Activated k-ras, but not h-ras or N-ras, regulates brain neural stem cell proliferation in a raf/rb-dependent manner.

ABSTRACT: Neural stem cells (NSCs) give rise to all the major cell types in the brain, including neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes. However, the intracellular signaling pathways that govern brain NSC proliferation and differentiation have been incompletely characterized to date. Since some neurodevelopmental brain disorders (Costello syndrome and Noonan syndrome) are caused by germline activating mutations in the RAS genes, Ras small GTPases are likely critical regulators of brain NSC function. In the mammalian brain, Ras exists as three distinct molecules (H-Ras, K-Ras, and N-Ras), each with different subcellular localizations, downstream signaling effectors, and biological effects. Leveraging a novel series of conditional-activated Ras molecule-expressing genetically engineered mouse strai

SUBMITTER: Bender RH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4889217 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature