Involvement of a Novel Rho GTPase Activating Protein in Breast Tumorigenesis

Abstract

Tumor suppressors and oncogenes are central players in signal transduction pathways. Ras oncogene is one of the key intermediates that facilitates signal from upstream tyrosine kinases to a downstream cascade of serine/threonine kinases. The members of Rho family of Ras-related proteins are critical downstream components of signaling pathways. The Rho GTPases are involved in a wide spectrum of cellular functions. One of the regulators of Rho GTPases is Rho GTPase activating protein (GAP), which converts active Rho into inactive Rho. We have cloned a Rho GAP encoded by human chromosome 13q12. The sequence motifs of this Rho GAP were characterized and its expression profile in normal breast cell lines and breast carcinoma cell lines was determined. Its expression was much lower in carcinoma cell lines as compared to normal cell lines, and was undetectable in one of the carcinoma cell line tested. The Rho GAP message was highly sensitive to growth conditions. Thus mutations in Rho GAP, its reduced expression, and sensitivity to growth factors could likely enhance the levels of active Rho during breast tumorigenesis.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 2000
Accession Number
ADA385646

Entities

People

  • Rajendra Kandpal

Organizations

  • Temple University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amino Acids
  • Biomedical Research
  • Breast Cancer
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cell Division
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Physiological Processes
  • Cells
  • Chromosomes
  • Cytoskeleton
  • Genetic Structures
  • Growth Factors
  • Mutations
  • Neoplasms
  • Neutral Amino Acids
  • Sequences

Readers

  • Molecular Biology and Genetics