The Thermo Scientific Active Ras Pull-Down and Detection Kit enables selective enrichment and detection of GTP-bound Ras GTPase through a specific protein interaction with the Raf1 protein-binding domain.

The Active Ras Pull-Down and Detection Kit includes purified GST-Raf1 Ras-binding domain (RBD), glutathione agarose resin, positive and negative controls (GTPγS and GDP, respectively), lysis/binding/washing buffer, anti-Ras antibody, SDS sample buffer, spin columns and collection tubes. The kit was validated using lysates from NIH 3T3 cells, a cell line known to have robust Ras activity.

Features of the Active Ras Pull-Down and Detection Kit:

• Highly sensitive and accurate—optimized reagents, specific anti-Ras antibody and Western blot procedure ensure accurate controls and semi-quantitative results
• Validated—functionally tested for Ras detection to ensure quality and performance
• Compatible—effective for a variety of cell types from mouse, rat and human sources

Applications:
• Follow activation of Ras GTPase during cell differentiation, migration, division, and cytoskeletal rearrangement
• Study the role of active Ras in cancer and angiogenesis
• Monitor Ras activity after stimulation with growth factors
• Screen small molecule inhibitors for their effect on Ras activity

The Active Ras Pull-Down and Detection Kit was validated for the function and specificity of the active Ras enrichment method using cell lysates treated with GTPγS to activate endogenous Ras and compared to lysates treated with GDP to inactivate the small GTPase. GTPγS treatment trap Ras in the GTP-bound, active form, resulting in a strong signal when endogenous Ras is present. GDP treatment pushes Ras into the GDP-bound, inactive state, resulting in little to no signal, regardless of Ras protein levels. The kit is optimized for Western blot detection with an HRP-conjugated secondary antibody (Goat anti-Mouse IgG, Part No. 31430) and Thermo Scientific SuperSignal West Pico Chemiluminescent Substrate (Part No. 34080). Each kit contains sufficient components for 30 pull-down assays.

Kit components can also be used for immunofluorescent staining. Neuronal NS-1 cells were stimulated with NGF to study the spatial distribution of active Ras using the GST-RBD protein and anti-Ras antibody supplied in the kit.

Ras Background:
The Ras superfamily of GTPases, named after the rat sarcoma viral oncogene, contains many Ras isoforms, including K-Ras, H-Ras, and N-Ras. While the three isoforms are expressed at different levels in different types of cells, in general, activating mutations of at least one of these isoforms are present in ∼15% of all cancers. The Ras proteins serve as initiators of intracellular signal transduction from extracellular molecules and associate with the plasma membrane via lipid modification and prenylation of its carboxy terminus. These modifications at the carboxy terminus determine the localization of Ras to distinct membrane microdomains, which dictates subsequent downstream signaling. Ras signaling pathways affect many cellular processes including proliferation, survival, vesicular trafficking and gene expression.

Signaling through Ras is central to many cellular responses, and activation of Ras is regulated by several GEF and GAP proteins. The GEF proteins mediate GTPase activation by dissociating GDP from the inactive Ras to allow binding of Ras to GTP. Conversely, GAP proteins inactivate GTPases by hydrolyzing GTP to GDP. Ras mediates downstream signaling by interacting with effector proteins, including Raf and PI3 kinase. Raf1 is a serine/threonine protein kinase that is part of the MAP kinase kinase signaling pathway that leads to the activation of ERK and p38, which influences proliferation and survival. PI3 kinase signaling results in activation of AKT and mTOR, which are central for cell growth and survival. Ras is also integral for cellular differentiation and development, including immune cell development and function.

More Product Data
• Measure activation of small GTPases via their specific downstream effectors
• Detection and localization of active GTPases in neuronal cell differentiation