Arf6

Choose a Small G Protein activation assay suited to your needs

20/09/2016 By Ali El Baya, PhD Leave a Comment

Fig 1: Small G protein cycle

Small GTP-binding proteins such as RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 are involved in regulating cell signalling pathways and impact a wide range of cellular processes, functions, and morphology. They bind and hydrolyze GTP, thus being switched from the activated form to the inactivated form (Fig 1).

The most prominent family of small G proteins is represented by the Ras superfamily of proteins. The Rho subfamily belonging to this superfamily consists of proteins like RhoA, Rac1, and Cdd42. These proteins have been shown to be involved in the regulation of actin dynamics, thus playing a crucial role in processes like cell movement, intracellular transport, and organelle development. While RhoA affects actin stress fibers, Rac1 exhibits effects on lamellipodia and Cdc42 on filopodia. [Read more…]

Small GTPases: Measuring small G protein activation

06/10/2015 By Ali El Baya, PhD Leave a Comment

Small G-protein activation cycle - Small GTPases

Fig. 1: Small G protein activation cycle

In this post, I invite you to discover some state-of-the art methods to measure the activation of the most prominent small G proteins. In future posts, we’ll then be looking at methods to measure the activity of Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) which stimulate the release of GDP to allow the binding of GTP (which activates the small G protein) and of GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) which stimulate the GTPase activity of small G proteins to inactive them (see Fig. 1). [Read more…]