. rheb mRNA is rapidly and transiently induced in hippocampal granule cells by seizures and by NMDA-dependent synaptic activity in the long term potentiation paradigm. The predicted amino acid sequence of Rheb is most closely homologous to yeast Ras1 and human Rap2. The putative GTP binding regions are highly conserved. A bacterial fusion protein of Rheb binds GTP and exhibits intrinsic GTPase activity. Like Ha-Ras, the carboxylterminal sequence encodes a CAAX box that is predicted to signal post-translational farnesylation and to target Rheb to specific membranes. rheb mRNA is expressed at comparatively high levels in normal adult cortex as well as a number of peripheral tissues, including lung and intestine. In the developing brain, rheb mRNA is expressed at relatively high levels in embryonic day 19 cortical plate, and expression remains at stable levels throughout the remainder of prenatal and postnatal development. Its close homology with ras and its rapid inducibility by receptor-dependent synaptic activity suggest that rheb may play an important role in long term activity-dependent neuronal responses.
Yamagata
K
K
Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
Sanders
L K
LK
Kaufmann
W E
WE
Yee
W
W
Barnes
C A
CA
Nathans
D
D
Worley
P F
PF
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D015723:Gene Library; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D000076205:Ras Homolog Enriched in Brain Protein; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012640:Seizures / Q000378:metabolism*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D009479:Neuropeptides; C490211:RHEB protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000076205:Ras Homolog Enriched in Brain Protein; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C490213:Rheb protein, mouse; C087693:Rheb protein, rat; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins