Ral B

RalB is a member of the Ras-like GTP binding protein family. Ras proteins provide a crucial link in the intracellular signalling cascades. Ras proteins are members of the small G protein family. These proteins are characterized by a molecular weight between 20 and 30 kDa, the ability to bind GTP or GDP and a low intrinsic GTPase activity. These proteins relay signals from the plasma membrane activated by receptor tyrosine kinases to the nucleus via a network of serine/threonine kinases. Ras proteins belong to a family of approximately 40 mammalian and 60 non-mammalian proteins. Ras proteins were first discovered as the hyperactive products of mutant Ras genes which promote cancer by disrupting the normal controls on cell proliferation and differentiation; about 30% of Human cancers have mutations in a Ras gene. Ras and Ras-like proteins function as switches, cycling between 2 distinct conformational states, active when GTP is bound and inactive when GDP is bound. Affinity precipitation assays can be used to determine the activation status of Ras and Ras-like family members. This assay is based on the ability of the Ras family effector proteins to interact specifically with the activated GTP-bound form of their target GTPases.

Ral B protein is provided as a functional G-protein and can be used as a Western blot control for antibodies to Ral B protein or in assays to study to protein-protein interactions of Ral B and related proteins with regulatory proteins.

This product is intended FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY, and FOR TESTS IN VITRO, not for use in diagnostic or therapeutic procedures involving Humans or animals.

1. Zhao, Z. , Rivkees, S.A., Tissue-specific expression of GTPase RalA and RalB during embryogenesis and regulation by epithelial-mesenchymal interaction. Mech. Dev. 2000, 97, 201-204 2. Bhullar, R.P. , Yang, S., Immunodetection of ralA and ralB GTP-binding proteins in various rat tissues and platelets. Mol. Cell Biochem. 1998, 179, 49-55 3. Jilkina, O. , Bhullar, R.P., Generation of antibodies specific for the RalA and RalB GTP-binding proteins and determination of their concentration and distribution in Human platelets. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1996, 1314, 157-166