背景知识:小G蛋白(Small G Protein)因分子量只有20—30KD而得名,同时具有GTP酶活性,小G蛋白家族成员在细胞信号通路中发挥分子开关的功能,Rho蛋白对细胞骨架网络的构成发挥调节作用;Ras蛋白主要参与细胞增殖和信号转导;Rab蛋白则参与调控细胞内膜交通(membrane traffic)。小G蛋白的共同特点是,当结合了GTP时即成为活化形式,这时可作用于下游分子使之活化,而当GTP水解成为GDP时(自身为GTP酶)则恢复到非活化状态,研究GTP酶(GTPase)的活化调控机制具有广泛而深远的生物学意义。
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