TCL is a small signaling G protein

G protein

G proteins are a family of proteins involved in transmitting chemical signals outside the cell, and causing changes inside the cell. They communicate signals from many hormones, neurotransmitters, and other signaling factors. G protein-coupled receptors are transmembrane receptors...

 (more specifically a GTPase

GTPase

GTPases are a large family of hydrolase enzymes that can bind and hydrolyze guanosine triphosphate . The GTP binding and hydrolysis takes place in the highly conserved G domain common to all GTPases.-Functions:...

), and is a member of the Rho family of GTPases

Rho family of GTPases

The Rho family of GTPases is a family of small signaling G protein , and is a subfamily of the Ras superfamily. The members of the Rho GTPase family have been shown to regulate many aspects of intracellular actin dynamics, and are found in all eukaryotic organisms including yeasts and some plants...

.,.

TCL (TC10-like) shares 85% and 78% amino acid similarity to TC10 and Cdc42, respectively. TCL mRNA is 2.5 kb long and is mainly expressed in heart. In vitro, TCL shows rapid GDP/GTP exchange and displays higher GTP dissociation and hydrolysis rates than TC10. Like other Rac/Cdc42/RhoUV members, GTP-bound TCL interacts with CRIB domains domains, such as those found in PAK and WASP. TCL produces large and dynamic F-actin-rich ruffles on the dorsal cell membrane in REF-52 fibroblasts. TCL activity is blocked by dominant negative Rac1 and Cdc42 mutants, suggesting a cross-talk between these three Rho GTPases.

TCL is unrelated to TCL1A

TCL1A

T-cell leukemia/lymphoma protein 1A is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TCL1A gene.-Interactions:TCL1A has been shown to interact with AKT1 and AKT2.-Further reading:...

, a proto-oncogene implicated in the development of T-Cell Leukemias.