Delineating Arls functions

Members of the Ras superfamily of small G proteins can be divided into 5 major families, Ras, Rho, Rab, Ran and Arf, and are involved in regulating almost all cellular processes. Small G proteins are considered molecular switches where their conformation and thus activities are coupled to their bound nucleotides, GTP or GDP. With twenty members, Arl proteins comprise the largest group of the Arf family of small G proteins. Arl proteins have been implicated in disease. Nevertheless, their function and regulation remains largely obscure.We will use biochemistry, structural biology, cell biology and imaging approaches to illuminate the function of this crucial but still understudied protein family.

Keywords:Small G proteins, Primry cilia

Disciplines:Cell signalling