RAS Family GTPases (RAS)

The RAS family of GTPases (KRAS, NRAS, HRAS) are small signaling proteins that act as molecular switches, cycling between an inactive GDP-bound state and an active GTP-bound state. Activation of RAS promotes downstream signaling through pathways such as MAPK/ERK, PI3K-AKT-mTOR, and Rac/Rho, leading to cell proliferation, survival, and other hallmarks of cancer. Mutations that constitutively activate RAS are common in many cancers and present significant therapeutic challenges.

Other names

KRASNRASHRASKirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologNeuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homologHarvey rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog

Direct RAS inhibitors (e.g., G12C inhibitors), indirect inhibitors targeting downstream effectors (MEK, ERK, PI3K, mTOR)