| 1999 |
Bacterially expressed Rhes binds GTP, demonstrating GTPase functionality. Rhes is targeted to the plasma membrane by farnesylation and shares ~62% identity with Dexras1, defining a novel Ras subfamily with extended C-termini. |
GTP-binding assay with bacterially expressed protein; sequence analysis |
Journal of neuroscience research |
Medium |
10467249
|
| 2004 |
Rhes is targeted to the plasma membrane via farnesylation. Approximately 30% of native Rhes is constitutively GTP-bound, and this proportion is not altered by typical Ras nucleotide exchange factors. Rhes binds to and activates PI3K, and impairs cAMP/PKA pathway activation by G protein-coupled receptors (TSH receptor, β2-adrenergic receptor) by uncoupling receptor from its cognate heterotrimeric G protein complex. Rhes does not stimulate the ERK pathway and is not transforming in fibroblasts. |
GTP-loading assays, PI3K activation assay, cAMP accumulation assays, cell-based signaling in PC12 cells, membrane fractionation |
Oncogene |
Medium |
14724584
|
| 2004 |
Rhes knockout mice display behavioral abnormalities (gender-dependent increased anxiety, motor coordination deficits) without learning/memory impairment, establishing a role for Rhes in striatal motor function in vivo. |
Homologous recombination knockout, behavioral testing (rotarod, anxiety assays) |
Molecular and cellular biology |
Medium |
15199135
|
| 2007 |
Rhes modulates cAMP/PKA signaling in both striatopallidal and striatonigral projection neurons by increasing Golf protein levels. Rhes is required for correct dopamine-mediated GTP binding associated mainly with D2 receptor stimulation. |
Rhes null mutant mice, cAMP/PKA signaling measurements, GTP binding assays, dopaminergic agonist/antagonist behavioral challenges |
Molecular and cellular neurosciences |
Medium |
18035555
|
| 2009 |
Rhes binds physically and preferentially to mutant huntingtin (mHtt) over wild-type Htt. Rhes induces sumoylation of mHtt, which disaggregates mHtt inclusions and leads to cytotoxicity in cultured cells. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, sumoylation assays, cell viability assays, transfection in cultured cells |
Science |
High |
19498170
|
| 2009 |
Rhes binds selectively to Gbeta1, Gbeta2, and Gbeta3 subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins via its cationic region. Rhes-AGS1 chimera studies showed that different cationic regions of Rhes and AGS1 determine their distinct Gbeta-subunit binding specificities. |
Yeast two-hybrid assays, Rhes-AGS1 chimera constructs |
Cellular physiology and biochemistry |
Medium |
19255495
|
| 2010 |
Rhes acts as a SUMO E3 ligase and is a physiologic regulator of sumoylation in the striatum; sumoylation is markedly reduced in the corpus striatum of Rhes-deleted mice. Rhes binds directly to both SUMO E1 and Ubc9 (E2), enhancing cross-sumoylation (intermolecular SUMO transfer between E1 and Ubc9) as well as thioester transfer from E1 to Ubc9. |
In vitro sumoylation assays, direct binding assays between Rhes and E1/Ubc9, Rhes knockout mouse striatum analysis, mass spectrometry |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
High |
20424159
|
| 2011 |
Rhes binds to and activates mTOR (mTORC1) in the striatum. Rhes-/- mice show reduced striatal mTOR signaling and diminished L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia while maintaining motor improvement on L-DOPA, demonstrating Rhes is a key regulator of striatal mTOR activation relevant to dyskinesia. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, mTOR signaling assays, Rhes-/- mice with 6-OHDA lesion and L-DOPA treatment, behavioral assessment |
Nature neuroscience |
High |
22179112
|
| 2011 |
Rhes decreases dopamine D1 receptor agonist-stimulated cAMP accumulation in a pertussis toxin-sensitive manner, suggesting interaction with Gαi. Rhes associates with GTP-bound Gαi in pull-down assays but does not interact with the D1 receptor directly and has no effect on D2 receptor-mediated inhibition of cAMP. |
cAMP accumulation assays, pertussis toxin treatment, Gαi pull-down assays, transfection in cell lines |
Journal of neuroscience research |
Medium |
21374700
|
| 2012 |
Rhes interacts with p85, the regulatory subunit of PI3K; this interaction involves the C-terminal unique tail region of Rhes and is enhanced upon growth factor treatment. The Rhes-p85 complex facilitates AKT translocation to the membrane, indicating Rhes is a striatal regulator of the AKT pathway. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, domain-mapping with deletion mutants, AKT membrane translocation assays |
Neuroscience letters |
Medium |
22683505
|
| 2013 |
Rhes binds Beclin-1 and activates autophagy in a mTOR-independent manner. Rhes decreases the inhibitory interaction between Beclin-1 and Bcl-2 independently of JNK-1 signaling. Rhes overexpression activates autophagy; deletion decreases autophagy. Co-expression of mHtt blocks Rhes-induced autophagy activation. |
Co-immunoprecipitation of Rhes-Beclin-1 and Beclin-1/Bcl-2, autophagy flux assays, Rhes overexpression and knockdown in PC12 cells |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
Medium |
24324270
|
| 2013 |
Rhes-/- mice are dramatically protected from neurotoxicity and motor dysfunction in the 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) striatal model of Huntington's disease, placing Rhes as a critical mediator of striatal selective vulnerability. |
Rhes knockout mice, 3-NP systemic injection, behavioral and neuropathological assessment |
The Journal of neuroscience |
Medium |
23447628
|
| 2013 |
Rhes co-immunoprecipitates with β-arrestins and is necessary for Akt dephosphorylation by the striatal multi-protein complex (β-arrestin2/PP2A/Akt). In Rhes-/- mice, basal Akt and GSK3β phosphorylation are increased and apomorphine treatment causes increased Akt/GSK3 phosphorylation, mimicking a lithium-treated phenotype. |
Co-immunoprecipitation of Rhes with β-arrestins and PP2A-C, phospho-Akt/GSK3β Western blotting in Rhes KO mice, pharmacological challenges |
Neuroscience |
Medium |
23380502
|
| 2013 |
Rhes participates in iron uptake via divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) by interacting with PAP7 (peripheral benzodiazepine receptor-associated protein 7), similar to Dexras1. Unlike Dexras1, Rhes is not S-nitrosylated by NO; instead, it is phosphorylated by PKA at Ser-239. Phosphomimetic (S239D) and constitutively active (A173V) Rhes mutants show increased iron uptake. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, iron uptake assays, site-directed mutagenesis, S-nitrosylation and phosphorylation assays |
Neuroscience |
Medium |
23999124
|
| 2015 |
Ectopic expression of Rhes in the cerebellum of HD mice (N171-82Q) during the asymptomatic period causes exacerbated motor deficits with ataxia features, cerebellar Purkinje neuron loss, caspase-3 activation, and enhanced soluble mHtt forms. Re-introducing Rhes into the striatum of Rhes-/-/Hdh150Q/150Q knock-in mice restores progressive rotarod deficits, establishing Rhes as the causative factor for selective mHtt toxicity in vivo. |
Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated ectopic Rhes expression in cerebellum, behavioral testing, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting |
Neurobiology of disease |
High |
26048156
|
| 2015 |
Rhes modulates D2 receptor (D2R) signaling specifically in striatal cholinergic interneurons (ChIs); Rhes KO mice show aberrant excitatory rather than expected inhibitory D2R responses in ChIs. This abnormal D2R response requires Cav2.2 calcium channels and is rescued by selective PI3K inhibition, linking Rhes to PI3K/Akt modulation of cholinergic excitability. |
Electrophysiology (patch clamp) in ChIs from Rhes KO mice, pharmacological isolation, intrapipette BAPTA and GDP-β-S, Cav2.2 channel blockade, PI3K inhibition |
Neurobiology of disease |
Medium |
25818655
|
| 2016 |
RasGRP1 (a guanine nucleotide exchange factor) interacts with Rhes, stabilizes Rhes protein, and increases its synaptic accumulation in the striatum. Partial Rhes deficiency (Rhes+/-) enhances the locomotor response to amphetamine, which is attenuated by coincident RasGRP1 depletion. Proteomic analysis identified the 'Rhesactome' — a set of Rhes-interacting proteins in the striatum that includes PDE2A, LRRC7, and DLG2, and whose composition is modulated by RasGRP1 and amphetamine. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, Western blotting (protein stabilization), Rhes+/- and Rasgrp1 KO mouse behavioral studies, LC-MS/MS proteomics of striatal lysates |
Science signaling |
Medium |
27902448
|
| 2019 |
Rhes induces the biogenesis of tunneling nanotube (TNT)-like cellular protrusions ('Rhes tunnels') through which it moves between cells and transports mHtt (poly-Q expanded mutant huntingtin), but not normal HTT, mTOR, or wtTau. TNT formation requires Rhes's Ser33, C-terminal CAAX motif, and SUMO E3-like domain. Rhes tunnels carry Rab5a/Lyso20-positive vesicles. SUMOylation-defective mHtt, Rhes C263S (cannot SUMOylate mHtt), or CRISPR/Cas9 depletion of SUMO isoforms diminishes Rhes-mediated mHtt transport. |
Live-cell imaging, electron microscopy, CRISPR/Cas9 SUMO depletion, site-directed mutagenesis (Rhes C263S, S33A, CAAX deletion), cargo transport assays |
The Journal of cell biology |
High |
31076452
|
| 2019 |
Rhes is a critical regulator of mitophagy. Rhes co-immunoprecipitates and co-sediments with mitochondrial and lysosomal proteins in vivo. Rhes surrounds globular mitochondria, recruits lysosomes, and degrades mitochondria in live-cell imaging. Rhes disrupts mitochondrial membrane potential and promotes mitophagy and cell death via interaction with Nix (BNIP3L) through its SUMO E3-ligase domain. Nix depletion abrogates Rhes-mediated mitophagy. Rhes KO striatum is protected from 3-NP-induced mitophagosomes and striatal lesion in vivo. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, density fractionation, live-cell imaging, mitochondrial membrane potential assays, Nix depletion, Rhes KO mice with 3-NP injection and ultrastructural analysis |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
High |
31676548
|
| 2022 |
Rhes transports between D1R-MSNs and D2R-MSNs of intact striatum and organotypic brain slices via TNT-like protrusions. mHtt is robustly transported within the striatum and from striatum to cortical areas in the brain; Rhes deletion diminishes this transport. Rhes restricted to MSNs also moves to cortical regions in vivo. |
Organotypic brain slice imaging, in vivo Rhes-tagged AAV injections, Rhes KO mice, fluorescence tracking |
Science advances |
High |
35319973
|
| 2008 |
Rhes and AGS1 trigger nearly identical modulation of N-type Ca2+ channels (CaV2.2) by selectively altering Gαi-dependent signaling: both reduce basal CaV2.2 current densities, trigger tonic voltage-dependent inhibition, and attenuate agonist-initiated Gαi-coupled receptor inhibition. These effects are blocked by pertussis toxin or Gβγ-sequestering peptide, indicating Rhes mediates tonic Gβγ signaling through PTX-sensitive G proteins. |
Whole-cell patch-clamp recording in HEK293 cells expressing CaV2.2, pertussis toxin treatment, Gβγ sequestration, comparison with multiple other Ras-family members |
American journal of physiology. Cell physiology |
Medium |
18815223
|
| 2024 |
RASD2 overexpression in the nucleus accumbens core (NAcc) alleviates stress-induced depression-like behaviors and activates the DRD2-cAMP-PKA-DARPP-32 signaling pathway. Rasd2 overexpression in DRD2-expressing PrL-NAcc neurons (using Drd2-cre mice) ameliorates depression-like behaviors, placing RASD2 as a modulator of DRD2-dependent signaling in NAcc circuits. |
AAV-mediated overexpression, Drd2-cre transgenic mice, DREADD chemogenetics, retrograde tracing, Western blotting for cAMP-PKA-DARPP-32 pathway |
Molecular psychiatry |
Medium |
39097664
|
| 2024 |
Histone lactylation (H3K18la) promotes transcription of RASD2 in endometriosis. RASD2 increases the stability of CTPS1 by promoting CTPS1 SUMOylation and inhibiting its ubiquitination, thereby promoting endometriosis progression. This was established via the RASD2/CTPS1 axis. |
ChIP-qPCR, Co-immunoprecipitation, IP-MS, SUMOylation/ubiquitination assays, cell proliferation/invasion assays, endometriosis mouse models |
American journal of physiology. Cell physiology |
Medium |
39672102
|
| 2026 |
Rhes directly interacts with Slc4a7 (an intracellular pH sensor/solute carrier) through both its N- and C-terminal domains. This Rhes-Slc4a7 complex is membrane-associated and modulates intracellular pH to facilitate TNT formation and mHTT intercellular transfer. Farnesylation of Rhes is required for its binding to Slc4a7 and for TNT formation. Slc4a7 KO mice show reduced cell-to-cell mHTT transmission in the striatum in vivo. The transporter activity of Slc4a7 is not required for this interaction. |
LC-MS/MS of membrane-associated Rhes complexes, Co-immunoprecipitation, siRNA depletion of Slc4a7, pharmacological inhibition of Slc4a7, intracellular pH measurements, Rhes farnesylation mutants, Slc4a7 KO mice with in vivo mHTT transmission assay |
Science advances |
High |
41861004
|
| 2026 |
RASD2 binds RAF1 and enhances RAF1 phosphorylation at Ser338, thereby activating the P38/ERK-MAPK pathway in clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells. This interaction was identified by Co-immunoprecipitation and LC-MS/MS. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, LC-MS/MS proteomics, phospho-RAF1 (Ser338) Western blotting, RAF1 inhibitor (BAY43-9006) experiments, xenograft models |
Cancer science |
Medium |
42226617
|