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Clostridial toxins: Molecular probes of Rho-dependent signaling and apoptosis

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Abstract

The Rho family small GTPases are members of the Ras superfamily of small GTPases. Rho proteins were first determined to act as key regulators of many types of actin cytoskeletal-dependent cellular functions. Recent work by several investigators indicates that Rho GTPases are also critical modulators of several important intracellular and nuclear signal transduction pathways. Certain clostridial toxins and exoenzymes covalently modify, and thereby inactivate, specific types of Rho family GTPases. As such, these microbial enzymes have proven invaluable in helping to identify structural and functional attributes of Rho GTPases.

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© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Bobak, D.A. (1999). Clostridial toxins: Molecular probes of Rho-dependent signaling and apoptosis. In: Alvarez-Gonzalez, R. (eds) ADP-Ribosylation Reactions: From Bacterial Pathogenesis to Cancer. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry: An International Journal for Chemical Biology in Health and Disease, vol 30. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8740-2_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8740-2_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-4678-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-8740-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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