Ras ubiquitination: coupling spatial sorting and signal transmission

Cancer Cell. 2006 Apr;9(4):243-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2006.03.025.

Abstract

H-Ras, N-Ras, and K-Ras proteins have distinct biological properties, despite ubiquitous expression and similar affinities for regulators and effectors. C-terminal hypervariable regions that distinguish H-Ras, N-Ras, and K-Ras proteins direct them to distinct membrane compartments, where they may encounter regulators and effectors at different local concentrations. Jura and coworkers now report that these membrane-targeting domains direct differential ubiquitination of Ras proteins and so provide a molecular mechanism to explain the sorting process and, perhaps, some of the dramatic differences in biological potency among H-Ras, N-Ras, and K-Ras proteins.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Protein Binding
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism*
  • ras Proteins / genetics
  • ras Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Ubiquitin
  • ras Proteins