Navigation Links
Why the switch stays on
Date:12/12/2007

acid called leucine is a commonly observed defect in cancer cells.

"The switch only gets stuck on when Raf is present and the defective Ras has position 61 as a leucine or one of the few amino acids shown to cause cell transformation, one of the properties observed in cancer," Mattos says. "For glutamine or the mutations that do not cause cell transformation, the molecular door can fly open and allow access to the switch even when Raf is bound to Ras. The door can always open in the absence of Raf."

The paper responds to a paradox that arose in the 1980s when scientists compared the behavior of Ras mutants in cells versus in solution, isolated from other cellular components including Raf. The studies of Ras in solution suggested nothing special about the mutations that cause cell transformation versus those that do not, as any amino acid other than glutamine at position 61 made turning off the Ras switch only 10 times slower, rather than blocking the switch. Scientists did not understand why the isolated Ras mutants behaved differently than the Ras mutants in their cellular environment.

Mattos, research associate Greg Buhrman and undergraduate student Glenna Wink provide the answer to this paradox by showing that the switch stays on when Raf binds Ras containing the leucine mutation and that it can be turned off in the absence of Raf, although not at the normal rate. In normal Ras the switch can be turned off either in the presence or absence of Raf. The atomic resolution structures of the rogue Ras proteins with strongly transforming mutations show that they all keep the molecular door closed and the switch on in the same way. The structures of the normal Ras and of a mutant known to have weak transforming ability both have the molecular door open.

"We all knew that there had to be something in the cell not accounted for by the studies in isolated Ras," Mattos says. "We now know that at least part of that something is the Raf pr
'/>"/>

Contact: Dr. Carla Mattos
carla_mattos@ncsu.edu
919-513-2556
North Carolina State University
Source:Eurekalert

Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. Switching goals
2. Researchers find signal that switches on eye development -- could lead to eye in a dish
3. Researchers identify how to switch off cancer cell genes
4. Leading cause of death in preemies might be controlled by resetting a molecular switch
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:7/23/2008)...estock manure into a domestic renewable fuel sourc...three per cent of North America,s entire consumpti...eenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), according to US res...nstitute of Physics, Environmental Research Lette... and Emissions Benefits of Converting Manure to Bi...
(Date:7/23/2008)... of parasites living in three estuaries on the Pac...archers have determined that biomass of these para... by more than 20 times. , Their findings, which ...mplications, appear in this week,s issue of the jo...g matter that exists in a given habitat. It is exp...
(Date:7/23/2008)...the National Institute of Standards and Technology...formation of clumps of proteins in protein-based p...fies the conditions under which scientists can be ...uring the formation of protein aggregates, a major...and safety in biologic drug manufacturing. , Pro...
(Date:7/23/2008)... of Washington study of top-selling laundry produc...ozens of different chemicals. All six products tes...xic or hazardous under federal laws, but none of t..., "I first got interested in this topic because pe...blic restrooms and the scent from laundry products...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Cow power could generate electricity for millions 2Parasites outweigh predators in Pacific Coast estuaries 2Parasites outweigh predators in Pacific Coast estuaries 3NIST trumps the clumps: Making biologic drugs safer 2Toxic chemicals found in common scented laundry products, air fresheners 2Toxic chemicals found in common scented laundry products, air fresheners 3Insmed Selected to Complete Congressional Questionnaire Regarding the Potential Establishment of a Follow On Biologics Regulatory Pathway 4514 1Insmed Selected to Complete Congressional Questionnaire Regarding the Potential Establishment of a Follow On Biologics Regulatory Pathway 4514 2Insmed Selected to Complete Congressional Questionnaire Regarding the Potential Establishment of a Follow On Biologics Regulatory Pathway 4514 3Open Letter to Presidential Candidates on State Health Care Reform 16453 1Open Letter to Presidential Candidates on State Health Care Reform 16453 2Advanced Life Sciences Announces Plan to Submit NDA for Cethromycin 4512 1Advanced Life Sciences Announces Plan to Submit NDA for Cethromycin 4512 2Advanced Life Sciences Announces Plan to Submit NDA for Cethromycin 4512 3Natural Nutrition to Launch iNutrition com 16448 1Natural Nutrition to Launch iNutrition com 16448 2
...at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have discovere...o live. In two recently published papers, the scie...m behind the pathogen that causes cholera. The wor...hogen, while also offering insight into how cells ...ms required to sustain life. , As a single-cell or...
...5th issue of G&D, Dr. Michael Carey (UCLA,s Jo...lend new insight into the mechanism of epigenetic ...sizes that "The study provides a new direction to ...enomena that play a significant role in stem cell ...ach other to turn genes off. " , Although both...
...ew imaging technology, researchers are getting a b...w insects, which have a respiratory system built t...vive for days without it. , The insect respiratory...taking in air as they release carbon dioxide, acco...iversity in Berlin, Germany. This allows them to k...
...ave discovered how an unusual protein helps a cell...ng the cell,s self-destruction. , But they also d..., often makes errors when copying the genomic DNA ... cancerous. , The findings by researchers with...ter are described in two back-to-back papers in Th...
Other Biology News:Cholera pathogen reveals how bacteria generate energy to live 2Cholera pathogen reveals how bacteria generate energy to live 3Breathing easy: When it comes to oxygen, a bug's life is full of it 2Breathing easy: When it comes to oxygen, a bug's life is full of it 3Breathing easy: When it comes to oxygen, a bug's life is full of it 4Protein averts cell suicide but might contribute to cancer 2Protein averts cell suicide but might contribute to cancer 3
(Date:7/25/2008)...Newswire/ -- BioTrends Research Group, Inc.,releas...M) publication, a,syndicated report offering compr...ia and bone and mineral metabolism in Chronic Kidn... information from 182 US,Nephrologists -- data wer...ne 2008., In the renal anemia market, while the u...
(Date:7/25/2008)...X, CALGARY, July 25 / Resv...X:RVX) is pleased to announce effective,immediatel...irectors. On,the subject of her appointment Jan Gr...xciting opportunity for me. The Company has done a...linical trials. I expect the next,foreseeable futu...
(Date:7/25/2008)...swire-FirstCall/ -- Caraco Pharmaceutical,Laborato...first quarter of,Fiscal 2009, ended June 30, 2008,...or the corresponding period of Fiscal 2008. This r...er of Fiscal 2008. Pre-tax income grew,to $14.6 mi...ared to a,pre-tax income of $9.6 million during th...
(Date:7/25/2008)...25 /- REvolution Computing will,lead ...R product at the,upcoming BioC 2008 conference in ... REvolution Computing Director of Community, Dr. D... Training Manager, and Martin Morgan of,the Fred H...ting,s BioC lab,will introduce participants to the...
Breaking Biology Technology:BioTrends Releases Quarterly TreatmentTrends(TM): Nephrology Report Highlighting Market Trends for Renal Anemia, Hyperphosphatemia, and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism 2BioTrends Releases Quarterly TreatmentTrends(TM): Nephrology Report Highlighting Market Trends for Renal Anemia, Hyperphosphatemia, and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism 3Jan Gray Joins Resverlogix Board of Directors 2Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Ltd. Reports Results for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2009 2Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Ltd. Reports Results for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2009 3Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Ltd. Reports Results for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2009 4Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Ltd. Reports Results for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2009 5Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Ltd. Reports Results for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2009 6Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Ltd. Reports Results for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2009 7REvolution Computing Offers Hands-On Tutorial of NWS Parallel Computing Environment at BioC 2008 2
...icers discuss security challenges , ,MADISON The...hat lists each patient and their condition is a fa...ion of patient privacy? , ,Balancing the best inte...n to the many care givers that require it was the ...Hospitals and Clinics chief information officer, a...
...on Technology is a national priority , ,MADISON -...get, technology and finance at the U.S. Department...off, MD, PhD, FACMI, and senior advisor of the Nat...ll be keynote speakers at the Digital Healthcare ...ter in Madison, WI. , ,Heuer and Yasnoff will dis...
... of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Educational Ps...ic Advanced Distributed Learning Co-Lab to create... and doing. , ,"The Department,s Learning Scienc...said James Gee , professor in UW-Madison,s School...nologies, which include video games, one focal poi...
...loping program , ,MADISON, Wis. The federal gove... of the private sector in mind while developing a ...er , deputy assistant secretary of budget, technol...and Human Services told the audience at the Digit...h Wednesday. , ,Heuer, a University of Wisconsin-M...
Other Biology Technology:The challenges of maintaining patient privacy and delivering secure clinical information 2The challenges of maintaining patient privacy and delivering secure clinical information 3U.S. Health and Human Services officials to speak at the Digital Healthcare Conference 2University of Wisconsin team creates learning games 2University of Wisconsin team creates learning games 3HHS official addresses industry concerns on Federal Health Architecture 2
activating transcription factor 4 (tax-responsive enhancer element B67),
Request Info
2-min, single-step add-mix-measure assay for luciferase expression and HTS in mammalian cells. Linear detection range: 2 fg to 46 ng luciferase.
Trop-2 Purified Anti-Human clone 162-46, Isotype Mouse IgG 1 , 100 µg Consult technical datasheet for details.
Biology Products: