scholarly journals Effects of cell tension on the small GTPase Rac

2002 ◽  
Vol 158 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Katsumi ◽  
Julie Milanini ◽  
William B. Kiosses ◽  
Miguel A. del Pozo ◽  
Roland Kaunas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
Cell Movement ◽  
Cell Polarization ◽  
Mechanical Stresses ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
The Body ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Biochemical Signals ◽  
Constitutively Active

Cells in the body are subjected to mechanical stresses such as tension, compression, and shear stress. These mechanical stresses play important roles in both physiological and pathological processes; however, mechanisms transducing mechanical stresses into biochemical signals remain elusive. Here, we demonstrated that equibiaxial stretch inhibited lamellipodia formation through deactivation of Rac. Nearly maximal effects on Rac activity were obtained with 10% strain. GAP-resistant, constitutively active V12Rac reversed this inhibition, supporting a critical role for Rac inhibition in the response to stretch. In contrast, activation of endogenous Rac with a constitutively active nucleotide exchange factor did not, suggesting that regulation of GAP activity most likely mediates the inhibition. Uniaxial stretch suppressed lamellipodia along the sides lengthened by stretch and increased it at the adjacent ends. A fluorescence assay for localized Rac showed comparable changes in activity along the sides versus the ends after uniaxial stretch. Blocking polarization of Rac activity by expressing V12Rac prevented subsequent alignment of actin stress fibers. Treatment with Y-27632 or ML-7 that inhibits myosin phosphorylation and contractility increased lamellipodia through Rac activation and decreased cell polarization. We hypothesize that regulation of Rac activity by tension may be important for motility, polarization, and directionality of cell movement.

scholarly journals Activation of Cdc42 GTPase upon CRY2-Induced Cortical Recruitment Is Antagonized by GAPs in Fission Yeast

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 2089 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iker Lamas ◽  
Nathalie Weber ◽  
Sophie G. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Positive Feedback ◽  
Antagonistic Activity ◽  
Cell Polarization ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Gtpase Activating Protein ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Cell Architecture

The small GTPase Cdc42 is critical for cell polarization in eukaryotic cells. In rod-shaped fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells, active GTP-bound Cdc42 promotes polarized growth at cell poles, while inactive Cdc42-GDP localizes ubiquitously also along cell sides. Zones of Cdc42 activity are maintained by positive feedback amplification involving the formation of a complex between Cdc42-GTP, the scaffold Scd2, and the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Scd1, which promotes the activation of more Cdc42. Here, we use the CRY2-CIB1 optogenetic system to recruit and cluster a cytosolic Cdc42 variant at the plasma membrane and show that this leads to its moderate activation also on cell sides. Surprisingly, Scd2, which binds Cdc42-GTP, is still recruited to CRY2-Cdc42 clusters at cell sides in individual deletion of the GEFs Scd1 or Gef1. We show that activated Cdc42 clusters at cell sides are able to recruit Scd1, dependent on the scaffold Scd2. However, Cdc42 activity is not amplified by positive feedback and does not lead to morphogenetic changes, due to antagonistic activity of the GTPase activating protein Rga4. Thus, the cell architecture is robust to moderate activation of Cdc42 at cell sides.

scholarly journals Insulin Stimulates Phosphatidylinositol 3-Phosphate Production via the Activation of Rab5

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 2718-2728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irfan J. Lodhi ◽  
Dave Bridges ◽  
Shian-Huey Chiang ◽  
Yanling Zhang ◽  
Alan Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Glucose Uptake ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Glut4 Translocation ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Exchange Factor ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Phosphatidylinositol 3

Phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI(3)P) plays an important role in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Insulin promotes the production of PI(3)P at the plasma membrane by a process dependent on TC10 activation. Here, we report that insulin-stimulated PI(3)P production requires the activation of Rab5, a small GTPase that plays a critical role in phosphoinositide synthesis and turnover. This activation occurs at the plasma membrane and is downstream of TC10. TC10 stimulates Rab5 activity via the recruitment of GAPEX-5, a VPS9 domain–containing guanyl nucleotide exchange factor that forms a complex with TC10. Although overexpression of plasma membrane-localized GAPEX-5 or constitutively active Rab5 promotes PI(3)P formation, knockdown of GAPEX-5 or overexpression of a dominant negative Rab5 mutant blocks the effects of insulin or TC10 on this process. Concomitant with its effect on PI(3)P levels, the knockdown of GAPEX-5 blocks insulin-stimulated Glut4 translocation and glucose uptake. Together, these studies suggest that the TC10/GAPEX-5/Rab5 axis mediates insulin-stimulated production of PI(3)P, which regulates trafficking of Glut4 vesicles.

scholarly journals PLEKHG3 enhances polarized cell migration by activating actin filaments at the cell front

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (36) ◽  
pp. 10091-10096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trang Thi Thu Nguyen ◽  
Wei Sun Park ◽  
Byung Ouk Park ◽  
Cha Yeon Kim ◽  
Yohan Oh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Feedback ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Cell Polarization ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Cell Front ◽  
Control Protein

Cells migrate by directing Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) and cell division control protein 42 (Cdc42) activities and by polymerizing actin toward the leading edge of the cell. Previous studies have proposed that this polarization process requires a local positive feedback in the leading edge involving Rac small GTPase and actin polymerization with PI3K likely playing a coordinating role. Here, we show that the pleckstrin homology and RhoGEF domain containing G3 (PLEKHG3) is a PI3K-regulated Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor (RhoGEF) for Rac1 and Cdc42 that selectively binds to newly polymerized actin at the leading edge of migrating fibroblasts. Optogenetic inactivation of PLEKHG3 showed that PLEKHG3 is indispensable both for inducing and for maintaining cell polarity. By selectively binding to newly polymerized actin, PLEKHG3 promotes local Rac1/Cdc42 activation to induce more local actin polymerization, which in turn promotes the recruitment of more PLEKHG3 to induce and maintain cell front. Thus, autocatalytic reinforcement of PLEKHG3 localization to the leading edge of the cell provides a molecular basis for the proposed positive feedback loop that is required for cell polarization and directed migration.

Microtubules-associated Rac regulation of endothelial barrier: a role of Asef in acute lung injury

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (8) ◽  
pp. 1089-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pratap Karki ◽  
Anna A Birukova
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
Endothelial Permeability ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Endothelial Barrier ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Lung Injuries

The endothelial barrier function regulated by the cytoskeletal reorganizations has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple lung diseases including asthma, sepsis, edema, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The extensive studies have established that activation of small GTPase Rac is a key mechanism in endothelial barrier protection but the role of microtubules-associated Rac in the endothelial functions remains poorly understood. With the emerging evidences that microtubules disassembly also plays a critical role in actin cytoskeleton remodeling leading to endothelial permeability, the knowledge on microtubules-mediated regulation of endothelial barrier is imperative to better understand the etiology of lung injuries as well as to develop novel therapeutics against these disorders. In this regard, our recent studies have revealed some novel aspects of microtubules-mediated regulation of endothelial barrier functions and unraveled a putative role of Rac-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor Asef in mediating the barrier protective effects of hepatocyte growth factor. In this review, we will discuss the role of this novel Rac activator Asef in endothelial barrier protection and its regulation by microtubules.

scholarly journals Clustering-mediated activation of Cdc42 GTPase antagonized by GAPs in fission yeast

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iker Lamas ◽  
Nathalie Weber ◽  
Sophie G Martin
Keyword(s):  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Positive Feedback ◽  
Antagonistic Activity ◽  
Cell Polarization ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Gtpase Activating Protein ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Cell Architecture

AbstractThe small GTPase Cdc42 is critical for cell polarization in eukaryotic cells. In rod-shaped fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells, active GTP-bound Cdc42 promotes polarized growth at cell poles, while inactive Cdc42-GDP localizes ubiquitously also along cell sides. Zones of Cdc42 activity are maintained by positive feedback amplification involving the formation of a complex between Cdc42-GTP, the scaffold Scd2 and the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Scd1, which promotes the activation of more Cdc42. Here, we use the CRY2-CIB1 optogenetic system to recruit and cluster a cytosolic Cdc42 allele at the plasma membrane and show that this leads to its moderate activation also on cell sides. Surprisingly, activation of CRY2-Cdc42 does not individually depend on Scd1 or the GEF Gef1. We show that activated Cdc42 clusters at cell sides are able to recruit Scd1, dependent on the scaffold Scd2. However, Cdc42 activity is not amplified by positive feedback and does not lead to morphogenetic changes, due to antagonistic activity of the GTPase activating protein Rga4 on cell sides. Thus, the cell architecture is robust to moderate activation of Cdc42 at cell sides.

scholarly journals A Two-Tiered Mechanism Enables Localized Cdc42 Signaling during Enterocyte Polarization

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas J. M. Bruurs ◽  
Susan Zwakenberg ◽  
Mirjam C. van der Net ◽  
Fried J. Zwartkruis ◽  
Johannes L. Bos
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Apical Membrane ◽  
Cell Polarization ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Differential Diffusion ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Dual Mechanism

ABSTRACT Signaling by the small GTPase Cdc42 governs a diverse set of cellular processes that contribute to tissue morphogenesis. Since these processes often require highly localized signaling, Cdc42 activity must be clustered in order to prevent ectopic signaling. During cell polarization, apical Cdc42 signaling directs the positioning of the nascent apical membrane. However, the molecular mechanisms that drive Cdc42 clustering during polarity establishment are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that during cell polarization localized Cdc42 signaling is enabled via activity-dependent control of Cdc42 mobility. By performing photoconversion experiments, we show that inactive Cdc42-GDP is 30-fold more mobile than active Cdc42-GTP. This switch in apical mobility originates from a dual mechanism involving RhoGDI-mediated membrane dissociation of Cdc42-GDP and Tuba-mediated immobilization of Cdc42-GTP. Interference with either mechanism affects Cdc42 clustering and as a consequence impairs Cdc42-mediated apical membrane clustering. We therefore identify a molecular network, comprised of Cdc42, the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Tuba, and RhoGDI, that enables differential diffusion of inactive and active Cdc42 and is required to establish localized Cdc42 signaling during enterocyte polarization.

Cell Delivery and Recirculation

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Mark Saltzman
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Engineering ◽  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Cell Movement ◽  
The Body ◽  
Associated Proteins ◽  
Adult Organism ◽  
Adenine Deaminase

Perhaps the simplest realization of tissue engineering involves the direct administration of a suspension of engineered cells—cells that have been isolated, characterized, manipulated, and amplified outside of the body. One can imagine engineering diverse and useful properties into the injected cells: functional enzymes, secretion of drugs, resistance to immune recognition, and growth control. We are most familiar with methods for manipulating the cell internal chemistry by introduction or removal of genes; for example, the first gene therapy experiments involved cells that were engineered to produce a deficient enzyme, adenine deaminase (see Chapter 2). But genes also encode systems that enable cell movement, cell mechanics, and cell adhesion. Conceivably, these systems can be modified to direct the interactions of an administered cell with its new host. For example, cell adhesion signals could be introduced to provide tissue targeting, cytoskeleton-associated proteins could be added to alter viscosity and deformability (in order to prolong circulation time), and motor proteins could be added to facilitate cell migration. Ideally, cell fate would also be engineered, so that the cell would move to the appropriate location in the body, no matter how it was administered; for example, transfused liver cells would circulate in the blood and, eventually, crawl into the liver parenchyma. Cells find their place in developing organisms by a variety of chemotactic and adhesive signals, but can these same signaling mechanisms be engaged to target cells administered to an adult organism? We have already considered the critical role of cell movement in development in Chapter 3. In this chapter, the utility of cell trafficking in tissue engineering is approached by first considering the normal role of cell recirculation and trafficking within the adult organism. Most cells can be easily introduced into the body by intravenous injection or infusion. This procedure is particularly appropriate for cells that function within the circulation; for example, red blood cells (RBCs) and lymphocytes. The first blood transfusions into humans were performed by Jean-Baptiste Denis, a French physician, in 1667. This early appearance of transfusion is startling, since the circulatory system was described by William Harvey only a few decades earlier, in 1628.

scholarly journals Development of Noonan syndrome by deregulation of allosteric SOS autoactivation

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (39) ◽  
pp. 13651-13663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hope Gloria Umutesi ◽  
Hanh My Hoang ◽  
Hope Elizabeth Johnson ◽  
Kwangho Nam ◽  
Jongyun Heo
Keyword(s):  
Noonan Syndrome ◽  
Genetic Disorder ◽  
Active Form ◽  
The Body ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Allosteric Site ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Son Of Sevenless ◽  
Ras Family

Ras family proteins play an essential role in several cellular functions, including growth, differentiation, and survival. The mechanism of action of Ras mutants in Costello syndrome and cancers has been identified, but the contribution of Ras mutants to Noonan syndrome, a genetic disorder that prevents normal development in various parts of the body, is unknown. Son of Sevenless (SOS) is a Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor. In response to Ras-activating cell signaling, SOS autoinhibition is released and is followed by accelerative allosteric feedback autoactivation. Here, using mutagenesis-based kinetic and pulldown analyses, we show that Noonan syndrome Ras mutants I24N, T50I, V152G, and D153V deregulate the autoactivation of SOS to populate their active form. This previously unknown process has been linked so far only to the development of Noonan syndrome. In contrast, other Noonan syndrome Ras mutants—V14I, T58I, and G60E—populate their active form by deregulation of the previously documented Ras GTPase activities. We propose a novel mechanism responsible for the deregulation of SOS autoactivation, where I24N, T50I, V152G, and D153V Ras mutants evade SOS autoinhibition. Consequently, they are capable of forming a complex with the SOS allosteric site, thus aberrantly promoting SOS autoactivation, resulting in the population of active Ras mutants in cells. The results of this study elucidate the molecular mechanism of the Ras mutant–mediated development of Noonan syndrome.

scholarly journals ARHGEF7 (β-PIX) Is Required for the Maintenance of Podocyte Architecture and Glomerular Function

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 996-1008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Matsuda ◽  
Mirela Maier ◽  
Lamine Aoudjit ◽  
Cindy Baldwin ◽  
Tomoko Takano
Keyword(s):  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Glomerular Function ◽  
Exchange Factor ◽  
Guanine Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor

BackgroundPrevious studies showed that Cdc42, a member of the prototypical Rho family of small GTPases and a regulator of the actin cytoskeleton, is critical for the normal development and health of podocytes. However, upstream regulatory mechanisms for Cdc42 activity in podocytes are largely unknown.MethodsWe used a proximity-based ligation assay, BioID, to identify guanine nucleotide exchange factors that activate Cdc42 in immortalized human podocytes. We generated podocyte-specific ARHGEF7 (commonly known as β-PIX) knockout mice by crossing β-PIX floxed mice with Podocin-Cre mice. Using shRNA, we established cultured mouse podocytes with β-PIX knockdown and their controls.ResultsWe identified β-PIX as a predominant guanine nucleotide exchange factor that interacts with Cdc42 in human podocytes. Podocyte-specific β-PIX knockout mice developed progressive proteinuria and kidney failure with global or segmental glomerulosclerosis in adulthood. Glomerular podocyte density gradually decreased in podocyte-specific β-PIX knockout mice, indicating podocyte loss. Compared with controls, glomeruli from podocyte-specific β-PIX knockout mice and cultured mouse podocytes with β-PIX knockdown exhibited significant reduction in Cdc42 activity. Loss of β-PIX promoted podocyte apoptosis, which was mediated by the reduced activity of the prosurvival transcriptional regulator Yes-associated protein.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that β-PIX is required for the maintenance of podocyte architecture and glomerular function via Cdc42 and its downstream Yes-associated protein activities. This appears to be the first evidence that a Rho–guanine nucleotide exchange factor plays a critical role in podocytes.

scholarly journals Kalirin Interacts with TRAPP and Regulates Rab11 and Endosomal Recycling

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1132
Author(s):  
Xiaolong Wang ◽  
Meiqian Weng ◽  
Yuting Ke ◽  
Ellen Sapp ◽  
Marian DiFiglia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Cell Movement ◽  
Mass Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Vesicle Budding ◽  
Recycling Endosomes ◽  
Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange Factor ◽  
Elevated Expression

Coordinated actions of Rab and Rho are necessary for numerous essential cellular processes ranging from vesicle budding to whole cell movement. How Rab and Rho are choreographed is poorly understood. Here, we report a protein complex comprised of kalirin, a Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activating Rac1, and RabGEF transport protein particle (TRAPP). Kalirin was identified in a mass spectrometry analysis of proteins precipitated by trappc4 and detected on membranous organelles containing trappc4. Acute knockdown of kalirin did not affect trappc4, but significantly reduced overall and membrane-bound levels of trappc9, which specifies TRAPP toward activating Rab11. Trappc9 deficiency led to elevated expression of kalirin in neurons. Co-localization of kalirin and Rab11 occurred at a low frequency in NRK cells under steady state and was enhanced upon expressing an inactive Rab11 mutant to prohibit the dissociation of Rab11 from the kalirin-TRAPP complex. The small RNA-mediated depletion of kalirin diminished activities in cellular membranes for activating Rab11 and resulted in a shift in size of Rab11 positive structures from small to larger ones and tubulation of recycling endosomes. Our study suggests that kalirin and TRAPP form a dual GEF complex to choreograph actions of Rab11 and Rac1 at recycling endosomes.

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