title: Rap2B GTPase: structure, functions, and regulation.
abstract: Rap2B GTPase, a member of Ras-related protein superfamily, was first discovered from a platelet cDNA library in the early 1990s. Since then, it has been reported to play an important role in regulating cellular processes including cytoskeletal organization, cell growth, and proliferation. It can be stimulated and suppressed by a wide range of external and internal inducers, circulating between GTP-bound active state and GDP-bound inactive state. Increasing focus on Ras signaling pathway reveals critical effects of Rap2B on tumorigenesis. In particular, Rap2B behaves in a p53-dependent manner in regulation of apoptosis and migration. Apart from being an oncogenic activator, Rap2B has been found to participate in many other physiological events via diverse downstream effectors. In this review, we present recent studies on the structure, regulation, and multiple biological functions of Rap2B, shedding light on its potential status in treatment of cancer as well as other diseases.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, 221002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhesi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, 221002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.|Department of Radiation Oncology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA.
authors.forename: Jiehui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Di
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, 221002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, 221002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Keyu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, 221002, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. jnzheng@xzmc.edu.cn.|Center of Clinical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, China. jnzheng@xzmc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Junnian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020668:rap GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C065562:RAP2B protein, human; D020668:rap GTP-Binding Proteins
keywords: Activation; Biological functions; Downstream targets; GTPase; Rap2B