Arf Family GTPase

ADP-ribosylation factor (Arf) GTPases are a subfamily of the Ras superfamily of small GTPases. In mammals, there are approximately 30 members of the ARF GTPases family, divided into "true ARFs" (6 types) and "ARF-like" (ARL) proteins (21 types), as well as other related proteins such as SARs. ARF GTPases play a crucial role in regulating membrane trafficking and organelle structure. They are activated and deactivated through GTP binding and hydrolysis, mediated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). ARF GTPases regulate a variety of key cellular processes such as vesicle formation, protein sorting, lipid remodeling, and the dynamics of the cytoskeleton, thereby affecting secretion, endocytosis, and cell adhesion. Their activity involves interactions with a variety of effectors, including coat proteins, lipid-modifying enzymes, and scaffold proteins.
The aberrant expression or dysfunction of ARF GTPases is associated with various disease states, including neurodegenerative diseases, tumors, and immune system disorders. Specifically, the role of ARF GTPases in membrane remodeling and cell signaling makes them potential targets for research into these diseases^[1].

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