Turning ON the switch--RhoGEFs in plants.
Plant ROPs (or RACs) are Ras-related, small GTP-binding proteins that function as molecular switches in numerous signaling cascades. ROPs (RACs) cycle between a GDP-bound, inactive state and a GTP-bound, active state. Activation requires guanine-nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), which were not identified in plants until recently. Alfred Wittinghofer and co-workers' description of a group of plant-specific RhoGEFs opens the way for the elucidation of ROP signaling cascades from membrane receptors to responses.
Shichrur
Keren
K
Department of Plant Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
Yalovsky
Shaul
S
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000502:physiology; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D010940:Plant Proteins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins