Biological and structural characterization of a Ras transforming mutation at the phenylalanine-156 residue, which is conserved in all members of the Ras superfamily

NMR spectroscopic and assay studies of the structure and function of the carrier protein family of Ras proteins indicate the presence of a conserved phenylalanine-156 (F156) residue to be essential for maintaining the biological function and structure of Ras proteins. An F156 mutation in the wild-type Ras enhances the guanine nucleotide production, stimulated Ras transforming potential and affected the protein structure by disrupting the alpha-helix and beta-sheets.