Ras homolog family member Q (RHOQ)

Ras homolog family member Q (RHOQ, also known as TC10) is a small (~21 kDa) GTPase belonging to the Rho family, part of the Ras superfamily of signaling proteins. RHOQ functions as a molecular switch, cycling between inactive GDP-bound and active GTP-bound states to regulate signal transduction pathways. It plays a critical role in actin cytoskeleton organization, cell shape, adhesion, motility, and epithelial cell polarization. RHOQ also regulates membrane trafficking events, such as the exocytosis of glucose transporter GLUT4 and possibly CFTR. It is associated with inherited disorders such as epilepsy and dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria. While it is an important signaling and structural regulator in physiology, no direct clinical therapeutics currently target RHOQ.

Other names

TC10RHOQRas-like protein TC10P17081

Not directly exploited pharmacologically, but inhibition or activation of RHOQ would be expected to alter actin cytoskeleton dynamics, cell polarization, and vesicle trafficking. In analogy to other Rho GTPases, modulators may act by inhibiting the GTPase or GEF/GAP interactions.