Expression of Ras GTPase isoforms in normal and diseased pancreas.

Background: Ki-Ras is well studied in its oncogenic form in relation to pancreatic pathologies. However, the individual contribution of each of the wild-type Ras isoforms (Ha-, Ki-, and N-) in pancreatic cells in health and disease is unknown.

Methods: Archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of normal (n = 6) and malignant pancreas (n = 35) were used for immuno-histochemical detection of Ras isoforms using a modified polymer system.

Subcellular distribution of Ras GTPase isoforms in normal human kidney.

Background: Ras GTPase isoforms have been implicated in proliferative renal disease and are known to have differential cellular expression in kidney. However, their exact subcellular location in various cells is unknown.

Methods: Immunogold labelling for Ras isoforms (Harvey, Kirsten and Neural) was performed for subcellular localization under electron microscopy in fresh normal kidney specimens, obtained from the opposite pole of kidneys removed for renal cell cancer.