GEF (guanine nucleotide exchange factors)

Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) are proteins that play a crucial role in cell signaling. They help regulate the activity of proteins called GTPases, which act like molecular switches. GEFs do this by facilitating the exchange of a molecule called GDP for GTP on the GTPase. When GTP is bound, the GTPase is activated and can send signals that control various cellular processes, such as growth, movement, and division. In essence, GEFs help turn on important signals in the cell, influencing how it responds to its environment.