Biomaterial Database

Signal transduction via Ras. 1998

A Wittinghofer

Max-Planck-Institut für molekulare Physiologie, Dortmund, Germany.

Ras is a major regulator of cell growth. It is a GTP-binding protein that functions as a molecular switch, cycling between the GDP-bound OFF and GTP-bound ON states. In the GTP-bound state it interacts with effector proteins that mediate the biological function. It is found as an oncogene in about 30% of human tumors. Structural and mechanistic studies on Ras and its interaction with effectors and GAP will be discussed in the context of the biology and pathophysiology of this protein.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011485	Protein Binding	The process in which substances, either endogenous or exogenous, bind to proteins, peptides, enzymes, protein precursors, or allied compounds. Specific protein-binding measures are often used as assays in diagnostic assessments.	Plasma Protein Binding Capacity,Binding, Protein
D011506	Proteins	Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein.	Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D004789	Enzyme Activation	Conversion of an inactive form of an enzyme to one possessing metabolic activity. It includes 1, activation by ions (activators); 2, activation by cofactors (coenzymes); and 3, conversion of an enzyme precursor (proenzyme or zymogen) to an active enzyme.	Activation, Enzyme,Activations, Enzyme,Enzyme Activations
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006868	Hydrolysis	The process of cleaving a chemical compound by the addition of a molecule of water.
D001120	Arginine	An essential amino acid that is physiologically active in the L-form.	Arginine Hydrochloride,Arginine, L-Isomer,DL-Arginine Acetate, Monohydrate,L-Arginine,Arginine, L Isomer,DL Arginine Acetate, Monohydrate,Hydrochloride, Arginine,L Arginine,L-Isomer Arginine,Monohydrate DL-Arginine Acetate
D015398	Signal Transduction	The intracellular transfer of information (biological activation/inhibition) through a signal pathway. In each signal transduction system, an activation/inhibition signal from a biologically active molecule (hormone, neurotransmitter) is mediated via the coupling of a receptor/enzyme to a second messenger system or to an ion channel. Signal transduction plays an important role in activating cellular functions, cell differentiation, and cell proliferation. Examples of signal transduction systems are the GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID-postsynaptic receptor-calcium ion channel system, the receptor-mediated T-cell activation pathway, and the receptor-mediated activation of phospholipases. Those coupled to membrane depolarization or intracellular release of calcium include the receptor-mediated activation of cytotoxic functions in granulocytes and the synaptic potentiation of protein kinase activation. Some signal transduction pathways may be part of larger signal transduction pathways; for example, protein kinase activation is part of the platelet activation signal pathway.	Cell Signaling,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Pathways,Receptor Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Transduction Pathways,Signal Transduction Systems,Pathway, Signal,Pathway, Signal Transduction,Pathways, Signal,Pathways, Signal Transduction,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transductions,Signal Pathway,Signal Transduction Pathway,Signal Transduction System,Signal Transduction, Receptor-Mediated,Signal Transductions,Signal Transductions, Receptor-Mediated,System, Signal Transduction,Systems, Signal Transduction,Transduction, Signal,Transductions, Signal
D018631	ras Proteins	Small, monomeric GTP-binding proteins encoded by ras genes (GENES, RAS). The protooncogene-derived protein, PROTO-ONCOGENE PROTEIN P21(RAS), plays a role in normal cellular growth, differentiation and development. The oncogene-derived protein ONCOGENE PROTEIN P21(RAS) can play a role in aberrant cellular regulation during neoplastic cell transformation (CELL TRANSFORMATION, NEOPLASTIC). This enzyme was formerly listed as EC 3.6.1.47.	Gene Products, ras,ras GTPase,ras Protein,ras GTPases,GTPase, ras,GTPases, ras,Protein, ras,ras Gene Products
D020134	Catalytic Domain	The region of an enzyme that interacts with its substrate to cause the enzymatic reaction.	Active Site,Catalytic Core,Catalytic Region,Catalytic Site,Catalytic Subunit,Reactive Site,Active Sites,Catalytic Cores,Catalytic Domains,Catalytic Regions,Catalytic Sites,Catalytic Subunits,Core, Catalytic,Cores, Catalytic,Domain, Catalytic,Domains, Catalytic,Reactive Sites,Region, Catalytic,Regions, Catalytic,Site, Active,Site, Catalytic,Site, Reactive,Sites, Active,Sites, Catalytic,Sites, Reactive,Subunit, Catalytic,Subunits, Catalytic
D020558	GTP Phosphohydrolases	Enzymes that hydrolyze GTP to GDP. EC 3.6.1.-.	GTPase,GTPases,Guanosine Triphosphate Phosphohydrolases,Guanosinetriphosphatases,GTP Phosphohydrolase,Phosphohydrolase, GTP,Phosphohydrolases, GTP,Phosphohydrolases, Guanosine Triphosphate,Triphosphate Phosphohydrolases, Guanosine