Ras-associated protein-1 （Rapl）, a small GTPase in the Ras-related protein family, is an important regulator of basic cellular functions （e.g., formation and control of cell adhesions and junctions）, cellular migr...Ras-associated protein-1 （Rapl）, a small GTPase in the Ras-related protein family, is an important regulator of basic cellular functions （e.g., formation and control of cell adhesions and junctions）, cellular migration, and polarization. Through its interaction with other proteins, Rapl plays many roles during cell invasion and metastasis in different cancers. The basic function of Rapl is straightforward; it acts as a switch during cellular signaling transduction and regulated by its binding to either guanosine triphosphate （GTP） or guanosine diphosphate （GDP）. However, its remarkably diverse function is rendered by its interplay with a large number of distinct Rap guanine nucleotide exchange factors and Rap GTPase activating proteins. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which Rap 1 signaling can regulate cell invasion and metastasis, focusing on its roles in integrin and cadherin regulation, Rho GTPase control, and matrix metalloproteinase expression.展开更多
Animals employ compasses during navigation,but little attention has been paid to how accuracy is maintained in the face of compass error,which is inevitable in biological systems.The use of multiple landmarks may min&...Animals employ compasses during navigation,but little attention has been paid to how accuracy is maintained in the face of compass error,which is inevitable in biological systems.The use of multiple landmarks may minimize the effect of compass error.We allowed Clark’s nutcrackers to cache seeds in an outdoor aviary with either one or four landmarks present,and subsequently subjected them to small clock-shifts mimicking the effects of compass error.As predicted,the results showed a significant decrease in search accuracy following the clock-shift when one landmark was present but not when four landmarks were present.These results support that nutcrackers encode information from the sun as well as terrestrial landmarks,and these spatial cues are used in a flexible manner.Overall,our results are important as they support the hypothesis that multiple landmarks may be used during situations where the sun compass has even a small amount of error.展开更多
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31271504 and 31471310)the Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Committee,China(Grant No.JCYJ2013040 1144744187)
文摘Ras-associated protein-1 （Rapl）, a small GTPase in the Ras-related protein family, is an important regulator of basic cellular functions （e.g., formation and control of cell adhesions and junctions）, cellular migration, and polarization. Through its interaction with other proteins, Rapl plays many roles during cell invasion and metastasis in different cancers. The basic function of Rapl is straightforward; it acts as a switch during cellular signaling transduction and regulated by its binding to either guanosine triphosphate （GTP） or guanosine diphosphate （GDP）. However, its remarkably diverse function is rendered by its interplay with a large number of distinct Rap guanine nucleotide exchange factors and Rap GTPase activating proteins. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which Rap 1 signaling can regulate cell invasion and metastasis, focusing on its roles in integrin and cadherin regulation, Rho GTPase control, and matrix metalloproteinase expression.
基金a Natural Sciences Research Council grant RGPIN/312379-2009 to DMK,and a National Institutes of Health grant MH-61810 to AK.
文摘Animals employ compasses during navigation,but little attention has been paid to how accuracy is maintained in the face of compass error,which is inevitable in biological systems.The use of multiple landmarks may minimize the effect of compass error.We allowed Clark’s nutcrackers to cache seeds in an outdoor aviary with either one or four landmarks present,and subsequently subjected them to small clock-shifts mimicking the effects of compass error.As predicted,the results showed a significant decrease in search accuracy following the clock-shift when one landmark was present but not when four landmarks were present.These results support that nutcrackers encode information from the sun as well as terrestrial landmarks,and these spatial cues are used in a flexible manner.Overall,our results are important as they support the hypothesis that multiple landmarks may be used during situations where the sun compass has even a small amount of error.
