RET has been shown to bind GRB2 directly, via Tyrosine-1096 (Y1096) (Alberti et al. 1998, Besset et al. 2000). GRB2 is found in a complex with SOS1 in unstimulated cells (Hayashi et al. 2000).

GDNF stimulation of neuronal cells induces the assembly of a large protein complex containing RET, GRB2 and tyrosine-phosphorylated SHC1, p85 subunit of (PI3K), GAB2 (GAB1 in Hayashi et al. 2000) and Tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 11 (PTPN11, SHP-2) (Besset et al. 2000). This suggests that at least two distinct RET-SHC1 protein complexes can assemble via phosphorylated Y1062, one involving GRB2 and SOS1 leads to activation of the RAS-RAF-ERK pathway, another involving GRB2, GAB2 and p85 leads to the PI3K-AKT pathway. This latter complex can also assemble directly onto phosphorylated Y1096 (Besset et al. 2000).

RET can activate the RAS-RAF-ERK signaling pathway (van Weering et al. 1995, Ohiwa et al. 1997, van Weering & Bos 1997, Trupp et al. 1999, Hayashi et al. 2000). RAS signaling is markedly impaired by mutations of RET Y1062 (Hayashi et al. 2000). RET RAS signaling and the effect of the Y1062 mutation are believed to be mediated by RET complexes involving GRB2:SOS1, well known as mediators of signaling to RAS in other receptor systems (Ravichandran 2001).