scholarly journals PDZRhoGEF and myosin II localize RhoA activity to the back of polarizing neutrophil-like cells

2007 ◽  
Vol 179 (6) ◽  
pp. 1141-1148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kit Wong ◽  
Alexandra Van Keymeulen ◽  
Henry R. Bourne
Keyword(s):  
Rho Gtpase ◽  
Myosin Ii ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Dependent Protein Kinase ◽  
Rhoa Activity ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Long Tails ◽  
Dependent Protein ◽  
Atpase Inhibition

Chemoattractants such as formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) induce neutrophils to polarize by triggering divergent pathways that promote formation of a protrusive front and contracting back and sides. RhoA, a Rho GTPase, stimulates assembly of actomyosin contractile complexes at the sides and back. We show here, in differentiated HL60 cells, that PDZRhoGEF (PRG), a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for RhoA, mediates RhoA-dependent responses and determines their spatial distribution. As with RNAi knock-down of PRG, a GEF-deleted PRG mutant blocks fMLP-dependent RhoA activation and causes neutrophils to exhibit multiple fronts and long tails. Similarly, inhibition of RhoA, a Rho-dependent protein kinase (ROCK), or myosin II produces the same morphologies. PRG inhibition reduces or mislocalizes monophosphorylated myosin light chains in fMLP-stimulated cells, and myosin II ATPase inhibition reciprocally disrupts normal localization of PRG. We propose a cooperative reinforcing mechanism at the back of cells, in which PRG, RhoA, ROCK, myosin II, and actomyosin spatially cooperate to consolidate attractant-induced contractility and ensure robust cell polarity.

scholarly journals ErbB2 directly activates the exchange factor Dock7 to promote Schwann cell migration

2008 ◽  
Vol 181 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junji Yamauchi ◽  
Yuki Miyamoto ◽  
Jonah R. Chan ◽  
Akito Tanoue
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Schwann Cell ◽  
Rho Gtpase ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Exchange Factor ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Schwann Cell Migration ◽  
Subsequent Activation

The cellular events that precede myelination in the peripheral nervous system require rapid and dynamic morphological changes in the Schwann cell. These events are thought to be mainly controlled by axonal signals. But how signals on the axons are coordinately organized and transduced to promote proliferation, migration, radial sorting, and myelination is unknown. We describe that the axonal signal neuregulin-1 (NRG1) controls Schwann cell migration via activation of the atypical Dock180-related guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Dock7 and subsequent activation of the Rho guanine triphosphatases (GTPases) Rac1 and Cdc42 and the downstream c-Jun N-terminal kinase. We show that the NRG1 receptor ErbB2 directly binds and activates Dock7 by phosphorylating Tyr-1118. Dock7 knockdown, or expression of Dock7 harboring the Tyr-1118–to–Phe mutation in Schwann cells, attenuates the effects of NRG1. Thus, Dock7 functions as an intracellular substrate for ErbB2 to promote Schwann cell migration. This provides an unanticipated mechanism through which ligand-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation can trigger the activation of Rho GTPase-GEFs of the Dock180 family.

scholarly journals Structure of the C-terminal guanine nucleotide exchange factor module of Trio in an autoinhibited conformation reveals its oncogenic potential

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (569) ◽  
pp. eaav2449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumit J. Bandekar ◽  
Nadia Arang ◽  
Ena S. Tully ◽  
Brittany A. Tang ◽  
Brenna L. Barton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rho Gtpase ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Ph Domain ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Exchange Factor ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Factor Module

The C-terminal guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) module of Trio (TrioC) transfers signals from the Gαq/11subfamily of heterotrimeric G proteins to the small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) RhoA, enabling Gαq/11-coupled G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) to control downstream events, such as cell motility and gene transcription. This conserved signal transduction axis is crucial for tumor growth in uveal melanoma. Previous studies indicate that the GEF activity of the TrioC module is autoinhibited, with release of autoinhibition upon Gαq/11binding. Here, we determined the crystal structure of TrioC in its basal state and found that the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain interacts with the Dbl homology (DH) domain in a manner that occludes the Rho GTPase binding site, thereby suggesting the molecular basis of TrioC autoinhibition. Biochemical and biophysical assays revealed that disruption of the autoinhibited conformation destabilized and activated the TrioC module in vitro. Last, mutations in the DH-PH interface found in patients with cancer activated TrioC and, in the context of full-length Trio, led to increased abundance of guanosine triphosphate–bound RhoA (RhoA·GTP) in human cells. These mutations increase mitogenic signaling through the RhoA axis and, therefore, may represent cancer drivers operating in a Gαq/11-independent manner.

scholarly journals Linking Ras to myosin function: RasGEF Q, a Dictyostelium exchange factor for RasB, affects myosin II functions

2008 ◽  
Vol 181 (5) ◽  
pp. 747-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subhanjan Mondal ◽  
Deenadayalan Bakthavatsalam ◽  
Paul Steimle ◽  
Berthold Gassen ◽  
Francisco Rivero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Polarity ◽  
Cell Sorting ◽  
Myosin Ii ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Exchange Factor ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Myosin Heavy Chain Kinase ◽  
Null Mutants

Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Q, a nucleotide exchange factor from Dictyostelium discoideum, is a 143-kD protein containing RasGEF domains and a DEP domain. We show that RasGEF Q can bind to F-actin, has the potential to form complexes with myosin heavy chain kinase (MHCK) A that contain active RasB, and is the predominant exchange factor for RasB. Overexpression of the RasGEF Q GEF domain activates RasB, causes enhanced recruitment of MHCK A to the cortex, and leads to cytokinesis defects in suspension, phenocopying cells expressing constitutively active RasB, and myosin-null mutants. RasGEF Q− mutants have defects in cell sorting and slug migration during later stages of development, in addition to cell polarity defects. Furthermore, RasGEF Q− mutants have increased levels of unphosphorylated myosin II, resulting in myosin II overassembly. Collectively, our results suggest that starvation signals through RasGEF Q to activate RasB, which then regulates processes requiring myosin II.

scholarly journals Novel Functions of Ect2 in Polar Lamellipodia Formation and Polarity Maintenance during “Contractile Ring-Independent” Cytokinesis in Adherent Cells

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masamitsu Kanada ◽  
Akira Nagasaki ◽  
Taro Q.P. Uyeda
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Contractile Ring ◽  
Rhoa Activity ◽  
Rhoa Activation ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Ht1080 Cells ◽  
Lamellipodia Formation

Some mammalian cells are able to divide via both the classic contractile ring-dependent method (cytokinesis A) and a contractile ring-independent, adhesion-dependent method (cytokinesis B). Cytokinesis A is triggered by RhoA, which, in HeLa cells, is activated by the guanine nucleotide-exchange factor Ect2 localized at the central spindle and equatorial cortex. Here, we show that in HT1080 cells undergoing cytokinesis A, Ect2 does not localize in the equatorial cortex, though RhoA accumulates there. Moreover, Ect2 depletion resulted in only modest multinucleation of HT1080 cells, enabling us to establish cell lines in which Ect2 was constitutively depleted. Thus, RhoA is activated via an Ect2-independent pathway during cytokinesis A in HT1080 cells. During cytokinesis B, Ect2-depleted cells showed narrower accumulation of RhoA at the equatorial cortex, accompanied by compromised pole-to-equator polarity, formation of ectopic lamellipodia in regions where RhoA normally would be distributed, and delayed formation of polar lamellipodia. Furthermore, C3 exoenzyme inhibited equatorial RhoA activation and polar lamellipodia formation. Conversely, expression of dominant active Ect2 in interphase HT1080 cells enhanced RhoA activity and suppressed lamellipodia formation. These results suggest that equatorial Ect2 locally suppresses lamellipodia formation via RhoA activation, which indirectly contributes to restricting lamellipodia formation to polar regions during cytokinesis B.

scholarly journals Identification of a Novel Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor for the Rho GTPase

1996 ◽  
Vol 271 (41) ◽  
pp. 25452-25458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Hart ◽  
Sanju Sharma ◽  
Nadia elMasry ◽  
Rong-Guo Qiu ◽  
Peter McCabe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rho Gtpase ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Exchange Factor ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor

scholarly journals PyK2 and FAK connections to p190Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor regulate RhoA activity, focal adhesion formation, and cell motility

2008 ◽  
Vol 180 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yangmi Lim ◽  
Ssang-Taek Lim ◽  
Alok Tomar ◽  
Margaret Gardel ◽  
Joie A. Bernard-Trifilo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Motility ◽  
Focal Adhesion ◽  
Adhesion Formation ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Rhoa Activity ◽  
Rhoa Activation ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Cellular Contact

Integrin binding to matrix proteins such as fibronectin (FN) leads to formation of focal adhesion (FA) cellular contact sites that regulate migration. RhoA GTPases facilitate FA formation, yet FA-associated RhoA-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) remain unknown. Here, we show that proline-rich kinase-2 (Pyk2) levels increase upon loss of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Additionally, we demonstrate that Pyk2 facilitates deregulated RhoA activation, elevated FA formation, and enhanced cell proliferation by promoting p190RhoGEF expression. In normal MEFs, p190RhoGEF knockdown inhibits FN-associated RhoA activation, FA formation, and cell migration. Knockdown of p190RhoGEF-related GEFH1 does not affect FA formation in FAK−/− or normal MEFs. p190RhoGEF overexpression enhances RhoA activation and FA formation in MEFs dependent on FAK binding and associated with p190RhoGEF FA recruitment and tyrosine phosphorylation. These studies elucidate a compensatory function for Pyk2 upon FAK loss and identify the FAK–p190RhoGEF complex as an important integrin-proximal regulator of FA formation during FN-stimulated cell motility.

scholarly journals Rho-dependent control of anillin behavior during cytokinesis

2008 ◽  
Vol 180 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilles R.X. Hickson ◽  
Patrick H. O'Farrell
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Myosin Ii ◽  
S2 Cells ◽  
Actin Assembly ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Drosophila Melanogaster S2 Cells ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Latrunculin A ◽  
Dependent Pathway

Anillin is a conserved protein required for cytokinesis but its molecular function is unclear. Anillin accumulation at the cleavage furrow is Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF)Pbl–dependent but may also be mediated by known anillin interactions with F-actin and myosin II, which are under RhoGEFPbl-dependent control themselves. Microscopy of Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells reveal here that although myosin II and F-actin do contribute, equatorial anillin localization persists in their absence. Using latrunculin A, the inhibitor of F-actin assembly, we uncovered a separate RhoGEFPbl-dependent pathway that, at the normal time of furrowing, allows stable filamentous structures containing anillin, Rho1, and septins to form directly at the equatorial plasma membrane. These structures associate with microtubule (MT) ends and can still form after MT depolymerization, although they are delocalized under such conditions. Thus, a novel RhoGEFPbl-dependent input promotes the simultaneous association of anillin with the plasma membrane, septins, and MTs, independently of F-actin. We propose that such interactions occur dynamically and transiently to promote furrow stability.

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