Ras is a family of genes and the proteins they encode are so-called small G-proteins (small GTPases). Ras are membrane-bound proteins involved in signal transduction. They carry out one of the first signal transduction steps from outside the cell and usually regulate cell proliferation. Some mutations can lead to permanent activation of Ras, which disrupts the regulation of cell division. Errors in Ras regulation can lead to tumor growth and metastasis. Indeed, in 20-25% of human tumors mutations in the Ras gene were found to increase its activity, and in some types of tumors this figure reaches 90%. The Ras superfamily of proteins is a small GTPase and includes Ras, Rho, Arf, G-protein Rab and Ran

Functions

Participating in signal transduction from membrane receptors, Ras proteins can influence cell reproduction, cell attachment to extracellular matrix, state of actin cytoskeleton, malignant transformation and other processes. Ras are involved in various signal transduction cascades, of which the MAP-kinase cascade is the most studied. Both point mutations of Ras that cause permanent activation of the protein due to disruption of its ability to hydrolyze GTP and mutations of many proteins involved in the same signal transduction pathway (for example, loss-of-function mutation of the gene suppressor of GAP protein NF1, which promotes GTP hydrolysis by Ras protein) can lead to malignant cell transformation.

Conclusion

Ras Elisa Kit is specifically created to study Ras activation and can be used to study novel signaling pathways for Ras activation. The kit can also be used as a diagnostic test to detect oncogenic Ras associated with malignancies.