What is the function of Ras protein?
Ras family H-Ras, K-Ras, N-Ras are small monomeric GTPases of 21 kDa acting as molecular switches downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases and G-protein coupled receptors to regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, cytoskeletal organization and metabolism. Cycle between GDP-bound inactive and GTP-bound active conformations controlled by guanine exchange factors SOS that promote GTP loading upon growth factor stimulation and GTPase activating proteins p120GAP that accelerate intrinsic GTP hydrolysis turning signal off. Active Ras-GTP recruits effectors Raf kinases activating MEK-E
Ref: Cox & Der, Nat Rev Drug Discov 2010, Ras signaling; Prior et al., Cancer Res 2012.