Recombinant Proteins
Product List
RND3 Human
Rho Family GTPase 3 Human Recombinant
RND1 Human
Rho Family GTPase 1 Human Recombinant
Introduction
The Rho family of GTPases is a group of small (~21 kDa) signaling G proteins, which are a subfamily of the Ras superfamily. These proteins are found in all eukaryotic kingdoms, including yeasts and some plants . The Rho family is composed of 20 members in mammals, distributed across eight subfamilies: Rho, Rnd, RhoD/F, RhoH, Rac, Cdc42, RhoU/V, and RhoBTB . The most extensively studied members are Cdc42, Rac1, and RhoA .
Rho GTPases are key regulatory molecules that link surface receptors to the organization of the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons . They are involved in various cellular processes, including gene transcription, cell-cell adhesion, and cell cycle progression . These proteins are expressed in a wide range of tissues and have distinct expression patterns and tissue distributions .
Rho GTPases play crucial roles in regulating intracellular actin dynamics, organelle development, cytoskeletal dynamics, and cell movement . They are also involved in immune responses and pathogen recognition . For example, RhoA mediates the formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions, Rac1 induces lamellipodia formation and membrane ruffles, and Cdc42 elicits the formation of filopodia and microspikes .
Rho GTPases act as molecular switches, cycling between an inactive GDP-bound state and an active GTP-bound state . They interact with various binding partners, including guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs), and guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors (GDIs) . Upon activation, Rho GTPases interact with downstream effectors to mediate a variety of intracellular pathways .
The activity of Rho GTPases is tightly regulated by GEFs, GAPs, and GDIs . GEFs activate Rho GTPases by promoting the exchange of GDP for GTP, while GAPs inactivate them by stimulating their intrinsic GTP hydrolysis activity . Additionally, post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and sumoylation play crucial roles in regulating Rho GTPase signaling .
Rho GTPases have significant applications in biomedical research, serving as diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets . They are involved in various physiological functions, including cytoskeletal regulation, cell polarity establishment, cell proliferation, and motility . Dysregulation of Rho GTPase signaling pathways is implicated in multiple human pathological conditions, including cancer, inflammation, and cardiovascular diseases .
Rho GTPases play essential roles throughout the life cycle, from development to aging and disease . They are involved in neuronal development, regulating dendritic arborization, spine morphogenesis, growth cone development, and axon guidance . Additionally, Rho GTPases are crucial for cell survival and death, influencing processes such as gene transcription, cell-cell adhesion, and cell cycle progression .
