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The Rho family of small GTPases has attracted considerable research interest over the past 5 years. During this time, we have witnessed a remarkable increase in our knowledge of the biochemistry and biology of these Ras-related proteins. Thus, Rho family proteins have begun to rival, if not overshadow, interest in their more celebrated cousins, the Ras oncogene proteins. The fascination in Rho family proteins is fueled primarily by two major observations. First, like Ras, Rho family proteins serve as guanine nucleotide-regulated binary switches that control signaling pathways that in turn regulate diverse cellular processes. Rho family proteins are key components in cellular processes that control the organization of the actin cytoskeleton, activate kinase cascades, regulate gene expression, regulate membrane trafficking, promote growth transformation and induce apoptosis. Second, at least five Rho family proteins …