The anti-Rac1-GTP antibody and the detection of active Rac1: a tool with a fundamental flaw. (31st December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baker, Martin J.; Kazanietz, Marcelo G.
• Is Part Of: Small GTPases. Volume 13:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 136
• Page End: 140
• Publication Date: 2022-12-31
• Subjects: Anti-Rac1-GTP antibody -- Rac1 -- Rho GTPases -- vimentin -- immunofluorescence -- cancer cells; Guanosine triphosphatase -- Periodicals; Guanosine triphosphatase; Periodicals; 572.793
• DOI: 10.1080/21541248.2021.1920824
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2154-1256

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Rac1 is a member of the Rho GTPase family and is involved in many cellular processes, particularly the formation of actin-rich membrane protrusions, such as lamellipodia and ruffles. With such a widely studied protein, it is essential that the research community has reliable tools for detecting Rac1 activation both in cellular models and tissues. Using a series of cancer cellular models, we recently demonstrated that a widely used antibody for visualizing active Rac1 (Rac1-GTP) does not recognize Rac1 but instead recognizes vimentin filaments (Baker MJ, J. Biol. Chem. 295:13698–13710, 2020). We believe that this tool has misled the field and impose on the GTPase research community the need to validate published results using this antibody as well as to continue the development of new resources to visualize endogenous active Rac1.