Rho family GTPases

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 1378-1382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Hall
Keyword(s):  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Rho Gtpases ◽  
Cellular Response ◽  
Molecular Switches ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Eukaryotic Cells ◽  
Cell Behaviour ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Rho Family Gtpases ◽  
Rho Family

Rho GTPases comprise a family of molecular switches that control signal transduction pathways in eukaryotic cells. A conformational change induced upon binding GTP promotes an interaction with target (effector) proteins to generate a cellular response. A highly conserved function of Rho GTPases from yeast to humans is to control the actin cytoskeleton, although, in addition, they promote a wide range of other cellular activities. Changes in the actin cytoskeleton drive many dynamic aspects of cell behaviour, including morphogenesis, migration, phagocytosis and cytokinesis, and the dysregulation of Rho GTPases is associated with numerous human diseases and disorders.

scholarly journals Structural basis for selective AMPylation of Rac-subfamily GTPases by Bartonella effector protein 1 (Bep1)

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (12) ◽  
pp. e2023245118
Author(s):  
Nikolaus Dietz ◽  
Markus Huber ◽  
Isabel Sorg ◽  
Arnaud Goepfert ◽  
Alexander Harms ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrostatic Interactions ◽  
Molecular Switches ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Bacterial Toxins ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Eukaryotic Cells ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Effector Protein ◽  
Rho Family ◽  
Specific Pair

Small GTPases of the Ras-homology (Rho) family are conserved molecular switches that control fundamental cellular activities in eukaryotic cells. As such, they are targeted by numerous bacterial toxins and effector proteins, which have been intensively investigated regarding their biochemical activities and discrete target spectra; however, the molecular mechanism of target selectivity has remained largely elusive. Here we report a bacterial effector protein that selectively targets members of the Rac subfamily in the Rho family of small GTPases but none in the closely related Cdc42 or RhoA subfamilies. This exquisite target selectivity of the FIC domain AMP-transferase Bep1 from Bartonella rochalimae is based on electrostatic interactions with a subfamily-specific pair of residues in the nucleotide-binding G4 motif and the Rho insert helix. Residue substitutions at the identified positions in Cdc42 enable modification by Bep1, while corresponding Cdc42-like substitutions in Rac1 greatly diminish modification. Our study establishes a structural understanding of target selectivity toward Rac-subfamily GTPases and provides a highly selective tool for their functional analysis.

scholarly journals PAK and other Rho-associated kinases – effectors with surprisingly diverse mechanisms of regulation

2005 ◽  
Vol 386 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhou-shen ZHAO ◽  
Ed MANSER
Keyword(s):  
Rho Gtpases ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Rho Gtpase ◽  
Rho Kinase ◽  
Molecular Switches ◽  
Eukaryotic Cell ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Downstream Effector ◽  
P21 Activated Kinase ◽  
Do So

The Rho GTPases are a family of molecular switches that are critical regulators of signal transduction pathways in eukaryotic cells. They are known principally for their role in regulating the cytoskeleton, and do so by recruiting a variety of downstream effector proteins. Kinases form an important class of Rho effector, and part of the biological complexity brought about by switching on a single GTPase results from downstream phosphorylation cascades. Here we focus on our current understanding of the way in which different Rho-associated serine/threonine kinases, denoted PAK (p21-activated kinase), MLK (mixed-lineage kinase), ROK (Rho-kinase), MRCK (myotonin-related Cdc42-binding kinase), CRIK (citron kinase) and PKN (protein kinase novel), interact with and are regulated by their partner GTPases. All of these kinases have in common an ability to dimerize, and in most cases interact with a variety of other proteins that are important for their function. A diversity of known structures underpin the Rho GTPase–kinase interaction, but only in the case of PAK do we have a good molecular understanding of kinase regulation. The ability of Rho GTPases to co-ordinate spatial and temporal phosphorylation events explains in part their prominent role in eukaryotic cell biology.

Understanding Biological Structures Through Exploring the Mechanical Response of Cell-Like Systems

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Philip R. LeDuc
Keyword(s):  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Living Cell ◽  
Cellular Response ◽  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Cell Structure ◽  
Polymer Physics ◽  
Wide Range

The actin cytoskeleton provides mechanical support for the cell and influences activities such as cancer metastasis and chemotaxis. While their mechanical responses have been studied in vivo and in vitro, understanding the link between these two forms remains challenging. To explore this gap and further understand cell structure, we reconstructed the cell cytoskeleton in a membrane-like spherical liposome to mimic the cellular environment; this enables an artificial “cell like” system. Through this approach, we are pursuing a path to compare in vitro mechanics from a polymer physics perspective of individual actin filaments with the in vivo mechanics of a living cell [1]. A living cell contains many organelles, which are in a highly packed environment and require significant organization to function. The actin cytoskeleton provides both structural and organizational regulation that is essential for cellular response. Here, we first encapsulated G-actin into giant unilamellar vesicles through an electroformation technique and then polymerized them into actin filaments (F-actin) within individual vesicles. To probe their conformation, we visualized these vesicles with fluorescence and laser scanning confocal microscopy. We then used a tapping mode atomic force microscopy to determine the mechanical properties of these cell-like systems. These results provide insight into a wide range of fields and studies including polymer physics, cell biology, and biotechnology.

scholarly journals Rho Family of Ras-Like GTPases in Early-Branching Animals

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 2279
Author(s):  
Silvestar Beljan ◽  
Maja Herak Bosnar ◽  
Helena Ćetković
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Molecular Switches ◽  
Cellular Responses ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Rho Family Gtpases ◽  
History Of ◽  
Rho Family ◽  
Major Branch ◽  
External Signals ◽  
Insight Into

Non-bilaterian animals consist of four phyla; Porifera, Cnidaria, Ctenophora, and Placozoa. These early-diverging animals are crucial for understanding the evolution of the entire animal lineage. The Rho family of proteins make up a major branch of the Ras superfamily of small GTPases, which function as key molecular switches that play important roles in converting and amplifying external signals into cellular responses. This review represents a compilation of the current knowledge on Rho-family GTPases in non-bilaterian animals, the available experimental data about their biochemical characteristics and functions, as well as original bioinformatics analysis, in order to gain a general insight into the evolutionary history of Rho-family GTPases in simple animals.

scholarly journals The Uptake and Degradation of Matrix-bound Lipoproteins by Macrophages Require an Intact Actin Cytoskeleton, Rho Family GTPases, and Myosin ATPase Activity

2001 ◽  
Vol 276 (40) ◽  
pp. 37649-37658 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sana W. Sakr ◽  
Robert J. Eddy ◽  
Holger Barth ◽  
Fengwei Wang ◽  
Steven Greenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atpase Activity ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Myosin Atpase ◽  
Myosin Atpase Activity ◽  
Rho Family Gtpases ◽  
Matrix Bound ◽  
Rho Family

scholarly journals Rho GTPases: molecular switches that control the organization and dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton

2000 ◽  
Vol 355 (1399) ◽  
pp. 965-970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Hall ◽  
Catherine D. Nobes
Keyword(s):  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Rho Gtpases ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Fundamental Property ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Membrane Receptors ◽  
Embryonic Cells ◽  
Filamentous Actin ◽  
Rho Family ◽  
Plasma Membrane Receptors

The actin cytoskeleton plays a fundamental role in all eukaryotic cells—it is a major determinant of cell morphology and polarity and the assembly and disassembly of filamentous actin structures provides a driving force for dynamic processes such as cell motility, phagocytosis, growth cone guidance and cytokinesis. The ability to reorganize actin filaments is a fundamental property of embryonic cells during development; the shape changes accompanying gastrulation and dorsal closure, for example, are dependent on the plasticity of the actin cytoskeleton, while the ability of cells or cell extensions, such as axons, to migrate within the developing embryo requires rapid and spatially organized changes to the actin cytoskeleton in response to the external environment. W ork in mammalian cells over the last decade has demonstrated the central role played by the highly conserved Rho family of small GTPases in signal transduction pathways that link plasma membrane receptors to the organization of the actin cytoskeleton.

Regulation of class IA PI3Ks

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Wu ◽  
Y. Yan ◽  
J.M. Backer
Keyword(s):  
Tyrosine Kinases ◽  
Regulatory Subunit ◽  
Sh2 Domains ◽  
Src Homology 2 ◽  
Pi3k Activity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Rho Family Gtpases ◽  
Src Homology ◽  
Rho Family

Class IA PI3Ks (phosphoinositide 3-kinases) regulate a wide range of cellular responses through the production of PI(3,4,5)P3 (phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate) in cellular membranes. They are activated by receptor tyrosine kinases, by Ras and Rho family GTPases, and in some cases by Gβγ subunits from trimeric G-proteins. Crystallographic studies on the related class IB PI3Kγ, and biochemical and structural studies on the class IA PI3Ks, have led to new insights into how these critical enzymes are regulated in normal cells and how mutations can lead to their constitutive activation in transformed cells. The present paper will discuss recent studies on the regulation of class I (p85/p110) PI3Ks, with a focus on the role of SH2 domains (Src homology 2 domains) in the p85 regulatory subunit in modulating PI3K activity.

scholarly journals Differential activation and function of Rho GTPases during Salmonella–host cell interactions

2006 ◽  
Vol 175 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayesh C. Patel ◽  
Jorge E. Galán
Keyword(s):  
Rho Gtpases ◽  
Food Poisoning ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Cellular Responses ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Exchange Factor ◽  
Rho Family Gtpases ◽  
Rho Family ◽  
And Function

Salmonella enterica, the cause of food poisoning and typhoid fever, has evolved sophisticated mechanisms to modulate Rho family guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) to mediate specific cellular responses such as actin remodeling, macropinocytosis, and nuclear responses. These responses are largely the result of the activity of a set of bacterial proteins (SopE, SopE2, and SopB) that, upon delivery into host cells via a type III secretion system, activate specific Rho family GTPases either directly (SopE and SopE2) or indirectly (SopB) through the stimulation of an endogenous exchange factor. We show that different Rho family GTPases play a distinct role in Salmonella-induced cellular responses. In addition, we report that SopB stimulates cellular responses by activating SH3-containing guanine nucleotide exchange factor (SGEF), an exchange factor for RhoG, which we found plays a central role in the actin cytoskeleton remodeling stimulated by Salmonella. These results reveal a remarkable level of complexity in the manipulation of Rho family GTPases by a bacterial pathogen.

scholarly journals A New Story of the Three Magi: Scaffolding Proteins and lncRNA Suppressors of Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 4264
Author(s):  
Larissa Kotelevets ◽  
Eric Chastre
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Suppressor ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Cellular Response ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Tumor Promoter ◽  
Hippo Signaling ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Scaffolding Proteins ◽  
Wide Range

Scaffolding molecules exert a critical role in orchestrating cellular response through the spatiotemporal assembly of effector proteins as signalosomes. By increasing the efficiency and selectivity of intracellular signaling, these molecules can exert (anti/pro)oncogenic activities. As an archetype of scaffolding proteins with tumor suppressor property, the present review focuses on MAGI1, 2, and 3 (membrane-associated guanylate kinase inverted), a subgroup of the MAGUK protein family, that mediate networks involving receptors, junctional complexes, signaling molecules, and the cytoskeleton. MAGI1, 2, and 3 are comprised of 6 PDZ domains, 2 WW domains, and 1 GUK domain. These 9 protein binding modules allow selective interactions with a wide range of effectors, including the PTEN tumor suppressor, the β-catenin and YAP1 proto-oncogenes, and the regulation of the PI3K/AKT, the Wnt, and the Hippo signaling pathways. The frequent downmodulation of MAGIs in various human malignancies makes these scaffolding molecules and their ligands putative therapeutic targets. Interestingly, MAGI1 and MAGI2 genetic loci generate a series of long non-coding RNAs that act as a tumor promoter or suppressor in a tissue-dependent manner, by selectively sponging some miRNAs or by regulating epigenetic processes. Here, we discuss the different paths followed by the three MAGIs to control carcinogenesis.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document