The role of ral signaling and post translational modifications (PTMs) of Ras in cancer

Abstract

Mutation in RAS gene is one of the most common genetic alterations, which seems to be seen in one third of human cancers. Ras, as a molecular switch, has been considered in wide variety of signaling pathways such as cell division and apoptosis. Ras proteins have a binary function to transmit different extracellular messages into intracellular signaling network. It has been proved that Ras proteins associate with different plasma membranes. Although all Ras isoforms have been found at plasma membrane, H-Ras and N-Ras are located in Golgi, and K-Ras at ER and mitochondria outer membrane. There have been a lot of efforts to inhibit Ras signaling that can be a pivotal approach to treat Ras-induced tumors. Effect of RalA and RalB on the growth of embryonal tumors, at downstream region of Ras, has been studied in a number of studies, which showed that inhibition of these signaling pathways can provide a strong therapeutic approach to cancer. Also, post translational modifications (PTMs) in proteins interfere extremely with cell signaling pathways in cells that can react to external signals. In this review, the role of Ral signaling in cancer and PTM of Ras proteins has been reviewed.