Ras Guanyl Releasing Protein 3 (RASGRP3)

Members of the RAS subfamily of GTPases function in signal transduction as GTP/GDP-regulated switches that cycle between inactive GDP- and active GTP-bound states. Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), such as RASGRP3, serve as RAS activators by promoting acquisition of GTP to maintain the active GTP-bound state and are the key link between cell surface receptors and RAS activation.The transcript contains a repetitive element in its 3-prime UTR. The deduced 689-amino acid protein shares 51.5% amino acid identity with rat RAS guanyl-releasing protein. RT-PCR ELISA detected highest expression in heart, brain, lung, and kidney, and intermediate expression in liver, skeletal muscle, pancreas, spleen testis, and ovary.