C-terminal Src homology 2 (SH2) domain found in Ras GTPase-activating protein 1 (GAP)
RasGAP is part of the GAP1 family of GTPase-activating proteins. The protein is located in the cytoplasm and stimulates the GTPase activity of normal RAS p21, but not its oncogenic counterpart. Acting as a suppressor of RAS function, the protein enhances the weak intrinsic GTPase activity of RAS proteins resulting in RAS inactivation, thereby allowing control of cellular proliferation and differentiation. Mutations leading to changes in the binding sites of either protein are associated with basal cell carcinomas. Alternative splicing results in two isoforms. The shorter isoform which lacks the N-terminal hydrophobic region, has the same activity, and is expressed in placental tissues. In general longer isoform contains 2 SH2 domains, a SH3 domain, a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, and a calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding C2 domain. The C-terminus contains the catalytic domain of RasGap which catalyzes the activation of Ras by hydrolyzing GTP-bound active Ras into an inactive GDP-bound form of Ras. This model contains the C-terminal SH2 domain. In general SH2 domains are involved in signal transduction. They typically bind pTyr-containing ligands via two surface pockets, a pTyr and hydrophobic binding pocket, allowing proteins with SH2 domains to localize to tyrosine phosphorylated sites.