A subclass of Ras proteins that regulate the degradation of IkappaB

Small guanosine triphosphatases, typified by the mammalian Ras proteins, play major roles in the regulation of numerous cellular pathways. A subclass of evolutionarily conserved Ras-like proteins was identified, members of which differ from other Ras proteins in containing Amino acids at positions 12 and 61 that are similar to those present in the oncogenic forms of Ras. These proteins, kappaB-Ras1 and kappaB-Ras2, interact with the PEST domains of IkappaBalpha and IkappaBbeta [inhibitors of the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB)] and decrease their rate of degradation. In cells, kappaB-Ras proteins are associated only with NF-kappaB:IkappaBbeta complexes and therefore may provide an explanation for the slower rate of degradation of IkappaBbeta compared with IkappaBalpha.