The Progress of the Biological Function of Rap Signaling in Nervous System

Raps are members of the Ras family of small GTP-binding proteins,cycling between active GTP-bound form and inactive GDP-bound form.They act as molecular switches to regulate cell proliferation,differentiation,survival,adhesion or migration.Rap can be activated by a wide variety of external stimulation,which is mediated by specific RapGEFs.Accordingly,active Rap can be inactivated by their specific RapGAPs.Rap signaling has various biological functions through different downstream signaling pathways.Rap signaling is also involved in various neuronal physiological processes,like the establishment of neuronal polarity or axonal growth and neurite outgrowth.Accordingly,Rap signaling has been found to regulate structural and functional processes of synaptic plasticity.In addition,a correlation between Rap signaling and neuron migration had been reported.Here,we present the latest progress on the biological functions of Rap signaling in nervous system.