Cell localization:Cytoplasm, Membrane.This gene belongs to the Ras oncogene family, whose members are related to the transforming genes of mammalian sarcoma retroviruses. The products encoded by these genes function in signal transduction pathways. These proteins can bind GTP and GDP, and they have intrinsic GTPase activity. This protein undergoes a continuous cycle of de- and re-palmitoylation, which regµLates its rapid exchange between the plasma membrane and the Golgi apparatus. Mutations in this gene cause Costello syndrome, a disease characterized by increased growth at the prenatal stage, growth deficiency at the postnatal stage, predisposition to tumor formation, cognitive disability, skin and muscµLoskeletal abnormalities, distinctive facial appearance and cardiovascµLar abnormalities. Defects in this gene are implicated in a variety of cancers, including bladder cancer, follicµLar thyroid cancer, and oral squamous cell carcinoma. MµLtiple transcript variants, which encode different isoforms, have been identified for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, JµL 2008]
