V-Ha-Ras Harvey Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog (HRAS)

RAS is a G protein (specifically a small GTPase): a regulatory GTP hydrolase that cycles between two conformations–an activated or inactivated form, respectively RAS-GTP and RAS-GDP.

H-Ras is well known as one of the essential components of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK cascade, which is a critical prosurvival signaling mechanism in most eukaryotic cells. Ras targets Raf/MEK/ERK cascade by integrating and transmitting extracellular signals from growth factor receptors to Raf, leading to the propagation of signals to modulate a serious of cellular survival events. Apoptosis signal-regulating kinasel (ASK1) serves as a general mediator of cell death because it is responsive to a variety of death signals.