Functional analysis of small G protein Rac1 and Rac3 signalings during corticogenesis

Rac1和rac3是高度同源的蛋白质，很难单独分析它们的功能。在这里，我产生了敲入小鼠，在其中表达表位标记的rac3，以便在蛋白质水平上很容易区分rac1和rac3。通过使用这些敲入小鼠，在发育中的大脑中跟踪了rac1和rac3的表达模式。此外，还进行了rac3复合体的蛋白质组学分析，以阐明脑中的rac3信号转导。我鉴定了几种与激活的rac3特异相关的蛋白质。

Rac1 and Rac3 are highly homologous proteins, and it has been quite difficult to analyze their functions separately. Here I generated the knock-in mice, in which express epitope-tagged Rac3 so that Rac1 and Rac3 are easily distinguished at the protein level. By using these knock-in mice, expression patterns of Rac1 and Rac3 are traced in the developing brains. Also, proteomic analysis of Rac3 complex was performed to clarify Rac3 signaling in the brain. I identified several proteins which specifically associate with activated Rac3.