The Rho GTPases were first discovered due to their homology to Ras GTPase. Approximately 30% of human cancers harbor an activating mutation to Ras, and Rasmutations promote cell growth and survival. Due to their homology to Ras, great enthusiasm has ensued over the discovery of the Rho GTPases. It was thoughtthat activating mutations, similar to what is seen in Ras, would be found in the Rho proteins and would account for a proportion of human cancers that did not harbor Ras mutations. After an intense survey of multiple human cancer specimens, no evidence of activating mutations were found. Instead, overexpression of Rho proteins and aberrant activation were found to be common. Aberrant activation of Rho GTPase is found to be caused by alterations in the activity ofupstream Rho-regulatory proteins. Since their discovery, 22 human Rho proteins have been identified and several have been shown to be involved in cancer progression. In contrast to Ras and its closely related members, Rho proteins act as dynamic switches to alter the actin cytoskeleton. Because of this, these proteins regulate nearly all aspects of cell physiology including growth, polarity and migration. Thus, they are very important molecules in cancer biology and constitute potential and desirable therapeutic targets. The roles and importance of the Rho GTPases in cancer is just really becoming to be appreciated and the amount of new information gathered over the past 5 years has been staggering. However, there currently is no comprehensive source of information forRho biology. Therefore, this volume could be very timely and of great interest. The Rho GTPases have become a very 'hot topic' over the past few years The interest in these molecules extends past cancer biology into normal cell biology The Rho GTPases are involved in nearly all cellular process and play a rolein everything from development to erectile dysfunction Therefore, a book of this type would have a broader audience than just cancer biologists and clinical scientists INDICE: Overview of Rho GTPase History 1.- Rho GTPases and Cancer 43.- RhoGDIs in Cancer 67.- Signaling through Galpha12/13 and RGS-RhoGEFs 93.- Vav Proteins In Cancer 126.- Rho GTPase-Activating Proteins in Cancer 156.- RhoBTB Proteins in Cancer 182.- RhoC GTPase in Cancer Progression and Metastasis 197.- RhoB GTPase and Farnesyl Transferase Inhibitors (FTIs) in Cancer 219.- Regulation of Rho GTPase Activity Through Phosphorylation Events: A Brief Overview 257.- The Rho-Regulated ROCK Kinases in Cancer 273.
- ISBN: 978-1-4419-1110-0
- Editorial: Springer
- Encuadernacion: Cartoné
- Páginas: 168
- Fecha Publicación: 01/12/2009
- Nº Volúmenes: 1
- Idioma: Inglés