Small GTPases features research focused on these key signal transducing proteins that are involved in every facet of biology.
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ALT Join FASEB for the sixth installment of this important conference, exploring GTPases in the fields of cytoskeleton, signaling, and membrane traffic. This year’s program will focus on how membrane structure and function are regulated, not just within molecular components, but regarding how they function. Recent findings indicate that there is an extensive crosstalk between membrane traffic and cytoskeletal dynamics, although the phenomenon is still not fully understood. Additional findings have found that the dysfunction of small GTPases and their regulators are the key aspects of numerous human diseases and are extremely relevant to the basic cell biology community. This conference will also promote integrative approaches to research, since small GTPases are so integral to the function of cells, especially within clinical studies where many investigators, have come to embrace membrane trafficking as key to the disease’s pathophysiology. This conference will bring together experts in b
ALT Rho-GTPases proteins function as molecular switches alternating from an active to an inactive state upon Guanosine triphosphate (GTP) binding and hydrolysis to Guanosine diphosphate (GDP). Among them, Rac subfamily regulates cell dynamics, being overexpressed in distinct cancer types. Notably, these proteins are object of frequent cancer-associated mutations at Pro29 (P29S, P29L, and P29Q). To assess the impact of these mutations on Rac1 structure and function, we performed extensive all-atom molecular dynamics simulations on wild-type (wt) and oncogenic isoforms of this protein in GDP- and GTP-bound states. Our results unprecedentedly elucidate that P29Q/S-induced structural and dynamical perturbations of Rac1 core domain weaken the binding of the catalytic site Mg2+ ion, and reduce the GDP residence time within protein, enhancing the GDP/GTP exchange rate and Rac1 activity. This broadens our knowledge of the role of cancer-associated mutations on small GTPases mechanism.
ALT The first FASEB Science Research Conference (SRC) on this topic was launched in 2008 and focused on Arf GTPases. Over time, the SRCs progressively included Rabs, Rags, Ras, and Rhos. This year’s SRC explores small GTPases in regulation of membrane processes, coordination with cell functions, and connection to disease. The sessions cover topics on these GTPases and their partners in cell biology, disease, and pharmaceutical potential. The conference's main themes are: 1) Small GTPases in intracellular trafficking, including autophagy: from structure to regulation; 2) Coordination of trafficking with cell polarity and cytoskeleton; 3) Small GTPases in disease: from cancer to neurological disorders; 4) Using small GTPases as drug targets and possible cure.
ALT Launched in 1991 by Channing Der and Gary Bokoch, this FASEB Science Research Conference (SRC) is celebrating its 30th anniversary. This year’s SRC focuses on investigating small GTPases of the Ras superfamily, including their cellular functions, regulation, normal physiological roles, and contributions to human diseases. The conference brings together academic, clinical, and industrial researchers, including both trainees and independent investigators, with interests from fundamental small GTPase biology to clinical application. The conference encourages and supports junior trainees and investigators, especially minority scientists, to continue and strengthen their research on small GTPases. The conference aims to explore the structure and regulation of small GTPases, discuss their roles in signaling in membrane and cytoskeletal dynamics, and examine their contributions to diseases and as targets for pharmaceutical drugs.
