Surface charge: A key determinant of protein localization and function

Abstract

Electrostatic charge at the membrane surface has emerged as a crucial determinant of the localization and activation of many proteins containing polycationic domains in their amino acid sequence. The spatiotemporal regulation of surface charge, as well as the downstream effects of dysregulation of surface charge, may have a significant impact on many of the signaling molecules important to cancer biology such as K-ras. ©2010 AACR.