Ras vs Rap

Abstract

The small G-protein Ras is probably one of the best-known signal-transduction proteins, as well as an important oncogene. Ras is the archetypal small G-protein – a class of signal transducers that exist in an active GTP-bound state and an inactive GDP-bound state. The study of these proteins has been advanced recently with the application of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) techniques. This approach has been used by Matsuda and colleagues 1 Mochizuki N. et al. Spatio-temporal images of growth-factor-induced activation of Ras and Rap1. Nature. 2001; 411: 1065-1068 Crossref PubMed Scopus (482) Google Scholar to study Ras and Rap activation and was previously used to study Rac activation 2 Kraynov V. et al. Localized Rac activation dynamics visualized in living cells. Science. 2001; 290: 333-337 Crossref Scopus (551) Google Scholar .