| 1988 |
RAP2A (rap2) encodes a 183 amino acid GTP-binding protein with ~46% identity to K-Ras; the putative effector domain differs by one amino acid from Ras, and the protein contains a C-terminal cysteine motif predicted to mediate membrane anchoring, suggesting possible interaction with Ras effectors. |
cDNA cloning, sequence homology analysis |
Oncogene |
Low |
3045729
|
| 1991 |
Recombinant RAP2A protein binds GTP with higher affinity than GDP and exhibits low intrinsic GTPase activity (rate constant ~0.5×10⁻² min⁻¹). Site-directed mutagenesis showed: G12V reduces GDP dissociation and GTPase activity; S17N severely impairs GTP binding (Mg²⁺ coordination); T35A decreases GTP affinity and GTPase activity; T145I increases nucleotide dissociation rates. |
In vitro biochemical assay with purified recombinant protein; site-directed mutagenesis |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
High |
1900290
|
| 1991 |
RAP2A protein is post-translationally modified by both palmitoylation and farnesylation (polyisoprenylation), processed from a soluble hydrophilic precursor to a hydrophobic membrane-bound form, and localizes to a low-density compartment overlapping with the endoplasmic reticulum—distinct from the plasma membrane localization of Ras proteins. |
Subcellular fractionation, sucrose density centrifugation, indirect immunofluorescence, metabolic labeling |
Oncogene |
High |
1923507
|
| 1991 |
RAP2A overexpression (wild-type or G12V activated mutant) has neither transforming activity nor growth-promoting or growth-inhibitory effects in mammalian cells, and does not interfere with Ras-induced transformation—functionally distinct from RAP1A. |
Stable expression in mammalian cells, focus formation assay, colony growth assay |
International journal of cancer |
Medium |
1833345
|
| 1991 |
RAP2A protein is phosphorylated neither in vitro nor in vivo by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) or protein kinase C (PKC), unlike RAP1A/RAP1B which are PKA substrates. |
In vitro kinase assay with purified PKA catalytic subunit; intact fibroblast labeling |
Biochemical and biophysical research communications |
High |
1902091
|
| 1992 |
RAP2A GTPase activity is not stimulated by Ras-GAP and cannot compete with Ras for Ras-GAP interaction. Rap1-GAPm stimulates RAP2A GTPase but with 30–40-fold lower efficiency than on RAP1A. A specific RAP2-GAP activity was detected and partially purified from bovine brain cytosol but co-purified with a degraded form of rap1-GAP. |
GTPase activity assay with purified proteins; partial purification from bovine brain cytosol |
Biochemical and biophysical research communications |
Medium |
1449497
|
| 1992 |
RAP2A (rap2p) localizes predominantly to specific granules in resting human neutrophils (membrane-bound, cytoplasmic face) and translocates to the plasma membrane upon neutrophil activation/degranulation, remaining membrane-bound throughout. |
Immunoblot of subcellular fractions, immunofluorescence microscopy, pronase protection assay |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
Medium |
1556142
|
| 1993 |
RAP2A is farnesylated at its C-terminal CAAX motif (terminating in glutamine), making it the first non-Ras member of the Ras superfamily shown to be farnesylated. Mutation of the terminal glutamine to leucine switches the isoprenoid specificity to geranylgeranyl; mutation of the CAAX cysteine (C180S) abolishes isoprenoid incorporation entirely. |
In vitro translation with [³H]mevalonolactone, HPLC isoprenoid identification, site-directed mutagenesis |
The Biochemical journal |
High |
8424780
|
| 1993 |
RAP2A localizes to gelatinase-containing (tertiary) granules in resting human neutrophils; RAP2B (not RAP2A) is the major RAP2 isoform in neutrophils. |
Immunoblot of subcellular fractions with specific antibodies |
FEBS letters |
Medium |
8391995
|
| 1994 |
Epitope-tagged RAP2A colocalizes with Golgi complex markers in fibroblasts, a localization distinct from RAP1A/RAP1B which associate with late endosomes/lysosomes. |
Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy of transiently overexpressed epitope-tagged proteins; subcellular fractionation |
Journal of cell science |
Medium |
7962206
|
| 1997 |
Crystal structures of RAP2A in complex with GDP, GTP, and GTPγS were solved. The RAP2A-GTP structure (first small G protein structure with natural GTP ligand) revealed that Tyr32 forms a hydrogen bond with the γ-phosphate of GTP and with Gly13; this interaction is absent in the GTPγS complex. Conformational changes between GDP and GTP states are confined to switch I and II regions. |
X-ray crystallography |
The EMBO journal |
High |
9312017
|
| 1998 |
RPIP8 (Rap2-interacting protein 8) was identified as a specific effector of RAP2A. RPIP8 interacts with GTP-bound RAP2A (but not GDP-bound) and requires an intact effector domain of RAP2A. Co-immunoprecipitation from HIT-T15 cells confirmed the interaction with wild-type and activated RAP2A. |
Yeast two-hybrid screen, in vitro binding with purified proteins, co-immunoprecipitation |
European journal of biochemistry |
Medium |
9523700
|
| 1999 |
PDZ-GEF1 functions as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that activates both RAP1 and RAP2 in vivo and in vitro; it is the first GEF shown to act on RAP2. PDZ-GEF1 activity is regulated by a negative regulatory domain related to cAMP-binding domains but does not bind cAMP or cGMP. |
In vitro GEF assay with purified proteins, in vivo activation assay in 293T cells |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
High |
10608883
|
| 1999 |
RalGEFs (RalGDS, RGL, Rlf) interact with GTP-bound RAP2A through their Ras/Rap interaction domain in yeast two-hybrid and in vitro assays. Activated RAP2A co-immunoprecipitates with RalGDS and Rlf from HeLa cells, and the complexes localize to the endoplasmic reticulum. However, overexpressed activated RAP2A does not activate Ral GTPase via RalGEFs in vivo. |
Yeast two-hybrid, in vitro binding, co-immunoprecipitation, confocal microscopy, Ral activation assay |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
Medium |
10085114
|
| 1999 |
RAP2A directly binds actin filaments in a nucleotide state-independent manner (both GDP- and GTPγS-loaded forms bind equally). This interaction was demonstrated by co-sedimentation with purified F-actin, incorporation into reconstituted cytoskeleton, and binding to F-actin-coated surfaces. |
In vitro reconstitution, co-sedimentation with purified F-actin, Ni-Sepharose pulldown |
Journal of cellular biochemistry |
Medium |
10572250
|
| 2000 |
RAP2A acts as a slowly responding molecular switch: its GTP-bound fraction exceeds 50% in adherent cells because GAPs for RAP1 (rap1GAPII, SPA-1) stimulate RAP2A GTPase with low efficiency, resulting in a long half-life for GTP-RAP2. Multiple RAP1 GEFs (C3G, Epac, CalDAG-GEFI, PDZ-GEF1, GFR) efficiently exchange nucleotide on RAP2 in cells and in vitro. GTP-RAP2 binds the Ras-binding domain of Raf and inhibits Ras-dependent Elk1 transcription. |
GTP-loading assays in 293T cells and in vitro, half-life measurement, Raf-RBD pulldown, reporter assay |
Molecular and cellular biology |
High |
10913189
|
| 2002 |
Constitutively active RAP2 increases SDF-1 (CXCL12)-induced B cell migration, while expression of a Rap-specific GAP blocks both RAP1 and RAP2 activation and significantly reduces B cell migration toward SDF-1, placing RAP2 as a positive regulator of chemokine-directed B cell migration. |
Transfection of constitutively active RAP2 or dominant Rap-GAP, B cell migration assay |
Journal of immunology |
Medium |
12133960
|
| 2004 |
MAP4K4 (isoform 3) was identified as a RAP2A effector. MAP4K4 interacts with RAP2 (but not RAP1 or Ras) through its C-terminal citron homology (CNH) domain in a GTP-dependent manner requiring the intact effector region of RAP2. Co-expression of RAP2 with MAP4K4 enhances JNK activation by MAP4K4. |
Yeast two-hybrid, in vitro binding assay, co-localization in cultured cells, JNK activation assay |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
Medium |
14966141
|
| 2004 |
TNIK (Traf2- and Nck-interacting kinase) was identified as a specific RAP2 effector. TNIK interacts with RAP2 (but not RAP1 or Ras) through its CNH domain in a GTP-dependent manner. RAP2 promotes TNIK autophosphorylation, translocation to the detergent-insoluble cytoskeletal fraction, and enhances TNIK-mediated inhibition of cell spreading (F-actin disruption). RAP2 did not significantly enhance TNIK-induced JNK activation. |
Affinity chromatography from rat brain, LC-MS/MS identification, in vitro binding, co-localization, cell spreading assay |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
High |
15342639
|
| 2005 |
RAP2 activity, stimulated by NR2A-containing NMDA receptor activation, depresses AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission via JNK activation (not ERK1/2 or p38 MAPK), and controls synaptic removal of AMPA receptors with long cytoplasmic tails during depotentiation. |
Electrophysiology, dominant-negative/constitutively active RAP2 expression in neurons, pharmacological pathway dissection |
Neuron |
High |
15953419
|
| 2005 |
PARG1 (a RhoGAP) interacts with RAP2 in a GTP-dependent manner through its ZPH region but not with Ras or RAP1; RAP2 suppresses the cytoskeletal (Rho-inactivating) effects of PARG1 in fibroblasts, identifying PARG1 as a putative RAP2 effector that regulates Rho. |
Yeast two-hybrid (C. elegans ortholog), in vitro binding, co-expression cytoskeletal assay |
Biochemical and biophysical research communications |
Low |
15752761
|
| 2005 |
Xenopus Rap2 (XRap2) is required for Wnt/β-catenin signaling: XRap2 knockdown inhibits β-catenin stabilization and disrupts vesicular localization of Dishevelled (Dsh), thereby blocking Dsh-mediated β-catenin stabilization and Frizzled-induced Dsh phosphorylation and membrane recruitment. |
Morpholino knockdown in Xenopus embryos, ectopic expression, β-catenin stability assay, Dsh localization by immunofluorescence |
The EMBO journal |
Medium |
15706349
|
| 2007 |
Constitutively active RAP2 expression in hippocampal pyramidal neurons causes decreased length and complexity of axonal and dendritic branches, loss of dendritic spines with increase in filopodia-like protrusions, and reduces AMPA receptor-mediated mEPSC amplitude and frequency, associated with reduced surface and total GluR2 levels. |
Neuronal transfection, morphometric analysis, electrophysiology (mEPSC recording), surface biotinylation |
Journal of neurochemistry |
Medium |
17227435
|
| 2008 |
RAP2A requires palmitoylation for membrane-association and TNIK activation (farnesylated RAP2A, but not geranylgeranylated RAP2B, requires palmitoylation for membrane binding); all RAP2 isoforms require palmitoylation for TNIK-mediated suppression of cell spreading. RAP2 proteins localize to recycling endosomes (not Golgi or ER) in a palmitoylation-dependent manner, where they recruit TNIK. |
Palmitoylation inhibitor treatment, TNIK activation assay, co-localization by confocal microscopy, subcellular fractionation |
Biochemical and biophysical research communications |
Medium |
19061864
|
| 2008 |
MINK is a RAP2 effector for phosphorylation of the postsynaptic scaffold TANC1. MINK interacts with RAP2 (not RAP1 or Ras) in a GTP-dependent manner requiring Phe39 in the RAP2 effector region. Both MINK and TNIK phosphorylate TANC1 under control of RAP2 in cultured cells. |
Affinity chromatography/MS, yeast two-hybrid, co-IP, in vitro phosphorylation assay |
Biochemical and biophysical research communications |
Medium |
18930710
|
| 2008 |
Constitutively active RAP2 (Rap2V12) transgenic mice display fewer and shorter dendritic spines in CA1 hippocampal neurons, enhanced LTD at CA3-CA1 synapses, reduced basal ERK phosphorylation, impaired spatial learning, and defective fear extinction. This demonstrates that RAP2 opposes Ras-ERK signaling in vivo. |
Transgenic mouse generation, dendritic spine analysis, LTP/LTD electrophysiology, ERK phosphorylation assay, behavioral testing |
The Journal of neuroscience |
High |
18701680
|
| 2008 |
RAP2 regulates Activin/Nodal receptor trafficking in Xenopus: in the absence of ligand, RAP2 directs internalized receptors into a recycling pathway preventing degradation and maintaining cell surface levels; upon ligand activation, RAP2 delays receptor turnover. RAP2 contributes to Smad2 activation by antagonizing Smad7. |
Morpholino knockdown, constitutively active/dominant-negative RAP2 expression, receptor trafficking assays, Smad2 phosphorylation assay in Xenopus embryos |
Developmental cell |
Medium |
18606140
|
| 2009 |
RasGEF1A and RasGEF1B are highly specific GEFs for RAP2 (but not RAP1 or other Ras subfamily members). Using reciprocal site-directed mutagenesis, Phe39 in the switch I region of RAP2 was identified as the key specificity residue; Rap1(S39F) mutation allows RasGEF1B to exchange nucleotide on RAP1. |
In vitro GEF assay with purified proteins, site-directed mutagenesis of specificity residues |
The FEBS journal |
High |
19645719
|
| 2010 |
Nedd4-1, TNIK, and RAP2A form a complex in neurons. Nedd4-1-mediated ubiquitination of RAP2A inhibits RAP2A function, which reduces TNIK family kinase activity and promotes dendrite growth. In Nedd4-1-deficient mice, dendrite formation is impaired, establishing a Nedd4-1/RAP2A/TNIK signaling pathway controlling neurite growth and arborization. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assay, conditional knockout mouse analysis, morphometric analysis of neurons |
Neuron |
High |
20159449
|
| 2010 |
MINK and TNIK are postsynaptic proteins whose clustering is bidirectionally regulated by RAP2 activation state. MINK antagonizes RAP2 signal transduction: Rap2-mediated removal of surface AMPA receptors from spines is abolished by MINK co-expression (but not TNIK). A MINK mutant unable to interact with RAP2 reduces dendritic branching in a RAP2-dependent manner, while equivalent TNIK truncation affects morphology independently of RAP2. |
Neuronal transfection, surface AMPA receptor assay, dendritic morphometry, dominant-negative constructs |
The Journal of neuroscience |
Medium |
21048137
|
| 2011 |
RAP2 mediates FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1)-dependent smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration during arteriogenesis. FGF-2 selectively increases RAP2 (not other Ras family members) activity in VSMCs. siRNA knockdown of RAP2 blocks FGF-2-induced VSMC migration without affecting proliferation. Dominant-negative RAP2 blocks arteriogenesis in vivo; constitutively active RAP2 enhances collateral vessel growth. |
siRNA knockdown, dominant-negative/constitutively active RAP2 expression, cell migration assay, in vivo rabbit arteriogenesis model |
Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology |
Medium |
21737786
|
| 2012 |
RAP2A links intestinal cell polarity to brush border formation through a signaling module: LKB1-induced apical polarity → apical PtdIns(4,5)P2 enrichment → phospholipase D1 recruitment → phosphatidic acid accumulation → PDZGEF activation → RAP2A activation → TNIK activation → MST4 activation → Ezrin activation → brush border formation. |
Single-cell polarity induction, lipid analysis, siRNA knockdown of pathway components, phosphorylation assays, morphometric analysis |
Nature cell biology |
High |
22797597
|
| 2012 |
JAM-A trans-dimerization (between cells) activates RAP2: cells expressing cis-null JAM-A (which can only trans-dimerize) show enhanced RAP2 activity, while trans-null JAM-A mutants decrease RAP2 activity. Confluent cells permitting trans-dimerization have enhanced RAP2 activity versus sparse cells. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, RAP2 activation assay (GTP pulldown), mutagenesis, cell density manipulation |
Molecular biology of the cell |
Medium |
24672055
|
| 2012 |
Rap2 GTPase participates in the recycling of the extended conformation of LFA-1 in migrating T lymphocytes. siRNA knockdown of RAP2 inhibits both LFA-1 internalization and re-exposure on the plasma membrane, resulting in intracellular accumulation of the extended form of LFA-1 and reduced migration. |
siRNA knockdown, biotinylated surface LFA-1 tracking, confocal microscopy, migration assay |
Biology open |
Medium |
23213397
|
| 2013 |
RAP1 and RAP2 antagonistically control endothelial barrier resistance: RAP2 depletion enhances barrier resistance via the Rap2-specific activator RasGEF1C and the effector MAP4K4, establishing an independent pathway; simultaneous depletion of both Rap1 and Rap2 produces a combined neutral effect, demonstrating reciprocal antagonism. |
siRNA knockdown, electrical impedance measurement of HUVEC monolayer barrier resistance |
PloS one |
Medium |
23469100
|
| 2013 |
RAP2 regulates the stability of Wnt receptor LRP6: RAP2 knockdown causes proteasome/lysosome-dependent LRP6 degradation. RAP2 and LRP6 physically associate. TNIK acts as downstream effector of RAP2 in controlling LRP6 stabilization and TNIK can rescue the inhibitory effects of RAP2 depletion on Wnt-dependent transcription. |
siRNA knockdown, co-immunoprecipitation, proteasome/lysosome inhibitor treatment, Wnt reporter assay |
Biochemical and biophysical research communications |
Medium |
23743195
|
| 2014 |
RAP2A isoform specificity during intestinal brush border formation is determined by two mechanisms: (1) RAP2C is spatially segregated (not enriched at apical membrane); (2) RAP2B localizes like RAP2A at Rab11-positive apical recycling endosomes but is not equally activated. Selective activation of RAP2A is conferred by its C-terminal hypervariable region, independent of differential lipid modifications. |
Confocal microscopy, Rap2 activation assay, chimeric protein/mutagenesis analysis, subcellular fractionation |
PloS one |
Medium |
25203140
|
| 2015 |
RAP2A is a novel transcriptional target of p53: upon DNA damage, p53 directly binds the RAP2A promoter and activates its transcription. Ectopic RAP2A expression enhances cancer cell migration and invasion, increases MMP2/MMP9 activity, and increases AKT phosphorylation; RAP2A inactivation has opposite effects. |
ChIP assay for p53 promoter binding, reporter assay, overexpression/siRNA knockdown, invasion assay, zymography, Western blot |
Cellular signalling |
Medium |
25728512
|
| 2016 |
miR-9 and miR-124 synergistically target RAP2A: neither alone sufficiently suppresses RAP2A, but together they strongly reduce RAP2A expression. RAP2A diminishes dendritic complexity of mature neurons by decreasing pAKT and pGSK3β levels; miR-9/miR-124 co-expression promotes neuronal differentiation and dendritic branching by suppressing RAP2A. |
Luciferase reporter assay (3'UTR targeting), Western blot, RAP2A overexpression/knockdown, morphometric dendritic analysis |
Scientific reports |
Medium |
27221778
|
| 2017 |
Epac2 is the upstream GEF and RAP2A is the obligate GEF substrate/effector mediating cAMP-dependent growth arrest through p38 MAP kinase activation in NS-1 neuroendocrine cells. This pathway is distinct from PKA- and RAPGEF2-mediated cAMP outputs in the same cells. |
Epac2 and RAP2A knockdown/overexpression, p38 phosphorylation assay, cell growth assay, pharmacological dissection of cAMP sensors |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
Medium |
28546426
|
| 2018 |
RAP2 is a key mechanotransducer in the Hippo pathway: low ECM stiffness activates RAP2 through PLCγ1-mediated changes in PtdIns(4,5)P2/phosphatidic acid levels and PDZGEF1/PDZGEF2. Active RAP2 binds and stimulates MAP4K4, MAP4K6, MAP4K7, and ARHGAP29, leading to LATS1/2 activation and YAP/TAZ inhibition. RAP2 deletion blocks stiffness-dependent YAP/TAZ regulation and promotes aberrant cell growth. |
RAP2 knockout (CRISPR), RAP2 activation assay, Co-IP with MAP4Ks, LATS1/2 kinase assay, YAP/TAZ reporter assay, transcriptome analysis |
Nature |
High |
30135582
|
| 2018 |
In C. elegans, RAP-2 and its effector TNIK (mig-15) act genetically downstream of Plexin (plx-1) to restrict presynaptic assembly and form tiled synaptic innervation. PLX-1 suppresses local RAP-2 activity; both constitutively GTP- and GDP-locked rap-2 mutants display tiling defects, indicating that RAP-2 nucleotide cycling (not simply active or inactive state) is critical for synapse inhibition. |
C. elegans genetics, constitutively active/GDP-locked mutations, epistasis analysis, synaptic marker imaging |
eLife |
High |
30063210
|
| 2019 |
MIA-induced upregulation of ISG15 in offspring brain suppresses RAP2A ubiquitination via NEDD4 (reducing NEDD4-mediated ubiquitination of RAP2A), thereby causing RAP2A accumulation that impairs dendrite development and causes depressive-like behaviors. Upregulating NEDD4 abolished ISG15-induced dendrite impairments. |
AAV/lentiviral overexpression and silencing in rat brain, ubiquitination assay, confocal microscopy, Golgi staining, behavioral tests |
Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of disease |
Medium |
30826466
|
| 2022 |
The Rab40b/Cullin5 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex ubiquitylates RAP2A. This ubiquitylation regulates RAP2A activation and its recycling from the endolysosomal compartment to the lamellipodia of migrating breast cancer cells, controlling RAP2A-dependent actin dynamics at the leading edge and breast cancer cell migration/invasion. |
Co-IP, ubiquitylation assay, Rab40b/Cullin5 KO, confocal live imaging, cell migration/invasion assay |
The Journal of cell biology |
High |
35293963
|
| 2022 |
RAP2A loss aggravates cartilage degradation in TMJ osteoarthritis via the Hippo/YAP pathway. RAP2A in chondrocytes directly regulates the Hippo/YAP pathway in response to matrix stiffness; conditional RAP2A KO mice show severe cartilage degeneration and RAP2A/Hippo/YAP signaling controls chondrocyte phenotype switch and matrix synthesis. |
Cre-loxP conditional KO mouse model, unilateral anterior crossbite TMJOA model, YAP pathway analysis, matrix stiffness assay |
Journal of dental research |
Medium |
36366779
|
| 2024 |
RAP2 GTPase acts as a central integrator of cytoskeletal signals for Hippo signaling: RAP2 deletion abrogates LATS1/2 activation by RhoA inhibitors, actin disruptors, and microtubule-stabilizing agents (Taxol). RNA-seq revealed differential regulation of actin and microtubule networks by RAP2 deletion. RAP2 functions upstream of MAP4K4/6/7 in transducing cytoskeletal perturbations to LATS1/2. |
RAP2 and MAP4K4/6/7 CRISPR KO, pharmacological cytoskeletal perturbations, LATS1/2 kinase assay, RNA-seq |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
High |
38574891
|
| 2025 |
RAP2A promotes cardiac fibrosis via the TNIK/Merlin/YAP signaling axis: RAP2A binds TNIK in myocardial fibroblasts and enhances TNIK expression; this activates downstream Merlin/YAP signaling to promote myofibroblast transformation, proliferation, and migration of cardiac fibroblasts. RAP2A deficiency relieves myocardial infarction in mice. |
Co-IP, RAP2A knockdown/KO mouse, CF proliferation/migration/phenotype assays, Merlin/YAP pathway analysis |
Cell biology and toxicology |
Medium |
40332594
|