Comparative biochemical properties of normal and activated human ras p21 protein

Abstract
Human Ha-ras1 c[complementary]DNA encoding normal and activated p21 polypeptides were efficiently expressed in Escherichia coli and the biochemical activities associated with each polypeptide compared. In addition to the guanine nucleotide binding activity, normal p21 displays a GTPase activity which is selectively impaired by a mutation which activates its oncogenic potential.