Son Of Sevenless Homolog 1 (SOS1)

SOS1 is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for RAS proteins,  RAS genes encode membrane-bound guanine nucleotide-binding proteins that function in the transduction of signals that control cell growth and differentiation. Binding of GTP activates RAS proteins, and subsequent hydrolysis of the bound GTP to GDP and phosphate inactivates signaling by these proteins. GTP binding can be catalyzed by guanine nucleotide exchange factors for RAS, and GTP hydrolysis can be accelerated by GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). The first exchange factor to be identified for RAS was the S. cerevisiae CDC25 gene product. Genetic analysis indicated that CDC25 is essential for activation of RAS proteins. In Drosophila, Sos contains a domain that shows sequence similarity with the catalytic domain of CDC25.