Ras-GTPase activating protein (GAP): a putative effector for Ras.
One attractive candidate for a Ras effector protein, other than the Raf kinases, is Ras-GAP. Indeed, recent literature suggests that besides the Raf/MAP kinase cascade, additional pathways must be stimulated to elicit a full biological response to Ras. Ras binds the COOH terminal domain of Ras-GAP, while the NH2 terminal domain appears to be essential for triggering downstream signals. Since Ras-GAP itself has no obvious enzymatic function that might explain a role in processes associated with proliferation, differentiation or apoptosis, candidates for downstream Ras-GAP effectors that fulfill this role remain to be identified. The newly found GAP-SH3 domain Binding Protein (G3BP) may be one of these. This review will briefly overview the candidates Ras effectors and discuss the results that position Ras-GAP as a critical effector downstream of Ras.
Tocque
B
B
RPR Gene Medicine, CRVA, Vitry/Seine, France.
Delumeau
I
I
Parker
F
F
Maurier
F
F
Multon
M C
MC
Schweighoffer
F
F
D000818:Animals; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; D006801:Humans; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D020703:ras GTPase-Activating Proteins; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D020703:ras GTPase-Activating Proteins; D018631:ras Proteins