Small GTP-binding proteins (or GTPases) are a family of proteins that serve as molecular regulators in signaling transduction pathways.

Ras, a 21 kD protein, regulates a variety of biological response pathways that include cell growth, cell transformation and tumor invasion. Like other small GTPases, Ras regulates molecular events by cycling between an inactive GDP-bound form and an active GTP-bound form. In its active GTP-bound state, Ras binds specifically to the Ras-binding domain (RBD)of Raf1 to control downstream signaling cascades. Since defects in Ras signaling may result in malignant transformation, the activation of Ras proteins is tightly controlled in normal cells.

The 3 Ras genes in human are H-Ras, N-Ras and K-Ras – it is estimated now that approximately 20% – 25% of all human tumors have activating mutations in one of the Ras genes.

N-Ras (Neuroblastoma Ras viral oncogene homolog) was the third Ras gene to be discovered (after H-Ras and K-Ras). Mutations on this gene have been associated with somatic rectal cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, Noonan syndrome and juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia.

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