Ral Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Stimulator Like Protein 4 (RGL4)

The deduced 473-amino acid protein has a calculated molecular mass of 22 kD. PCR analysis also identified a number of transcripts from T-cell lines or T-cell malignancies that showed a pattern of exon splicing and/or utilization that was not found in normal tissues. Most of the abnormal transcripts were truncated at their 5-prime ends.

Wildtype and oncogenic forms of rabbit Rgr were almost identical; however, wildtype Rgr had a long 5-prime UTR with 8 AUGs that inhibited translation of the main open reading frame. When these regulatory sequences were removed, the wildtype gene was expressed at high levels. Elevated Rgr protein levels subsequently triggered relocalization of Rgr from the Golgi to the plasma membrane, where efficient activation of RAS could occur.