R-Ras GTPases in the regulation of the Wnt Planar Cell Polarity pathway

在胚胎发育和出生后的许多细胞过程中，细胞移动到身体不同部位的能力起着至关重要的作用。肿瘤细胞可以劫持这一过程，并利用它来扩散和侵袭其他器官。平面细胞极性(PCP)途径是控制细胞适当运动的分子过程。这一途径的异常会导致多种疾病，包括人类最常见的两种出生缺陷：心脏和神经管缺陷(如脊柱裂)。R-RAS蛋白调节各种生物学过程，包括细胞运动。我们发现了R-RAS蛋白和PCP途径中涉及的分子之间的新联系。我们计划研究这一过程中涉及的精确机制，并测试R-RAS在PCP通路正常功能中的整体重要性。更好地理解这两条通路之间的相互作用将有助于我们理解复杂的细胞运动过程是如何协调的，并可能对R-RAS和PCP通路涉及的众多疾病的检测和治疗产生影响。

The ability of cells to move to different parts of the body plays a critical role during development of the embryo and in many cellular processes after birth. Tumour cells can hijack this process and use it to spread and invade other organs.The Planar Cell Polarity (PCP) pathway is a molecular process that controls the appropriate movement of cells. Abnormalities in this pathway cause a variety of diseases, including the two most common type of birth defects in humans: cardiac and neural tube defects (such as spina bifida).R-Ras proteins regulate a variety of biological processes, including cell movement. We have found new links between R-Ras proteins and molecules involved in the PCP pathway. We plan to work out the precise mechanisms that are involved in this process and to test the overall importance of R-Ras in the normal functioning of the PCP pathway.A better understanding of the interaction between these two pathways will help us understand how the complex process of cell movement is coordinated and may have implications for the detection and treatment of the numerous diseases where the R-Ras and PCP pathways are involved.