Open Journal of Biophysics, 2017, 7, 71-81 http://www.scirp.org/journal/ojbiphy ISSN Online: 2164-5396 ISSN Print: 2164-5388 DOI: 10.4236/ojbiphy.2017.73006 May 15, 2017 Two Small Molecules, ZCL278 and AZA197 Show Promise in Influencing Protein Interactions Involving the Ras-Related Protein Cell division cycle 42 [Cdc42] to Modulate Its Oncogenic Potential Djamali Muhoza, Paul D. Adams * Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA Abstract Cdc42 is a member of the Rho subfamily of Ras-related proteins, which were among the first oncogenic proteins to be identified as playing a significant role in a variety of cellular events [Barbacaid, 1987, Ann. Rev. Biochem]. Equally important, Protein-Protein Interactions [PPIs] involving Cdc42 continue to highlight the role of Ras-related proteins’ relevance to cancer. As these pro- teins have been considered incapable of being “druggable”, due to a perceived lack of binding surface[s] that are amenable to small molecule targeting, there remains limited development of therapies to tackle diseased states caused by Cdc42-stimulated hyperactivity. Thusly, it has become important to charac- terize molecular details, including dynamics, of PPIs involving Cdc42 that may lend themselves as potential targets for therapeutic approaches. Recently, two small molecules, ZCL278 and AZA197, have shown promise in directly target- ing Cdc42 to influence PPIs that are capable of causing Cdc42-stimulated ab- normal signaling. In this editorial, we highlight recent studies that show case how these two small molecules may influence Cdc42-protein interactions. Keywords Ras [Rat Sarcoma], Small Molecule Target, Cdc42, Protein-Protein Interactions 1. Introduction Ras-relatd GTPases can be involved in cell-signaling processes that underlie their roles in diseased states such as cancer [1]. In addition, these proteins are involved in cell-signaling activities that are vital to processes such as cell prolife- How to cite this paper: Muhoza, D. and Adams, P.D. (2017) Two Small Molecules, ZCL278 and AZA197 Show Promise in Influencing Protein Interactions Involving the Ras-Related Protein Cell division cycle 42 [Cdc42] to Modulate Its Oncogenic Potential. Open Journal of Biophysics, 7, 71-81. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojbiphy.2017.73006 Received: March 8, 2017 Accepted: May 12, 2017 Published: May 15, 2017 Copyright © 2017 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access