R-Ras2 revs replication
Germinal centers are specialized lymphoid structures that facilitate the development of high-affinity antibody responses by B cells, a process that requires the guanosine triphosphate hydrolase activity of Ras family members. Mendoza et al. characterized germinal center formation in mice lacking R-Ras2 or other related family members and found that Ras proteins are functionally specialized. Only B cell–intrinsic R-Ras2 activity was necessary for cellular proliferation and germinal center development. R-Ras2 deficiency specifically reduced the expression of mitochondrial tRNAs necessary for mitochondrial replication and glucose metabolism in B cells. These data suggest that R-Ras2 signaling is essential for the metabolic reprograming of germinal center B cells to supply the energy required to generate effective antibody responses.
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