The Lipid Modifications of Ras that Sense Membrane Environments and Induce Local Enrichment

Abstract

Matching the membrane: The lipid modification of human N-Ras proteins can adapt remarkably to the host membrane by varying its length between 8.7 Å and 15.5 Å, as can be seen in the 2H NMR spectra of deuterated derivatives (see picture). In raft-forming biological membranes, Ras is found in the liquid disordered phase as well as in the phase boundary between liquid-crystalline and raft domains.