What is Rac1 protein?

Rac1, also known as Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1, is a protein found in human cells. It is encoded by the RAC1 gene. This gene can produce a variety of alternatively spliced versions of the Rac1 protein, which appear to carry out different functions.

What does Rac1 do?

Rac1, a member of the Rho family of GTPases, is an intracellular transducer known to regulate multiple signaling pathways that control cytoskeleton organization, transcription, and cell proliferation.

How is Rac1 activated?

We report that the Rac1 GTPase, a known cytoskeletal regulator, is activated by NPM-ALK in ALCL cell lines (Karpas 299 and Cost) and transfected cells (lymphoid Ba/F3 cells, NIH-3T3 fibroblasts). We have identified Vav3 as one of the exchange factors involved in Rac1 activation.

How do GTPases work?

GTPases are proteins that work as molecular switches in the regulation of cell responses to extracellular signals. Their function is regulated by GDP/GTP-cycling, where GDP/GTP exchange promotes formation of the GTP-bound protein and GTP hydrolysis promotes formation of the GDP-bound protein.

What kind of protein is the Rac1 protein?

Rac1 is a small (~21 kDa) signaling G protein (more specifically a GTPase), and is a member of the Rac subfamily of the family Rho family of GTPases.

How is the molecular weight of his-rac1 determined?

A 10 µg sample of RC01 (His-Rac1 molecular weight approx. 22 kDa) was separated by electrophoresis in a 12% SDS-PAGE system. The protein was stained with Coomassie Blue. The biological activity of RC01 is determined by its ability to exchange nucleotide.

What is the role of Rac1 in cell motility?

Along with other subfamily of Rac and Rho proteins, they exert an important regulatory role specifically in cell motility and cell growth. Rac1 has ubiquitous tissue expression, and drives cell motility by formation of lamellipodia.

What kind of tumor can Rac1 V12 cause?

Overexpression of a constitutively active Rac1 V12 in mice caused a tumor that’s phenotypically indistinguishable from human Kaposi’s sarcoma. Activating or gain-of-function mutations of Rac1 are shown to play active roles in promoting mesenchymal-type of cell movement assisted by NEDD9 and DOCK3 protein complex.