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Sci. Signal., 15 September 2009
Vol. 2, Issue 88, p. ec305
[DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.288ec305]

EDITORS' CHOICE

Structural Biology Crystal Clear

L. Bryan Ray

Science, Science Signaling, AAAS, Washington, DC 20005, USA

Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) stimulate exchange of guanine diphosphate (GDP) for guanine triphosphate (GTP) and activate small guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) required for the regulation of many biological processes. Yang et al. provide a detailed picture of the complete catalytic cycle by which a GEF, DOCK9, activates the small GTPase Cdc42. A small region of DOCK9 appears to sense whether GTP or GDP is bound to Cdc42 in a mechanism that is distinct from that observed for other GTPases.

J. Yang, Z. Zhang, S. M. Roe, C. J. Marshall, D. Barford, Activation of Rho GTPases by DOCK exchange factors is mediated by a nucleotide sensor. Science 325, 1398–1402 (2009). [Abstract] [Full Text]

Citation: L. B. Ray, Crystal Clear. Sci. Signal. 2, ec305 (2009).

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