DENN domains at an interface of Rab signaling pathways

Rab 信号通路接口处的 DENN 结构域

• 批准号: 197316-2011
• 负责人: McPherson, Peter
• 金额: $ 3.5万
• 依托单位: McGill University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2011-01-01 至 2012-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=476775
• 关键词: DENN; domains; interface; Rab; signaling

The information encoded in the human genome is translated into proteins, which are the building blocks for cells and carry out all cellular activities. Certain classes of proteins are known as enzymes, which catalyze biochemical interactions. Through our NSERC funded research, we have recently identified a new class of enzymes, called GEFs that activate a member of a large family of proteins known as Rabs. Rabs are a type of cellular switch and are vital in turning on and turning off multiple cellular activities including cell growth and differentiation. However, the switches that turn on the Rabs are not well understood. There are 18 of the GEF proteins in humans and we think that each plays a role in the activation of Rabs. Moreover, and excitingly, these proteins also appear to act downstream of the activated Rab. Thus, we hypothesize that the GEF proteins are positioned between different Rab signaling pathways and this will be the focus of the research in this Discovery Grant application. If true, our studies will reveal a key new regulatory mechanism for controlling the vast Rab regulatory network in cells.

人类基因组中编码的信息被翻译成蛋白质，蛋白质是细胞的基石，并执行所有细胞活动。某些类型的蛋白质被称为酶，催化生物化学相互作用。通过我们NSERC资助的研究，我们最近发现了一类新的酶，称为GEF，它激活了一个被称为Rabs的蛋白质大家族的成员。Rabs是一种细胞开关，对于开启和关闭多种细胞活动（包括细胞生长和分化）至关重要。然而，打开Rabs的开关并不很清楚。在人类中有18种GEF蛋白，我们认为每一种都在Rabs的激活中发挥作用。此外，令人兴奋的是，这些蛋白质似乎也在激活的Rab下游起作用。因此，我们假设GEF蛋白位于不同的Rab信号通路之间，这将是本次发现资助申请的研究重点。如果这是真的，我们的研究将揭示一个关键的新的调控机制，用于控制细胞中庞大的Rab调控网络。