Photoactivatable Synthetic Ras Proteins: “Baits” for the Identification of Plasma-Membrane-Bound Binding Partners of Ras

The combination of organic synthesis with cell biology provides access to a chimera of the signal-transducing Ras protein, which contains a photoactivatable benzophenone group in its isoprenoid membrane anchor, yet retains biological activity. The semisynthetic protein is a new tool to address open questions concerning the mechanism of selective plasma membrane localization of Ras and to identify putative binding partners of Ras.