Ral A and Ral B constitute a distinct subfamily of Ras-related GTPases (i.e., GDP/GTP binding proteins). Ral proteins are activated by a unique nucleotide exchange factor, Ral GDS, and deactivated by a distinct GTPase-activating protein. Unlike Ras proteins, Ral A and Ral B fail to induce transformed foci when activated variants are expressed in various recipient cells. A potential downstream target of Ral, designated Ral BP-1, has been shown to contain a Rho-GTPase-activating domain. This Rho-GTPase-activating domain interacts preferentially with the Rho family member Cdc42. A Ras/Ral signaling pathway has been reported to mediate phospholipase D (PLD) activation by v-Src, thus indicating PLD as another downstream target of Ral A.
