Synopses & Reviews
Small GTPase binding proteins (GTPases) are an ancient group of proteins that play key roles in almost every aspect of cell biology, from cell proliferation to nuclear transport. In GTPase Protocols: The Ras Superfamily, Edward J. Manser and Thomas Leung have collected the key techniques currently in use to probe the function of these ubiquitous proteins both in vitro and in vivo. Presented in a format that ensures ready reproducibility by accomplished experimentalists who have refined the various methods in their laboratories, each technique includes step-by-step instructions, tips on avoiding pitfalls and troubleshooting, and ancillary notes explaining how to adapt each procedure in the event of problems. The methods cover the spectrum of core techniques required for the five major GTPase subfamilies (Ras, Rho, Rab, Arf, and Ran) and permit a diversity of applications ranging from structural studies on a GTPase to real time in vivo analysis. Timely and highly practical, GTPase Protocols: The Ras Superfamily illuminates the powerful techniques used by investigators today to study this special family of proteins that plays such important roles in human health and disease.
Review
From the reviews: "The 20 protocols provide detailed procedures for working with most of the known small GTPases of the RAS superfamily. Included are those from RAS, RHO, RAB, ARF, and RAN. In each section, several different approaches are given, including methods for studying downstream effects. Assay methods range from microarray analysis to cell motility measurements. In each case, there is sufficient detail to allow investigators new to the procedure to use them effectively. In addition, the limitations of the procedures are provided as well as useful "notes" to facilitate adoption in the laboratory. A short bibliography accompanies each chapter and provides adequate primary source references."-Doody's Health Sciences Book Review Journal "In GTPase Protocols, Manser and Leung assemble the key protocols required for researchers venturing into this field ... . combination of clear practical detail with underlying theory provides the reader with the information required not only to perform the technique but also to interpret the resulting data. ... In summary, this is a collection of detailed and precise experimental methods from some of the leading research groups in this field. The authors are to be congratulated on the clarity brought to each technique ... ." (Harry Mellor, Journal of Cell Science, Vol. 116 (7-8), 2003)
Synopsis
Edward J. Manser and Thomas Leung have collected the key techniques currently in use to probe the function of these ubiquitous proteins both in vitro and in vivo. Presented in a format that ensures ready reproducibility by accomplished experimentalists who have refined the various methods in their laboratories, each technique includes step-by-step instructions, tips on avoiding pitfalls and troubleshooting, and ancillary notes explaining how to adapt each procedure in the event of problems. The methods cover the spectrum of core techniques required for the five major GTPase subfamilies (Ras, Rho, Rab, Arf, and Ran) and permit a diversity of applications ranging from structural studies on a GTPase to real time in vivo analysis. Timely and highly practical, GTPase Protocols: The Ras Superfamily illuminates the powerful techniques used by investigators today to study this special family of proteins that plays such important roles in human health and disease.
Table of Contents
Part I. General Protocols The GTPase Cycle: How Dominant Inhibitory Mutants Block the Biological Functions of Small GTPases Edward J. Manser Preparation of GTPases for Structural and Biophysical Analysis Susan J. M. Smith and Katrin Rittinger Using cDNA-Representational Difference Analysis (cDNA-RDA) in Combination with Microarrays to Identify Rac Regulated Genes Arndt A. P. Schmitz, Robert Lucito, and Linda Van Aelst Fluorescence Methods in the Study of Small GTP-Binding Proteins Mohammad Reza Ahmadian, Alfred Wittinghofer, and Christian Herrmann Part II. Specific Methods Ras Family GTPases Ras and Rac as Activators of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Herbert Archer and Dafna Bar-Sagi Interfering with Ras Signaling Using Membrane-Permeable Peptides or Drugs Hiroshi Maruta, Hong He, and Thao Nheu A Ras-Based Module to Generate 32P-Labeled Fusion Proteins for Blot Overlays Zhoushen Zhao and Louis Lim Rho Family GTPases Determination of the Activity of Rho-Like GTPases in Cells Angeliki Malliri, Jean P. ten Klooster, Cristina Olivo, and John G. Collard Introduction of Dominant Inhibitory Proteins Directed Against ROK and MRCK Kinases Ivan Tan, Louis Lim, and Thomas Leung Effects of Rho Family GTPases on Cell-Cell Adhesion Masaki Fukata, Masato Nakagawa, Shinya Kuroda, and Kozo Kaibuchi Cell Motility and Invasion Assays Jackie Banyard and Marc Symons Rab Family GTPases Isolation of Regulatory Proteins for the Rab3 Subfamily GTPases Hiroyuki Nakanishi, Takuya Sasaki, and Yoshimi Takai Analysis and Preparation of Stable Complexes between Rab GTPases Rab Escort Protein, and Rab Geranylgeranyl Transferase José B. Pereira-Leal, Anita Q. Gomes, and Miguel C. Seabra Arf Family GTPases Preparation of Myristoylated Arf1 and Arf6 Proteins Paul A. Randazzo and Henry M. Fales ARF-Directed Guanine-Nucleotide-Exchange (GEP) Proteins Gustavo Pacheco-Rodriguez, Joel Moss, and Martha Vaughan Arf6 and its Role in Cytoskeletal Modulation Julie G. Donaldson ARF GTPase-Activating Protein 1 Irit Huber, Edna Cukierman, Miriam Rotman, and Dan Cassel Ran GTPases The Use of Permeabilized Cell Systems to Study Nuclear Transport Amy M. Brownawell, James M. Holaska, Ian G. Macara, and Bryce M. Paschal Analysis of Nuclear Protein Import and Export In Vitro Using Fluorescent Cargoes Ralph H. Kehlenbach and Larry Gerace Characterization of the Effects of RanGTP on the Microtubule Cytoskeleton Sofia B. Lizarraga, Yixian Zheng, and Andrew R. Wilde Index