Targeting Ras-, Rho-, and Rab-Family GTPases via a Conserved Cryptic Pocket

ABSTRACT: The family of Ras-like GTPases consists of over 150 different members, regulated by an even larger number of guanine exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) which comprise cellular switch networks that govern cell motility, growth, polarity, protein trafficking, and gene expression. Efforts to develop selective small molecule probes and drugs for these proteins have been hampered by the high affinity of GTP and lack of allosteric regulatory sites. This paradigm was recently challenged by the discovery of a cryptic allosteric pocket in the Switch II region of K-Ras. Here we ask if similar pockets are present in GTPases beyond K-Ras. We systematically surveyed members of the Ras-, Rho-, and Rab-family of GTPases and found that many GTPases exhibit targetable Switch II pockets. Notable differences in the composition and conservation of key residues offer potential for the development of optimized inhibitors for many members of this previously undruggable family.

INSTRUMENT(S):

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)

SUBMITTER: Zhi Lin  

LAB HEAD: Johannes Morstein

PROVIDER: PXD054414 | Pride | 2025-05-07

REPOSITORIES: Pride