Analysis of Rho GTPase activation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Methods Mol Biol. 2012:827:369-80. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-442-1_24.

Abstract

Rho proteins act as molecular switches to control multiple cellular processes. The switch mechanism involves cycling between active and inactive states based on GTP loading and hydrolysis. Assays that quantitatively analyze the GTP loading of Rho proteins have become important molecular tools to decipher upstream signals and mechanisms that regulate activation and de-activation. These assays make use of Rho activation probes constructed from Rho-binding domains of downstream effectors. The utility of these assays comes from effector domains that show selective high affinity interactions with specific subsets of GTP-bound activated GTPases. Here, we describe assays used to analyze yeast Rho GTPase activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Enzyme Activation
  • Enzyme Assays / methods*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / enzymology*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein, Saccharomyces cerevisiae / isolation & purification
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein, Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / isolation & purification
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • RHO1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein, Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins