scholarly journals Requirement of nucleotide exchange factor for Ypt1 GTPase mediated protein transport.

1995 ◽  
Vol 130 (5) ◽  
pp. 1051-1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Jones ◽  
R J Litt ◽  
C J Richardson ◽  
N Segev

Small GTPases of the rab family are involved in the regulation of vesicular transport. It is believed that cycling between the GTP- and GDP-bound forms, and accessory factors regulating this cycling are crucial for rab function. However, an essential role for rab nucleotide exchange factors has not yet been demonstrated. In this report we show the requirement of nucleotide exchange factor activity for Ypt1 GTPase mediated protein transport. The Ypt1 protein, a member of the rab family, plays a role in targeting vesicles to the acceptor compartment and is essential for the first two steps of the yeast secretory pathway. We use two YPT1 dominant mutations that contain alterations in a highly conserved GTP-binding domain, N121I and D124N. YPT1-D124N is a novel mutation that encodes a protein with nucleotide specificity modified from guanine to xanthine. This provides a tool for the study of an individual rab GTPase in crude extracts: a xanthosine triphosphate (XTP)-dependent conditional dominant mutation. Both mutations confer growth inhibition and a block in protein secretion when expressed in vivo. The purified mutant proteins do not bind either GDP or GTP. Moreover, they completely inhibit the ability of the exchange factor to stimulate nucleotide exchange for wild type Ypt1 protein, and are potent inhibitors of ER to Golgi transport in vitro at the vesicle targeting step. The inhibitory effects of the Ypt1-D124N mutant protein on both nucleotide exchange activity and protein transport in vitro can be relieved by XTP, indicating that it is the nucleotide-free form of the mutant protein that is inhibitory. These results suggest that the dominant mutant proteins inhibit protein transport by sequestering the exchange factor from the wild type Ypt1 protein, and that this factor has an essential role in vesicular transport.

2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 313-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro M. Coll ◽  
Yadira Trillo ◽  
Amagoia Ametzazurra ◽  
Pilar Perez

Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc42+regulates cell morphology and polarization of the actin cytoskeleton. Scd1p/Ral1p is the only described guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Cdc42p in S. pombe. We have identified a new GEF, named Gef1p, specifically regulating Cdc42p. Gef1p binds to inactive Cdc42p but not to other Rho GTPases in two-hybrid assays. Overexpression of gef1+increases specifically the GTP-bound Cdc42p, and Gef1p is capable of stimulating guanine nucleotide exchange of Cdc42p in vitro. Overexpression ofgef1+causes changes in cell morphology similar to those caused by overexpression of the constitutively active cdc42G12V allele. Gef1p localizes to the septum. gef1+deletion is viable but causes a mild cell elongation and defects in bipolar growth and septum formation, suggesting a role for Gef1p in the control of cell polarity and cytokinesis. The double mutant gef1Δ scd1Δ is not viable, indicating that they share an essential function as Cdc42p activators. However, both deletion and overexpression of either gef1+orscd1+causes different morphological phenotypes, which suggest different functions. Genetic evidence revealed a link between Gef1p and the signaling pathway of Shk1/Orb2p and Orb6p. In contrast, no genetic interaction between Gef1p and Shk2p-Mkh1p pathway was observed.


2012 ◽  
Vol 443 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Barber ◽  
Annick Hendrickx ◽  
Monique Beullens ◽  
Hugo Ceulemans ◽  
David Oxley ◽  
...  

P-Rex1 is a GEF (guanine-nucleotide-exchange factor) for the small G-protein Rac that is activated by PIP3 (phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate) and Gβγ subunits and inhibited by PKA (protein kinase A). In the present study we show that PP1α (protein phosphatase 1α) binds P-Rex1 through an RVxF-type docking motif. PP1α activates P-Rex1 directly in vitro, both independently of and additively to PIP3 and Gβγ. PP1α also substantially activates P-Rex1 in vivo, both in basal and PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor)- or LPA (lysophosphatidic acid)-stimulated cells. The phosphatase activity of PP1α is required for P-Rex1 activation. PP1β, a close homologue of PP1α, is also able to activate P-Rex1, but less effectively. PP1α stimulates P-Rex1-mediated Rac-dependent changes in endothelial cell morphology. MS analysis of wild-type P-Rex1 and a PP1α-binding-deficient mutant revealed that endogenous PP1α dephosphorylates P-Rex1 on at least three residues, Ser834, Ser1001 and Ser1165. Site-directed mutagenesis of Ser1165 to alanine caused activation of P-Rex1 to a similar degree as did PP1α, confirming Ser1165 as a dephosphorylation site important in regulating P-Rex1 Rac-GEF activity. In summary, we have identified a novel mechanism for direct activation of P-Rex1 through PP1α-dependent dephosphorylation.


2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (17) ◽  
pp. 3905-3917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana L. Ford-Speelman ◽  
Joseph A. Roche ◽  
Amber L. Bowman ◽  
Robert J. Bloch

Obscurin is a large (∼800-kDa), modular protein of striated muscle that concentrates around the M-bands and Z-disks of each sarcomere, where it is well positioned to sense contractile activity. Obscurin contains several signaling domains, including a rho-guanine nucleotide exchange factor (rhoGEF) domain and tandem pleckstrin homology domain, consistent with a role in rho signaling in muscle. We investigated the ability of obscurin's rhoGEF domain to interact with and activate small GTPases. Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches, we found that the rhoGEF domain of obscurin binds selectively to rhoA, and that rhoA colocalizes with obscurin at the M-band in skeletal muscle. Other small GTPases, including rac1 and cdc42, neither associate with the rhoGEF domain of obscurin nor concentrate at the level of the M-bands. Furthermore, overexpression of the rhoGEF domain of obscurin in adult skeletal muscle selectively increases rhoA expression and activity in this tissue. Overexpression of obscurin's rhoGEF domain and its effects on rhoA alter the expression of rho kinase and citron kinase, both of which can be activated by rhoA in other tissues. Injuries to rodent hindlimb muscles caused by large-strain lengthening contractions increases rhoA activity and displaces it from the M-bands to Z-disks, similar to the effects of overexpression of obscurin's rhoGEF domain. Our results suggest that obscurin's rhoGEF domain signals at least in part by inducing rhoA expression and activation, and altering the expression of downstream kinases in vitro and in vivo.


2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (48) ◽  
pp. 30380-30390
Author(s):  
Christopher Lim ◽  
Jason M. Berk ◽  
Alyssa Blaise ◽  
Josie Bircher ◽  
Anthony J. Koleske ◽  
...  

Rho family GTPases regulate an array of cellular processes and are often modulated by pathogens to promote infection. Here, we identify a cryptic guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) domain in the OtDUB protein encoded by the pathogenic bacteriumOrientia tsutsugamushi. A proteomics-based OtDUB interaction screen identified numerous potential host interactors, including the Rho GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42. We discovered a domain in OtDUB with Rac1/Cdc42 GEF activity (OtDUBGEF), with higher activity toward Rac1 in vitro. While this GEF bears no obvious sequence similarity to known GEFs, crystal structures of OtDUBGEFalone (3.0 Å) and complexed with Rac1 (1.7 Å) reveal striking convergent evolution, with a unique topology, on a V-shaped bacterial GEF fold shared with other bacterial GEF domains. Structure-guided mutational analyses identified residues critical for activity and a mechanism for nucleotide displacement. Ectopic expression of OtDUB activates Rac1 preferentially in cells, and expression of the OtDUBGEFalone alters cell morphology. Cumulatively, this work reveals a bacterial GEF within the multifunctional OtDUB that co-opts host Rac1 signaling to induce changes in cytoskeletal structure.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Holzer ◽  
Paola De Magistris ◽  
Cathrin Gramminger ◽  
Ruchika Sachdev ◽  
Adriana Magalska ◽  
...  

During mitotic exit, thousands of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) assemble concomitant with the nuclear envelope to build a transport-competent nucleus. We show here that Nup50 plays a crucial role in NPC assembly that is independent of its well-established function in nuclear transport. RNAi-mediated downregulation in cells or immunodepletion of the protein in Xenopus egg extracts interferes with NPC assembly. We define a conserved central region of 46 residues in Nup50 that is crucial for Nup153 and MEL28/ELYS binding, and NPC interaction. Surprisingly, neither NPC interaction nor binding of Nup50 to importin α, β, the GTPase Ran or chromatin is crucial for its function in the assembly process. Instead, we discovered that an N-terminal fragment of Nup50 can stimulate the Ran guanine exchange factor RCC1 and NPC assembly, indicating that Nup50 acts via the Ran system in mitotic NPC reformation. In support of this conclusion, Nup50 mutants defective in RCC1 binding and stimulation cannot replace the wild type protein in in vitro NPC assembly assays.


1994 ◽  
Vol 107 (12) ◽  
pp. 3635-3642 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.A. Hughes ◽  
N. Yabana ◽  
M. Yamamoto

The ste6 gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe encodes a putative GDP-GTP exchange factor for the ras1 gene product. Genetic analysis of the ste6 and ras1 genes has shown that they are required for mating and for the response to mating pheromones. In this study we show that expression of the ste6-encoded mRNA is induced by nitrogen starvation, the physiological signal that triggers mating and sexual differentiation. Exposure to mating pheromones enhances the induction of ste6 expression upon nitrogen starvation. Pheromone-induced expression requires not only the function of components of the pheromone-signalling pathway, but also ras1 function. Furthermore, mutants in which the Ras1 protein is activated have higher basal and induced levels of ste6 gene expression than wild-type cells. These observations indicate the existence of a positive-feedback loop through which Ras1 stimulates the expression of its own activator. Since Ste6 is likely to promote the exchange of guanine nucleotides on Ras1 protein, our results suggest an important role for GDP-GTP exchange in the regulation of Ras1 activity during the mating process in S. pombe.


2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 4403-4411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Jones ◽  
Christina Newman ◽  
Fengli Liu ◽  
Nava Segev

In yeast, the Ypt1 GTPase is required for ER-to-cis-Golgi and cis-to-medial-Golgi protein transport, while Ypt31/32 are a functional pair of GTPases essential for exit from the trans-Golgi. We have previously identified a Ypt1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity and characterized it as a large membrane-associated protein complex that localizes to the Golgi and can be extracted from the membrane by salt, but not by detergent. TRAPP is a large protein complex that is required for ER-to-Golgi transport and that has properties similar to those of Ypt1 GEF. Here we show that TRAPP has Ypt1 GEF activity. GST-tagged Bet3p or Bet5p, two of the TRAPP subunits, were expressed in yeast cells and were precipitated by glutathione-agarose (GA) beads. The resulting precipitates can stimulate both GDP release and GTP uptake by Ypt1p. The majority of the Ypt1 GEF activity associated with the GST-Bet3p precipitate has an apparent molecular weight of > 670 kDa, indicating that the GEF activity resides in the TRAPP complex. Surprisingly, TRAPP can also stimulate nucleotide exchange on the Ypt31/32 GTPases, but not on Sec4p, a Ypt-family GTPase required for the last step of the exocytic pathway. Like the previously characterized Ypt1 GEF, the TRAPP Ypt1-GEF activity can be inhibited by the nucleotide-free Ypt1-D124N mutant protein. This mutant protein also inhibits the Ypt32 GEF activity of TRAPP. Coprecipitation and overexpression studies suggest that TRAPP can act as a GEF for Ypt1 and Ypt31/32 in vivo. These data suggest the exciting possibility that a GEF complex common to Ypt1 and Ypt31/32 might coordinate the function of these GTPases in entry into and exit from the Golgi.


1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 1346-1353 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Han ◽  
B Das ◽  
W Wei ◽  
L Van Aelst ◽  
R D Mosteller ◽  
...  

Vav is a member of a family of oncogene proteins that share an approximately 250-amino-acid motif called a Dbl homology domain. Paradoxically, Dbl itself and other proteins containing a Dbl domain catalyze GTP-GDP exchange for Rho family proteins, whereas Vav has been reported to catalyze GTP-GDP exchange for Ras proteins. We present Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetic data, in vitro biochemical data, and animal cell biological data indicating that Vav is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rho-related proteins, but in similar genetic and biochemical experiments we fail to find evidence that Vav is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Ras. Further, we present data indicating that the Lck kinase activates the guanine nucleotide exchange factor and transforming activity of Vav.


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