title: [RasGRP proteins--Ras-activating factors].
abstract: The Ras proteins, members of small GTP-binding protein family, are regulated through the exchange of GTP/GDP nucleotide. The activity of the Ras proteins is controlled by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTP-ase activating proteins (GAPs), which activate and inactivate G proteins respectively. Beside other, well known Ras-activating GEFs, the new class of such factors was recently described. RasGRP family, known also as CalDAG-GEF, consists of four members. C1 domain, allows them to bind diacylglycerol as well as DAG-analogs like phorbol esters. Binding of the ligand leads to activation of RasGRPs and in consequence to the activation of Ras and Rap proteins by the exchange of bounded guanine nucleotides. The signal transmitted by RasGRP is terminated as a result of DAG phosphorylation catalyzed by diacylglycerol kinase (DGK). Location of RasGRP proteins on the crossing of signaling cascades and broad tissue expression pattern involve them in many events essential for the cell function. RasGRP proteins play roles in such phenomena as: T cells maturation and functioning, B cells response, platelet aggregation, mast cells activity regulation, transformation and many other. In this review, structure and function of RasGRP proteins, as well as their role in neoplastic transformation are described.
authors.affiliation: Katedra Biochemii Farmaceutycznej, Uniwersytet Medyczny im. K. Marcinkowskiego, Poznań.
authors.forename: Mateusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szamałek
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baer-Dubowska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019852:Diacylglycerol Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000378:metabolism*; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010703:Phorbol Esters / Q000378:metabolism; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020703:ras GTPase-Activating Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020663:ras Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020666:ras-GRF1 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C011439:1,2-diacylglycerol; D004075:Diglycerides; D010703:Phorbol Esters; D020703:ras GTPase-Activating Proteins; D020663:ras Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D020666:ras-GRF1; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D019852:Diacylglycerol Kinase; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D018631:ras Proteins