V-Ral Simian Leukemia Viral Oncogene Homolog B (RALB)

RALB encodes a GTP-binding protein that belongs to the small GTPase superfamily and Ras family of proteins. GTP-binding proteins mediate the transmembrane signaling initiated by the occupancy of certain cell surface receptors.

RALB/SEC5 (EXOC2) effector complex specifically supported tumor cell survival by directly recruiting and activating TBK1. In cancer cell lines, constitutive engagement of this pathway, via chronic RALB activation, restricted initiation of apoptotic programs typically engaged in the context of oncogenic stress. Although dispensable for survival of nontumorigenic human epithelial cells in culture, this pathway helped mount an innate immune response to double-stranded RNA or Sendai virus exposure.