Ras family small GTPases

Ras family small GTPases – The Ras sarcoma (H-Ras, K-Ras and N-Ras) oncoproteins are the founding members of the Ras family (36 members) and have been the subject of intense research scrutiny, in large part because of their critical roles in human oncogenesis. Ras proteins serve as signaling nodes activated in response to diverse extracellular stimuli. Activated Ras interacts with multiple, catalytically distinct downstream effectors, which regulate cytoplasmic signaling networks that control gene expression and regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival.  Other members with roles in cancer include Rheb and Ral small GTPases.  Our laboratory has focused on the role of Ral small GTPases in KRAS mutant cancer growth.