Sahar F Bannoura, Husain Yar Khan, Md Hafiz Uddin, Ramzi M Mohammad, Boris C Pasche, Asfar S Azmi
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) regulate the activation of small GTPases (G proteins) of the Ras superfamily proteins controlling cellular functions. Ras superfamily proteins act as 'molecular switches' that are turned 'ON' by guanine exchange. There are five major groups of Ras family GTPases: Ras, Ran, Rho, Rab and Arf, with a variety of different GEFs regulating their GTP loading. GEFs have been implicated in various diseases including cancer. This makes GEFs attractive targets to modulate signaling networks controlled by small GTPases.
Areas covered: In this review, the roles and mechanisms of GEFs in malignancy are outlined. The mechanism of guanine exchange activity by GEFs on a small GTPase is illustrated. Then, some examples of GEFs that are significant in cancer are presented with a discussion on recent progress in therapeutic targeting efforts using a variety of approaches.
Expert opinion: Recently, GEFs have emerged as potential therapeutic targets for novel cancer drug development. Targeting small GTPases is challenging; thus, targeting their activation by GEFs is a promising strategy. Most GEF-targeted drugs are still in preclinical development. A deeper biological understanding of the underlying mechanisms of GEF activity and utilizing advanced technology are necessary to enhance drug discovery for GEFs in cancer.
期刊介绍:
Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery (ISSN 1746-0441 [print], 1746-045X [electronic]) is a MEDLINE-indexed, peer-reviewed, international journal publishing review articles on novel technologies involved in the drug discovery process, leading to new leads and reduced attrition rates. Each article is structured to incorporate the author’s own expert opinion on the scope for future development.
The Editors welcome:
Reviews covering chemoinformatics; bioinformatics; assay development; novel screening technologies; in vitro/in vivo models; structure-based drug design; systems biology
Drug Case Histories examining the steps involved in the preclinical and clinical development of a particular drug
The audience consists of scientists and managers in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry, academic pharmaceutical scientists and other closely related professionals looking to enhance the success of their drug candidates through optimisation at the preclinical level.