Rho GTPase Activating Protein 9 (ARHGAP9) in Human Cancers

Author(s):  
Wenping Song ◽  
Jinhua Chen ◽  
Shuolei Li ◽  
Ding Li ◽  
Yongna Zhang ◽  
...  

Background: In recent years, targeted therapy combined with traditional chemoradiotherapy and surgery has brought new opportunities for cancer treatment. However, the complex characteristics of cancer, such as heterogeneity and diversity, limit the clinical success of targeted drugs. The discovery of new cancer targets and deepening the understanding of their functional mechanisms will bring additional promising application prospects for the research and development of personalized cancer-targeted drugs. Objective: This study aimed to summarize the role of the Rho GTPase activating protein 9 (ARHGAP9) gene in tumorigenesis and development to discover therapeutic targets for cancer in the future. Methods: For this review, we collected patents from the databases of Espacenet and WIPO and articles from PubMed that were related to the ARHGAP9 gene. Results: Genetic/epigenetic variations and abnormal expression of the ARHGAP9 gene are closely associated with a variety of diseases, including cancer. ARHGAP9 can inactivate Rho GTPases by hydrolyzing GTP into GDP and regulate cancer cellular events, including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, migration and invasion, by inhibiting JNK/ERK/p38 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. In addition to reviewing these mechanisms, we assessed various patents on ARHGAP9 to determine whether ARHGAP9 might be used as a predictive biomarker for diagnosis/prognosis evaluation and a druggable target for cancer treatment. Conclusion: In this review, the current knowledge of ARHGAP9 in cancer is summarized with an emphasis on its molecular function, regulatory mechanism and disease implications. Its characterization is crucial to understanding its important roles during different stages of cancer progression and therapy as a predictive biomarker and/or target.

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiyoung Jung ◽  
Suk Ran Yoon ◽  
Jeewon Lim ◽  
Hee Jun Cho ◽  
Hee Gu Lee

Rho GTPases play central roles in numerous cellular processes, including cell motility, cell polarity, and cell cycle progression, by regulating actin cytoskeletal dynamics and cell adhesion. Dysregulation of Rho GTPase signaling is observed in a broad range of human cancers, and is associated with cancer development and malignant phenotypes, including metastasis and chemoresistance. Rho GTPase activity is precisely controlled by guanine nucleotide exchange factors, GTPase-activating proteins, and guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors. Recent evidence demonstrates that it is also regulated by post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and sumoylation. Here, we review the current knowledge on the role of Rho GTPases, and the precise mechanisms controlling their activity in the regulation of cancer progression. In addition, we discuss targeting strategies for the development of new drugs to improve cancer therapy.


Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cho ◽  
Kim ◽  
Baek ◽  
Kim ◽  
Lee

Rho GDP dissociation inhibitors (RhoGDIs) play important roles in various cellular processes, including cell migration, adhesion, and proliferation, by regulating the functions of the Rho GTPase family. Dissociation of Rho GTPases from RhoGDIs is necessary for their spatiotemporal activation and is dynamically regulated by several mechanisms, such as phosphorylation, sumoylation, and protein interaction. The expression of RhoGDIs has changed in many human cancers and become associated with the malignant phenotype, including migration, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to anticancer agents. Here, we review how RhoGDIs control the function of Rho GTPases by regulating their spatiotemporal activity and describe the regulatory mechanisms of the dissociation of Rho GTPases from RhoGDIs. We also discuss the role of RhoGDIs in cancer progression and their potential uses for therapeutic intervention.


2010 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 3232-3246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Ting Zhou ◽  
Li Li Chew ◽  
Sheng-cai Lin ◽  
Boon Chuan Low

The BNIP-2 and Cdc42GAP homology (BCH) domain is a novel regulator for Rho GTPases, but its impact on p50-Rho GTPase-activating protein (p50RhoGAP or Cdc42GAP) in cells remains elusive. Here we show that deletion of the BCH domain from p50RhoGAP enhanced its GAP activity and caused drastic cell rounding. Introducing constitutively active RhoA or inactivating GAP domain blocked such effect, whereas replacing the BCH domain with endosome-targeting SNX3 excluded requirement of endosomal localization in regulating the GAP activity. Substitution with homologous BCH domain from Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which does not bind mammalian RhoA, also led to complete loss of suppression. Interestingly, the p50RhoGAP BCH domain only targeted RhoA, but not Cdc42 or Rac1, and it was unable to distinguish between GDP and the GTP-bound form of RhoA. Further mutagenesis revealed a RhoA-binding motif (residues 85-120), which when deleted, significantly reduced BCH inhibition on GAP-mediated cell rounding, whereas its full suppression also required an intramolecular interaction motif (residues 169-197). Therefore, BCH domain serves as a local modulator in cis to sequester RhoA from inactivation by the adjacent GAP domain, adding to a new paradigm for regulating p50RhoGAP signaling.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 3949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pontus Aspenström

Involvement of Rho GTPases in cancer has been a matter of debate since the identification of the first members of this branch of the Ras superfamily of small GTPases. The Rho GTPases were ascribed important roles in the cell, although these were restricted to regulation of cytoskeletal dynamics, cell morphogenesis, and cell locomotion, with initially no clear indications of direct involvement in cancer progression. This paradigm has been challenged by numerous observations that Rho-regulated pathways are often dysregulated in cancers. More recently, identification of point mutants in the Rho GTPases Rac1, RhoA, and Cdc42 in human tumors has finally given rise to a new paradigm, and we can now state with confidence that Rho GTPases serve as oncogenes in several human cancers. This article provides an exposé of current knowledge of the roles of activated Rho GTPases in cancers.


Author(s):  
Fabienne Podieh ◽  
Peter L. Hordijk

Cullin3-based ubiquitin E3 ligases induce ubiquitination of substrates leading to their proteasomal or lysosomal degradation. BTB proteins serve as adaptors by binding to Cullin3 and recruiting substrate proteins, which enables specific recognition of a broad spectrum of targets. Hence, Cullin3 and its adaptors are involved in myriad cellular processes and organ functions. Cullin3-based ubiquitin E3 ligase complexes target small GTPases of the Rho subfamily, which are key regulators of cytoskeletal dynamics and cell adhesion. In this mini review, we discuss recent insights in Cullin3-mediated regulation of Rho GTPases and their impact on cellular function and disease. Intriguingly, upstream regulators of Rho GTPases are targeted by Cullin3 complexes as well. Thus, Rho GTPase signaling is regulated by Cullin3 on multiple levels. In addition, we address current knowledge of Cullin3 in regulating vascular function, focusing on its prominent role in endothelial barrier function, angiogenesis and the regulation of blood pressure.


2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (24) ◽  
pp. 8721-8734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeshi Nakamura ◽  
Misako Komiya ◽  
Kiyoaki Sone ◽  
Eiji Hirose ◽  
Noriko Gotoh ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Neurotrophins are key regulators of the fate and shape of neuronal cells and act as guidance cues for growth cones by remodeling the actin cytoskeleton. Actin dynamics is controlled by Rho GTPases. We identified a novel Rho GTPase-activating protein (Grit) for Rho/Rac/Cdc42 small GTPases. Grit was abundant in neuronal cells and directly interacted with TrkA, a high-affinity receptor for nerve growth factor (NGF). Another pool of Grit was recruited to the activated receptor tyrosine kinase through its binding to N-Shc and CrkL/Crk, adapter molecules downstream of activated receptor tyrosine kinases. Overexpression of the TrkA-binding region of Grit inhibited NGF-induced neurite elongation. Further, we found some tendency for neurite promotion in full-length Grit-overexpressing PC12 cells upon NGF stimulation. These results suggest that Grit, a novel TrkA-interacting protein, regulates neurite outgrowth by modulating the Rho family of small GTPases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana V. Denisenko ◽  
Vladimir Gogvadze ◽  
Boris Zhivotovsky

AbstractIn order to maintain a functional mitochondrial network, cells have developed a quality control mechanism, namely mitophagy. This process can be induced through different pathways. The most studied is the so-called PINK1/Parkin pathway, which is associated with ubiquitylation of several mitochondrial proteins that were initially found to be related to Parkinson’s disease. Another type of mitophagy is known as receptor-mediated mitophagy, which includes proteins, such as BNIP3 and BNIP3L, also known as Nix. Through these two mechanisms, mitophagy fulfills its functions and maintains cellular homeostasis. Here, we summarize the current knowledge about the mechanisms of mitophagy regulation and their interplay with cancer progression as well as anticancer treatment.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katerina Strouhalova ◽  
Magdalena Přechová ◽  
Aneta Gandalovičová ◽  
Jan Brábek ◽  
Martin Gregor ◽  
...  

Intermediate filaments constitute the third component of the cellular skeleton. Unlike actin and microtubule cytoskeletons, the intermediate filaments are composed of a wide variety of structurally related proteins showing distinct expression patterns in tissues and cell types. Changes in the expression patterns of intermediate filaments are often associated with cancer progression; in particular with phenotypes leading to increased cellular migration and invasion. In this review we will describe the role of vimentin intermediate filaments in cancer cell migration, cell adhesion structures, and metastasis formation. The potential for targeting vimentin in cancer treatment and the development of drugs targeting vimentin will be reviewed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Da Ma ◽  
Jun Jing ◽  
Jun-Wei Wang ◽  
Xue-Pei Zhang ◽  
Qian-Hua Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may cause articular damage as a result of its aggressive features including direct adhesion and invasion of surface cartilage in joints. Artemether (ART), one of the artemisinin derivatives with antimalarial properties, showed inhibitory effect on inflammation and destruction of joints in collagen-induced arthritis rats, which might be applied in RA treatment. However, whether ART has effects on the aggressive properties of human RA-FLS remains unexplored. Methods: Synovium was obtained from patients with active RA (n=18) and FLS were isolated in vitro. RA-FLS were subjected to cell migration, invasion assays, live-cell imaging analysis and Rho GTPase activation assay after ART treatment. To identify the therapeutic target of ART, key signaling molecules of PI3K/Akt, AMPK, MAPK, NF-κB and mTOR pathways from RA-FLS were examined by Western Blot after ART treatment. Raptor was knockdown or overexpressed by siRNA or lentivirus transfection to reveal its role on regulating the aggressive properties of RA-FLS.Results: ART treatment significantly suppressed the transwell migration and invasion of synovial FLS from RA patients. Time-lapse microscopy revealed that ART treatment reduced random migration velocity of RA-FLS, as well as the directional persistence. ART also impaired the formation of filopodia and lamellipodia in RA-FLS. Further mechanism investigation showed that ART reduced the protein level of Raptor, a critical component of the mTOR pathway, and its downstream target 4E-BP1. It also inhibited the activation of Rho GTPases and the expression of actin binding proteins, including Profilin 1 and p-Cofilin. Raptor overexpression could reverse the anti-migration and anti-invasion effects of ART on RA-FLS as well as the suppression of Rho GTPases activation and the expression of actin binding proteins. Conclusion: ART can inhibit migration of RA-FLS by blocking Raptor-induced actin polymerization. ART might be a potential agent targeting FLS in RA treatment.


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