Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: UNIPROT:O15085 (PDZ-RhoGEF)
91 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Small GTP-binding proteins of the Rho family play a critical role in signal transduction. However, there is still very limited information on how they are activated by cell surface receptors. Here, we used a consensus sequence for Dbl domains of Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) to search DNA data bases, and identified a novel human GEF for Rho-related GTPases harboring structural features indicative of its possible regulatory mechanism(s). This protein contained a tandem DH/PH domain closely related to those of Rho-specific GEFs, a PDZ domain, a proline-rich domain, and an area of homology to Lsc, p115-RhoGEF, and a Drosophila RhoGEF that was termed Lsc-homology (LH) domain. This novel molecule, designated PDZ-RhoGEF, activated biological and biochemical pathways specific for Rho, and activation of these pathways required an intact DH and PH domain. However, the PDZ domain was dispensable for these functions, and mutants lacking the LH domain were more active, suggesting a negative regulatory role for the LH domain. A search for additional molecules exhibiting an LH domain revealed a limited homology with the catalytic region of a newly identified GTPase-activating protein for heterotrimeric G proteins, RGS14. This prompted us to investigate whether PDZ-RhoGEF could interact with representative members of each G protein family. We found that PDZ-RhoGEF was able to form, in vivo, stable complexes with two members of the Galpha12 family, Galpha12 and Galpha13, and that this interaction was mediated by the LH domain. Furthermore, we obtained evidence to suggest that PDZ-RhoGEF mediates the activation of Rho by Galpha12 and Galpha13. Together, these findings suggest the existence of a novel mechanism whereby the large family of cell surface receptors that transmit signals through heterotrimeric G proteins activate Rho-dependent pathways: by stimulating the activity of members of the Galpha12 family which, in turn, activate an exchange factor acting on Rho.
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PMID:A novel PDZ domain containing guanine nucleotide exchange factor links heterotrimeric G proteins to Rho. 1002 10

Leukemia-associated Rho guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (LARG) belongs to the subfamily of Dbl homology RhoGEF proteins (including p115 RhoGEF and PDZ-RhoGEF) that possess amino-terminal regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) boxes also found within GTPase-accelerating proteins (GAPs) for heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunits. p115 RhoGEF stimulates the intrinsic GTP hydrolysis activity of G alpha 12/13 subunits and acts as an effector for G13-coupled receptors by linking receptor activation to RhoA activation. The presence of RGS box and Dbl homology domains within LARG suggests this protein may also function as a GAP toward specific G alpha subunits and couple G alpha activation to RhoA-mediating signaling pathways. Unlike the RGS box of p115 RhoGEF, the RGS box of LARG interacts not only with G alpha 12 and G alpha 13 but also with G alpha q. In cellular coimmunoprecipitation studies, the LARG RGS box formed stable complexes with the transition state mimetic forms of G alpha q, G alpha 12, and G alpha 13. Expression of the LARG RGS box diminished the transforming activity of oncogenic G protein-coupled receptors (Mas, G2A, and m1-muscarinic cholinergic) coupled to G alpha q and G alpha 13. Activated G alpha q, as well as G alpha 12 and G alpha 13, cooperated with LARG and caused synergistic activation of RhoA, suggesting that all three G alpha subunits stimulate LARG-mediated activation of RhoA. Our findings suggest that the RhoA exchange factor LARG, unlike the related p115 RhoGEF and PDZ-RhoGEF proteins, can serve as an effector for Gq-coupled receptors, mediating their functional linkage to RhoA-dependent signaling pathways.
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PMID:Leukemia-associated Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor promotes G alpha q-coupled activation of RhoA. 1202 19

Semaphorins are axon guidance molecules that signal through the plexin family of receptors. Semaphorins also play a role in other processes such as immune regulation and tumorigenesis. However, the molecular signaling mechanisms downstream of plexin receptors have not been elucidated. Semaphorin 4D is the ligand for the plexin-B1 receptor and stimulation of the plexin-B1 receptor activates the small GTPase RhoA. Using the intracellular domain of plexin-B1 as an affinity ligand, two Rho-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factors, leukemia-associated Rho GEF (LARG; GEF, guanine nucleotide exchange factors) and PSD-95/Dlg/ZO-1 homology (PDZ)-RhoGEF, were isolated from mouse brain as plexin-B1-specific interacting proteins. LARG and PDZ-RhoGEF contain several functional domains, including a PDZ domain. Biochemical characterizations showed that the PDZ domain of LARG is directly involved in the interaction with the carboxy-terminal sequence of plexin-B1. Mutation of either the PDZ domain in LARG or the PDZ binding site in plexin-B1 eliminates the interaction. The interaction between plexin-B1 and LARG is specific for the PDZ domain of LARG and LARG does not interact with plexin-A1. A LARG-interaction defective mutant of the plexin-B1 receptor was created and was unable to stimulate RhoA activation. The data in this report suggest that LARG plays a critical role in plexin-B1 signaling to stimulate Rho activation and cytoskeletal reorganization.
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PMID:The semaphorin receptor plexin-B1 signals through a direct interaction with the Rho-specific nucleotide exchange factor, LARG. 1219 28

Given recent efforts to determine the sequence information on thousands of genes in the human genome, the current challenge is to identify the functions of these genes, including those encoding the regulator of G-protein signaling protein gene superfamily, and to establish their roles in particular signaling pathways in a native system. Increasingly, reverse genetic approaches are being used to address these questions. This article compares two powerful approaches [ribozyme and "short interfering" RNA (siRNA) techniques] under identical conditions for the first report on the suppression of endogenous RGS domain-containing RhoGEFs. The siRNA technique was found to be much more potent than ribozyme targeting at the same mRNA site of RGS-RhoGEFs. Also, the three siRNAs targeting LARG, PDZ-RhoGEF, and p115-RhoGEF are able to discriminate the closely related sequences within this RGS-RhoGEF gene family.
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PMID:Ribozyme- and siRNA-mediated suppression of RGS-containing RhoGEF proteins. 1531 70

In this study we have examined the interaction of CD44 (a major hyaluronan (HA) receptor) with a RhoA-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor (leukemia-associated RhoGEF (LARG)) in human head and neck squamous carcinoma cells (HNSCC-HSC-3 cell line). Immunoprecipitation and immunoblot analyses indicate that CD44 and the LARG protein are expressed in HSC-3 cells and that these two proteins are physically associated as a complex. HA-CD44 binding induces LARG-specific RhoA signaling and phospholipase C epsilon (PLC epsilon) activity. In particular, the activation of RhoA-PLC epsilon by HA stimulates inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate production, intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, and the up-regulation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII), leading to phosphorylation of the cytoskeletal protein, filamin. The phosphorylation of filamin reduces its interaction with filamentous actin, promoting tumor cell migration. The CD44-LARG complex also interacts with the EGF receptor (EGFR). Most importantly, the binding of HA to the CD44-LARG-EGFR complex activates the EGFR receptor kinase, which in turn promotes Ras-mediated stimulation of a downstream kinase cascade including the Raf-1 and ERK pathways leading to HNSCC cell growth. Using a recombinant fragment of LARG (the LARG-PDZ domain) and a binding assay, we have determined that the LARG-PDZ domain serves as a direct linker between CD44 and EGFR. Transfection of the HSC-3 cells with LARG-PDZcDNA significantly reduces LARG association with CD44 and EGFR. Overexpression of the LARG-PDZ domain also functions as a dominant-negative mutant (similar to the PLC/Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) and EGFR/MAPK inhibitor effects) to block HA/CD44-mediated signaling events (e.g. EGFR kinase activation, Ras/RhoA co-activation, Raf-ERK signaling, PLC epsilon-mediated inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate production, intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, CaMKII activity, filamin phosphorylation, and filamin-actin binding) and to abrogate tumor cell growth/migration. Taken together, our findings suggest that CD44 interaction with LARG and EGFR plays a pivotal role in Rho/Ras co-activation, PLC epsilon-Ca2+ signaling, and Raf/ERK up-regulation required for CaMKII-mediated cytoskeleton function and in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression.
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PMID:Hyaluronan-CD44 interaction with leukemia-associated RhoGEF and epidermal growth factor receptor promotes Rho/Ras co-activation, phospholipase C epsilon-Ca2+ signaling, and cytoskeleton modification in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells. 1656 89

The neuropeptides bombesin and endothelin-1 stimulate prostate cancer (PC) cell migration and invasion (J Clin Invest, 2000; 106: 1399-1407). The intracellular signaling pathways that direct this cell movement are not well delineated. The monomeric GTPase RhoA is required for migration in several cell types including neutrophils, monocytes and fibroblasts. We demonstrate that bombesin-stimulated PC cell migration occurs via the heterotrimeric G-protein-coupled receptors (G-protein) G alpha 13 subunit leading to activation of RhoA, and Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase (ROCK). Using siRNA to suppress expression of the three known G-protein alpha-subunit-associated RhoA guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), we also show that two of these RhoA GEFs, PDZ-RhoGEF and leukemia-associated RhoGEF (LARG), link bombesin receptors to RhoA in a non-redundant manner in PC cells. We next show that focal adhesion kinase, which activates PDZ-RhoGEF and LARG, is required for bombesin-stimulated RhoA activation. Neutral endopeptidase (NEP) is expressed on normal prostate epithelium whereas loss of NEP expression contributes to PC progression. We also demonstrate that NEP inhibits neuropeptide activation of RhoA. Together, these results establish a contiguous signaling pathway from the bombesin receptor to ROCK in PC cells, and they implicate NEP as a major regulator of neuropeptide-stimulated RhoA in these cells. This work also identifies members of this signaling pathway as potential targets for rational pharmacologic manipulation of neuropeptide-stimulated migration of PC cells.
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PMID:Neuropeptide-stimulated cell migration in prostate cancer cells is mediated by RhoA kinase signaling and inhibited by neutral endopeptidase. 1665 49

The strict spatio-temporal control of Rho GTPases is critical for many cellular functions, including cell motility, contractility, and growth. In this regard, the prototypical Rho family GTPases, Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 regulate the activity of each other by a still poorly understood mechanism. Indeed, we found that constitutively active forms of Rac inhibit stress fiber formation and Rho stimulation by thrombin. Surprisingly, a mutant of Rac that is unable to activate Pak1 failed to inhibit thrombin signaling to Rho. To explore the underlying mechanism, we investigated whether Pak1 could regulate guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) for Rho. We found that Pak1 associates with P115-RhoGEF but not with PDZ-RhoGEF or LARG, and knock down experiments revealed that P115-RhoGEF plays a major role in signaling from thrombin receptors to Rho in HEK293T cells. Pak1 binds the DH-PH domain of P115-RhoGEF, thus suggesting a mechanism by which Rac stimulation of Pak1 may disrupt receptor-dependent Rho signaling. In agreement, expression of a dominant-negative Pak-Inhibitory Domain potentiated the activation of Rho by thrombin, and prevented the inhibition of Rho by Rac. These findings indicate that Rac interferes with receptor-dependent Rho stimulation through Pak1, thus providing a mechanism for cross-talk between these two small-GTPases.
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PMID:Rac inhibits thrombin-induced Rho activation: evidence of a Pak-dependent GTPase crosstalk. 1722 83

We aimed to compare the expression and function of molecular components of the RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling pathway in the contractile responses of detrusor, trigonal and urethral smooth muscle, using selective Rho-kinase inhibitors. Contractility studies and molecular approaches were employed to demonstrate the expression patterns and functional activity of the RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling pathway in the lower urinary tract. Frequency-response curves (1-32 Hz) and concentration-response curves (CRC) to carbachol (CCh, 0.01-30 microM), phenylephrine (PE, 0.01-300 microM) and endothelin-1 (ET-1, 0.01-100 nM) were significantly attenuated (p<0.01) following incubation with the Rho-kinase inhibitors H-1152 (0.1-1 microM), Y-27632 (1-10 microM) or HA-1077 (10 microM). Addition of Rho-kinase inhibitors also markedly reduced (p<0.01) the contractions evoked by either KCl (80 mM) or alpha,beta-methylene ATP (alpha,beta-mATP, 10 microM). Among the Rho-kinase inhibitors tested, H-1152 was approximately 9-16 times more potent than Y-27632 or HA-1077. In addition, basal tone of detrusor and trigonal strips was reduced following addition of Y-27632 (10 microM), H-1152 (1 microM) and HA-1077 (10 microM). The expression of RhoA, RhoGDI, leukemia-associated RhoGEF (LARG) and p115RhoGEF was similar among the detrusor, trigone and urethra, whereas Rho-kinase alpha, Rho-kinase beta and PDZ-RhoGEF protein levels were significantly lower in the urethra. Components of the RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling are expressed in detrusor, trigonal and urethral smooth muscle and dynamically regulate contraction and tone. Manipulation of RhoGEF expression may provide further understanding of mechanisms involving Ca(2+) sensitization in the lower urinary tract.
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PMID:Comparative pharmacological analysis of Rho-kinase inhibitors and identification of molecular components of Ca2+ sensitization in the rat lower urinary tract. 1760 24

Exposure to ambient air pollution has been associated with increases in blood pressure. We have previously demonstrated activation of the Rho/Rho kinase pathway in experimental hypertension in rats. In this investigation, we evaluated the effects of particulate matter of < 2.5 microm (PM(2.5)) exposure on cardiovascular responses and remodeling and tested the effect of Rho kinase inhibition on these effects. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to concentrated ambient PM(2.5) or filtered air for 12 wk followed by a 14-day ANG II infusion in conjunction with fasudil, a Rho kinase antagonist, or placebo treatment. Blood pressure was monitored, followed by analysis of vascular function and ventricular remodeling indexes. PM(2.5) exposure potentiated ANG II-induced hypertension, and this effect was abolished by fasudil treatment. Cardiac and vascular RhoA activation was enhanced by PM(2.5) exposure along with increased expression of the guanine exchange factors (GEFs) PDZ-RhoGEF and p115 RhoGEF in PM(2.5)-exposed mice. Parallel with increased RhoA activation, PM(2.5) exposure increased ANG II-induced cardiac hypertrophy and collagen deposition, with these increases being normalized by fasudil treatment. In conclusion, PM(2.5) potentiates cardiac remodeling in response to ANG II through RhoA/Rho kinase-dependent mechanisms. These findings have implications for the chronic cardiovascular health effects of air pollution.
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PMID:Air pollution and cardiac remodeling: a role for RhoA/Rho-kinase. 1928 43

PDZ-RhoGEF is a member of the regulator family of G protein signaling (RGS) domain-containing RhoGEFs (RGS-RhoGEFs) that link activated heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunits of the G12 family to activation of the small GTPase RhoA. Unique among the RGS-RhoGEFs, PDZ-RhoGEF contains a short sequence that localizes the protein to the actin cytoskeleton. In this report, we demonstrate that the actin-binding domain, located between amino acids 561 and 585, directly binds to F-actin in vitro. Extensive mutagenesis identifies isoleucine 568, isoleucine 569, phenylalanine 572, and glutamic acid 573 as being necessary for binding to actin and for colocalization with the actin cytoskeleton in cells. These results define a novel actin-binding sequence in PDZ-RhoGEF with a critical amino acid motif of IIxxFE. Moreover, sequence analysis identifies a similar actin-binding motif in the N-terminus of the RhoGEF frabin, and as with PDZ-RhoGEF, mutagenesis and actin interaction experiments demonstrate an LIxxFE motif, consisting of the key amino acids leucine 23, isoleucine 24, phenylalanine 27, and glutamic acid 28. Taken together, results with PDZ-RhoGEF and frabin identify a novel actin-binding sequence. Lastly, inducible dimerization of the actin-binding region of PDZ-RhoGEF revealed a dimerization-dependent actin bundling activity in vitro. PDZ-RhoGEF exists in cells as a dimer, raising the possibility that PDZ-RhoGEF could influence actin structure in a manner independent of its ability to activate RhoA.
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PMID:The amino acid motif L/IIxxFE defines a novel actin-binding sequence in PDZ-RhoGEF. 1961 64


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