scholarly journals Small GTPase RhoG Is a Key Regulator for Neurite Outgrowth in PC12 Cells

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (19) ◽  
pp. 7378-7387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hironori Katoh ◽  
Hidekazu Yasui ◽  
Yoshiaki Yamaguchi ◽  
Junko Aoki ◽  
Hirotada Fujita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neurite Outgrowth ◽  
Pc12 Cells ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Rho Family ◽  
Constitutively Active

ABSTRACT The Rho family of small GTPases has been implicated in cytoskeletal reorganization and subsequent morphological changes in various cell types. Among them, Rac and Cdc42 have been shown to be involved in neurite outgrowth in neuronal cells. In this study, we examined the role of RhoG, another member of Rho family GTPases, in nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. Expression of wild-type RhoG in PC12 cells induced neurite outgrowth in the absence of NGF, and the morphology of wild-type RhoG-expressing cells was similar to that of NGF-differentiated cells. Constitutively active RhoG-transfected cells extended short neurites but developed large lamellipodial or filopodial structures at the tips of neurites. RhoG-induced neurite outgrowth was inhibited by coexpression with dominant-negative Rac1 or Cdc42. In addition, expression of constitutively active RhoG elevated endogenous Rac1 and Cdc42 activities. We also found that the NGF-induced neurite outgrowth was enhanced by expression of wild-type RhoG whereas expression of dominant-negative RhoG suppressed the neurite outgrowth. Furthermore, constitutively active Ras-induced neurite outgrowth was also suppressed by dominant-negative RhoG. Taken together, these results suggest that RhoG is a key regulator in NGF-induced neurite outgrowth, acting downstream of Ras and upstream of Rac1 and Cdc42 in PC12 cells.

scholarly journals Vav2 Activates Rac1, Cdc42, and RhoA Downstream from Growth Factor Receptors but Not β1 Integrins

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (19) ◽  
pp. 7160-7169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betty P. Liu ◽  
Keith Burridge
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Epidermal Growth Factor ◽  
Tyrosine Phosphorylation ◽  
G Proteins ◽  
Growth Factor Receptors ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Epidermal Growth ◽  
Rho Family ◽  
Constitutively Active

ABSTRACT The Rho family of GTPases plays a major role in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton. These G proteins are activated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors that stimulate the exchange of bound GDP for GTP. In their GTP-bound state, these G proteins interact with downstream effectors. Vav2 is an exchange factor for Rho family GTPases. It is a ubiquitously expressed homologue of Vav1, and like Vav1, it has previously been shown to be activated by tyrosine phosphorylation. Because Vav1 becomes tyrosine phosphorylated and activated following integrin engagement in hematopoietic cells, we investigated the tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav2 in response to integrin-mediated adhesion in fibroblasts and epithelial cells. However, no tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav2 was detected in response to integrin engagement. In contrast, treating cells with either epidermal growth factor or platelet-derived growth factor stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav2. We have examined the effects of overexpressing either wild-type or amino-terminally truncated (constitutively active) forms of Vav2 as fusion proteins with green fluorescent protein. Overexpression of either wild-type or constitutively active Vav2 resulted in prominent membrane ruffles and enhanced stress fibers. These cells revealed elevated rates of cell migration that were inhibited by expression of dominant negative forms of Rac1 and Cdc42. Using a binding assay to measure the activity of Rac1, Cdc42, and RhoA, we found that overexpression of Vav2 resulted in increased activity of each of these G proteins. Expression of a carboxy-terminal fragment of Vav2 decreased the elevation of Rac1 activity induced by epidermal growth factor, consistent with Vav2 mediating activation of Rac1 downstream from growth factor receptors.

Drac1 and Crumbs participate in amnioserosa morphogenesis during dorsal closure in Drosophila

2002 ◽  
Vol 115 (10) ◽  
pp. 2119-2129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Harden ◽  
Michael Ricos ◽  
Kelly Yee ◽  
Justina Sanny ◽  
Caillin Langmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Shape Change ◽  
Apical Cell ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Epithelial Morphogenesis ◽  
Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Dorsal Closure ◽  
Contractile Apparatus ◽  
Constitutively Active

Dorsal closure of the Drosophila embryo involves morphological changes in two epithelia, the epidermis and the amnioserosa, and is a popular system for studying the regulation of epithelial morphogenesis. We previously implicated the small GTPase Drac1 in the assembly of an actomyosin contractile apparatus, contributing to cell shape change in the epidermis during dorsal closure. We now present evidence that Drac1 and Crumbs, a determinant of epithelial polarity, are involved in setting up an actomyosin contractile apparatus that drives amnioserosa morphogenesis by inducing apical cell constriction. Expression of constitutively active Drac1 causes excessive constriction of amnioserosa cells and contraction of the tissue, whereas expression of dominant-negative Drac1 impairs amnioserosa morphogenesis. These Drac1 transgenes may be acting through their effects on the amnioserosa cytoskeleton, as constitutively active Drac1 causes increased staining for F-actin and myosin, whereas dominant-negative Drac1 reduces F-actin levels. Overexpression of Crumbs causes premature cell constriction in the amnioserosa, and dorsal closure defects are seen in embryos homozygous for hypomorphic crumbs alleles. The ability of constitutively active Drac1 to cause contraction of the amnioserosa is impaired in a crumbsmutant background. We propose that amnioserosa morphogenesis is a useful system for studying the regulation of epithelial morphogenesis by Drac1.

scholarly journals Small GTPase Rin induces neurite outgrowth through Rac/Cdc42 and calmodulin in PC12 cells

2003 ◽  
Vol 163 (5) ◽  
pp. 1067-1076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitsunobu Hoshino ◽  
Shun Nakamura
Keyword(s):  
Neurite Outgrowth ◽  
Pc12 Cells ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Mutant Proteins ◽  
Neuronal Signaling ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

The novel Ras-like small GTPase Rin is expressed prominently in adult neurons, and binds calmodulin (CaM) through its COOH-terminal–binding motif. It might be involved in calcium/CaM-mediated neuronal signaling, but Rin-mediated signal transduction pathways have not yet been elucidated. Here, we show that expression of Rin induces neurite outgrowth without nerve growth factor or mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Rin-induced neurite outgrowth was markedly inhibited by coexpression with dominant negative Rac/Cdc42 protein or CaM inhibitor treatment. We also found that expression of Rin elevated the endogenous Rac/Cdc42 activity. Rin mutant proteins, in which the mutation disrupted association with CaM, failed to induce neurite outgrowth irrespective of Rac/Cdc42 activation. Disruption of endogenous Rin function inhibited the neurite outgrowth stimulated by forskolin and extracellular calcium entry through voltage-dependent calcium channel evoked by KCl. These findings suggest that Rin-mediated neurite outgrowth signaling requires not only endogenous Rac/Cdc42 activation but also Rin–CaM association, and that endogenous Rin is involved in calcium/CaM-mediated neuronal signaling pathways.

scholarly journals Activated PAK4 Regulates Cell Adhesion and Anchorage-Independent Growth

2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 3523-3533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Qu ◽  
Marta S. Cammarano ◽  
Qing Shi ◽  
Kenneth C. Ha ◽  
Primal de Lanerolle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Rho Gtpase ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Focal Adhesions ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Oncogenic Transformation ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Focus Formation ◽  
Rho Family Gtpases ◽  
Rho Family

ABSTRACT The serine/threonine kinase PAK4 is an effector molecule for the Rho GTPase Cdc42. PAK4 differs from other members of the PAK family in both sequence and function. Previously we have shown that an important function of this kinase is to mediate the induction of filopodia in response to activated Cdc42. Since previous characterization of PAK4 was carried out only with the wild-type kinase, we have generated a constitutively active mutant of the kinase to determine whether it has other functions. Expression of activated PAK4 in fibroblasts led to a transient induction of filopodia, which is consistent with its role as an effector for Cdc42. In addition, use of the activated mutant revealed a number of other important functions of this kinase that were not revealed by studying the wild-type kinase. For example, activated PAK4 led to the dissolution of stress fibers and loss of focal adhesions. Consequently, cells expressing activated PAK4 had a defect in cell spreading onto fibronectin-coated surfaces. Most importantly, fibroblasts expressing activated PAK4 had a morphology that was characteristic of oncogenic transformation. These cells were anchorage independent and formed colonies in soft agar, similar to what has been observed previously in cells expressing activated Cdc42. Consistent with this, dominant-negative PAK4 mutants inhibited focus formation by oncogenic Dbl, an exchange factor for Rho family GTPases. These results provide the first demonstration that a PAK family member can transform cells and indicate that PAK4 may play an essential role in oncogenic transformation by the GTPases. We propose that the morphological changes and changes in cell adhesion induced by PAK4 may play a direct role in oncogenic transformation by Rho family GTPases and their exchange factors.

scholarly journals PseudoGTPase domains in p190RhoGAP proteins: a mini-review

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 1713-1720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy L. Stiegler ◽  
Titus J. Boggon
Keyword(s):  
Family Members ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Signaling Proteins ◽  
New Family ◽  
Gtpase Activating Proteins ◽  
Rho Family ◽  
Biochemical Analyses ◽  
Catalytic Cleft

Pseudoenzymes generally lack detectable catalytic activity despite adopting the overall protein fold of their catalytically competent counterparts, indeed ‘pseudo’ family members seem to be incorporated in all enzyme classes. The small GTPase enzymes are important signaling proteins, and recent studies have identified many new family members with noncanonical residues within the catalytic cleft, termed pseudoGTPases. To illustrate recent discoveries in the field, we use the p190RhoGAP proteins as an example. p190RhoGAP proteins (ARHGAP5 and ARHGAP35) are the most abundant GTPase activating proteins for the Rho family of small GTPases. These are key regulators of Rho signaling in processes such as cell migration, adhesion and cytokinesis. Structural biology has complemented and guided biochemical analyses for these proteins and has allowed discovery of two cryptic pseudoGTPase domains, and the re-classification of a third, previously identified, GTPase-fold domain as a pseudoGTPase. The three domains within p190RhoGAP proteins illustrate the diversity of this rapidly expanding pseudoGTPase group.

scholarly journals Identification and characterization of a new isoform of small GTPase RhoE

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Dai ◽  
Weijia Luo ◽  
Xiaojing Yue ◽  
Wencai Ma ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rho Gtpase ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Alternative Translation ◽  
Rho Family ◽  
Binding Capability ◽  
Identification And Characterization

Abstract The Rho family of GTPases consists of 20 members including RhoE. Here, we discover the existence of a short isoform of RhoE designated as RhoEα, the first Rho GTPase isoform generated from alternative translation. Translation of this new isoform is initiated from an alternative start site downstream of and in-frame with the coding region of the canonical RhoE. RhoEα exhibits a similar subcellular distribution while its protein stability is higher than RhoE. RhoEα contains binding capability to RhoE effectors ROCK1, p190RhoGAP and Syx. The distinct transcriptomes of cells with the expression of RhoE and RhoEα, respectively, are demonstrated. The data propose distinctive and overlapping biological functions of RhoEα compared to RhoE. In conclusion, this study reveals a new Rho GTPase isoform generated from alternative translation. The discovery provides a new scope of understanding the versatile functions of small GTPases and underlines the complexity and diverse roles of small GTPases.

scholarly journals Co-ordinated Ras and Rac activity shapes macropinocytic cups and enables phagocytosis of geometrically diverse bacteria

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine M. Buckley ◽  
Henderikus Pots ◽  
Aurelie Gueho ◽  
Ben A. Phillips ◽  
Bernd Gilsbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Extracellular Material ◽  
Multidomain Protein ◽  
Complex Shapes ◽  
Rho Family ◽  
Phagocytic Cups ◽  
Interior Domain ◽  
Professional Phagocyte

AbstractEngulfment of extracellular material by phagocytosis or macropinocytosis depends on the ability of cells to generate specialised cup shaped protrusions. To effectively capture and internalise their targets, these cups are organised into a ring or ruffle of actin-driven protrusion encircling a non-protrusive interior domain. These functional domains depend on the combined activities of multiple Ras and Rho family small GTPases, but how their activities are integrated and differentially regulated over space and time is unknown. Here, we show that the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum coordinates Ras and Rac activity using the multidomain protein RGBARG (RCC1, RhoGEF, BAR and RasGAP-containing protein). We find RGBARG uses a tripartite mechanism of Ras, Rac and phospholipid interactions to localise at the protruding edge and interface with the interior of both macropinocytic and phagocytic cups. There, RGBARG shapes the protrusion by driving Rac activation at the rim whilst suppressing expansion of the active Ras interior domain. Consequently, cells lacking RGBARG form enlarged, flat interior domains unable to generate large macropinosomes. During phagocytosis, we find that disruption of RGBARG causes a geometry-specific defect in engulfing rod-shaped bacteria and ellipsoidal beads. This demonstrates the importance of co-ordinating small GTPase activities during engulfment of more complex shapes and thus the full physiological range of microbes, and how this is achieved in a model professional phagocyte.

scholarly journals Isoprenylcysteine Carboxy Methylation Is Essential for Development in Dictyostelium discoideum

2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 4106-4118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Chen ◽  
Kyle J. McQuade ◽  
Xiao-Juan Guan ◽  
Peter A. Thomason ◽  
Michael S. Wert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Intercellular Signaling ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Protein Subunit ◽  
Encoding Gene ◽  
Carboxy Terminal ◽  
Mutant Cells ◽  
Do So

Members of the Ras superfamily of small GTPases and the heterotrimeric G protein γ subunit are methylated on their carboxy-terminal cysteine residues by isoprenylcysteine methyltransferase. In Dictyostelium discoideum, small GTPase methylation occurs seconds after stimulation of starving cells by cAMP and returns quickly to basal levels, suggesting an important role in cAMP-dependent signaling. Deleting the isoprenylcysteine methyltransferase-encoding gene causes dramatic defects. Starving mutant cells do not propagate cAMP waves in a sustained manner, and they do not aggregate. Motility is rescued when cells are pulsed with exogenous cAMP, or coplated with wild-type cells, but the rescued cells exhibit altered polarity. cAMP-pulsed methyltransferase-deficient cells that have aggregated fail to differentiate, but mutant cells plated in a wild-type background are able to do so. Localization of and signaling by RasG is altered in the mutant. Localization of the heterotrimeric Gγ protein subunit was normal, but signaling was altered in mutant cells. These data indicate that isoprenylcysteine methylation is required for intercellular signaling and development in Dictyostelium.

H-Ras Is Involved in the Inside-out Signaling Pathway of Interleukin-3–Induced Integrin Activation

Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 1540-1548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hirohiko Shibayama ◽  
Naoyuki Anzai ◽  
Stephen E. Braun ◽  
Seiji Fukuda ◽  
Charlie Mantel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
The Other ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Integrin Activation ◽  
Mapk Kinase ◽  
Interleukin 3 ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Inside Out ◽  
Constitutively Active

Abstract The proto-oncogene product, p21ras, has been implicated in the cellular mechanism of adhesion, although its precise role has been controversial. Numerous cytokines and growth-factors activate Ras, which is an important component of their growth-promoting signaling pathways. On the other hand, the role of Ras in cytokine-induced adhesion has not been elucidated. We therefore investigated the function of H-Ras in the inside-out signaling pathway of interleukin-3 (IL-3)–induced integrin activation in the murine Baf3 cell line after transfection of cells with either constitutively active, dominant-negative, or wild-type H-Ras cDNAs. Adhesion of Baf3 cells to fibronectin was induced by IL-3 in a dose-dependent manner via very late antigen-4 (VLA-4; 4β1 integrins) and VLA-5 (5β1 integrins) activation. On the other hand, IL-4 did not induce the adhesion of Baf3 cells to fibronectin, although IL-4 did stimulate the cell proliferation of Baf3 cells. Constitutively active H-Ras–transfected Baf3 cells adhered to fibronectin without IL-3 stimulation through VLA-4 and VLA-5, whereas dominant-negative H-Ras–transfected Baf3 cells showed significantly less adhesion induced by IL-3 compared with wild-type and constitutively active H-Ras–transfected Baf3 cells. Anti-β1 integrin antibody (clone; 9EG7), which is known to change integrin conformation and activate integrins, induced the adhesion of dominant-negative H-Ras–transfected Baf3 cells as much as the other types of H-Ras–transfected Baf3 cells. 8-Br-cAMP, Dibutyryl-cAMP, Ras-Raf-1 pathway inhibitors, and PD98059, a MAPK kinase inhibitor, suppressed proliferation and phosphorylation of MAPK detected by Western blotting with anti–phospho-MAPK antibody, but not adhesion of any type of H-Ras–transfected Baf3 cells, whereas U-73122, a phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor, suppressed adhesion of these cells completely. These data indicate that H-Ras and PLC, but not Raf-1, MAPK kinase, or the MAPK pathway, are involved in the inside-out signaling pathway of IL-3–induced VLA-4 and VLA-5 activation in Baf3 cells.

scholarly journals The p75 receptor transduces the signal from myelin-associated glycoprotein to Rho

2002 ◽  
Vol 157 (4) ◽  
pp. 565-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshihide Yamashita ◽  
Haruhisa Higuchi ◽  
Masaya Tohyama
Keyword(s):  
Neurite Outgrowth ◽  
Potent Inhibitor ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons ◽  
Neurotrophin Receptor ◽  
Binding Partners ◽  
Myelin Associated Glycoprotein ◽  
Ganglion Neurons ◽  
P75 Receptor

Myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) is a potent inhibitor of neurite outgrowth from a variety of neurons. The receptor for MAG or signals that elicit morphological changes in neurons remained to be established. Here we show that the neurotrophin receptor p75 (p75NTR) is the signal transducing element for MAG. Adult dorsal root ganglion neurons or postnatal cerebellar neurons from mice carrying a mutation in the p75NTR gene are insensitive to MAG with regard to neurite outgrowth. MAG activates small GTPase RhoA, leading to retarded outgrowth when p75NTR is present. Colocalization of p75NTR and MAG binding is seen in neurons. Ganglioside GT1b, which is one of the binding partners of MAG, specifically associates with p75NTR. Thus, p75NTR and GT1b may form a receptor complex for MAG to transmit the inhibitory signals in neurons.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document