Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
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Roles of G proteins and their GTPase-activating proteins in platelets

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journal contribution
posted on 2024-10-24, 10:57 authored by Lorna O'Donoghue, Albert Smolenski

Platelets are small anucleate blood cells supporting vascular function. They circulate in a quiescent state monitoring the vasculature for injuries. Platelets adhere to injury sites and can be rapidly activated to secrete granules and to form platelet/platelet aggregates. These responses are controlled by signalling networks that include G proteins and their regulatory guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). Recent proteomics studies have revealed the complete spectrum of G proteins, GEFs, and GAPs present in platelets. Some of these proteins are specific for platelets and very few have been characterised in detail. GEFs and GAPs play a major role in setting local levels of active GTP-bound G proteins in response to activating and inhibitory signals encountered by platelets. Thus, GEFs and GAPs are highly regulated themselves and appear to integrate G protein regulation with other cellular processes. This review focuses on GAPs of small G proteins of the Arf, Rab, Ras, and Rho families, as well as of heterotrimeric G proteins found in platelets. 

Funding

UCD School of Medicine

UCD Conway Institute

History

Comments

The original article is available at https://portlandpress.com/

Published Citation

O'Donoghue L, Smolenski A. Roles of G proteins and their GTPase-activating proteins in platelets. Biosci Rep. 2024;44(5):BSR20231420

Publication Date

29 May 2024

PubMed ID

38808367

Department/Unit

  • Irish Centre for Vascular Biology

Publisher

Portland Press on behalf of the Biochemical Society

Version

  • Published Version (Version of Record)