Conserved role of Ras-GEFs in promoting aging: from yeast to mice

In a new article published in the journal Aging, Borras et al. report that Ras-GRF1 homozigous deletion increases both median and maximum longevity in laboratory mice [1]. The human Ras, superfamily now counts more than 150 different proteins subdivided into five different protein families: Ras, Rho, Rab, Arf and Ran. These protein families regulate many cellular processes [2] including cellular differentiation and proliferation (Ras), cell citoskeleton organization and cell shape (Rho), intracellular protein trafficking (Rab, Arf) and nucleo-citoplasmic transport (Ran).