Reactive free radicals have been implicated in mediating signal transduction by a variety of
stimuli. We have investigated the role of p21 ras in mediating free radical signaling. Our
studies revealed that signaling by oxidative agents which modulate cellular redox status,
such as H 2 O 2, hemin, Hg 2+, and nitric oxide was prevented in cells in which p21 ras
activity was blocked either through expression of a dominant negative mutant or by treating
with a farnesyltransferase inhibitor, as assessed by NF-κB binding activity. Furthermore, the …