title: Activation of small GTPases of the Ras and Rho family by growth factors active on mast cells.
abstract: The small GTPases of the Ras and Rho families are activated by the key growth factors for mast cell development and survival, SLF and IL-3. While there are many clues that activation of Ras and Rho proteins play critical roles in growth, survival and differentiation, as well as in functions, such as migration and degranulation, limitations in the specificity of experimental tools still obscure their precise functions. There is increasing evidence that differences in subcellular localization of closely related GTPases determines important differences in their function. However, other data also point to differences in sensitivity to activation by GEF and in the effectors they engage.
authors.affiliation: The Biomedical Research Centre, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, University of British Columbia, BC, V6T 1Z3, Vancouver, Canada. john@brc.ubc.ca
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Schrader
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schallhorn
authors.forename: Brock
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grill
authors.forename: Xuecui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology*; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000502:physiology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000502:physiology; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D007377:Interleukin-3; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C109418:Mras protein, mouse; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins; D018631:ras Proteins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins