Intracellular redox regulation by the family of small GTPases.
There is growing experimental evidence that the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) represents a tightly regulated process. In particular, numerous observations have suggested a role for the Ras superfamily of small GTPases in redox regulation. This article reviews the evidence that ROS can serve as important downstream effectors for both Ras and Rac proteins. Given the prominent role these proteins play in regulating growth, senescence, and transformation, understanding the role of the small GTPase family in redox regulation may significantly alter our current concepts as to how free radicals contribute to diverse processes from aging to cancer.
Finkel
Toren
T
Cardiology Branch, National Heart Lungs and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1454, USA. finkelt@nih.gov
D000818:Animals; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000502:physiology
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins; D018631:ras Proteins