Post-translational processing of rac p21s is important both for their interaction with the GDP/GTP exchange proteins and for their activation of NADPH oxidase.

rac1 and rac2 p21s are ras p21-like small GTP-binding proteins which are implicated in the NADPH oxidase-catalyzed superoxide generation in phagocytes. rac1 and rac2 p21s have a Cys-A-A-Leu (A = aliphatic amino acid) structure in their C-terminal region which may undergo post-translational processing including prenylation, proteolysis, and carboxyl methylation. We studied the function of this post-translational processing of rac p21s in their interaction with the stimulatory and inhibitory GDP/GTP exchange proteins for rac p21s, named smg GDS and rho GDI, and in their NADPH oxidase activation. We produced human recombinant rac1 and rac2 p21s in insect cells and purified them from the membrane and soluble fractions as the post-translationally processed and unprocessed forms, respectively. Post-translationally processed rac1 and rac2 p21s were sensitive to both smg GDS and rho GDI, but post-translationally unprocessed rac1 and rac2 p21s were insensitive to them. The GTP gamma S (guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate)-bound form of post-translationally processed rac1 and rac2 p21s stimulated the NADPH oxidase activity, but post-translationally unprocessed rac1 and rac2 p21s were far less effective. These results indicate that both rac1 and rac2 p21s stimulate the NADPH oxidase activity and that their post-translational processing is important not only for their interaction with smg GDS and rho GDI but also for their NADPH oxidase activation.     

Regulation of the superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase by a small GTP-binding protein and its stimulatory and inhibitory GDP/GTP exchange proteins.

The superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase system in phagocytes consists of at least membrane-associated cytochrome b558 and three cytosolic components named SOCI/NCF-3/sigma 1/C1, SOCII/NCF-1/p47-phox, and SO-CIII/NCF-2/p67-phox. p47-phox and p67-phox were isolated, and their primary structures were determined, but SOCI has not been well characterized. In the present study, we first purified SOCI to homogeneity from the cytosol fraction of the differentiated HL-60 cells. The purified SOCI was a small GTP-binding protein (G protein) with a M(r) of about 22,000. The guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate-bound form, but not the GDP-bound form, of this small G protein showed the SOCI activity. The partial amino acid sequence of SOCI thus far determined was identical to the amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA encoding rac2 p21. None of the purified small G proteins, including Ki-ras p21, smg p21B/rap1B p21, rhoA p21, and rac1 p21, showed the SOCI activity. These results indicate that SOCI is a small G protein very similar, if not identical, to rac2 p21. The GDP/GTP exchange reaction of SOCI was stimulated and inhibited by stimulatory and inhibitory GDP/GTP exchange proteins for small G proteins, named smg GDS and rho GDI, respectively. The NADPH oxidase activity was also stimulated and inhibited by smg GDS and rho GDI, respectively. These results indicate that the superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase system is regulated by both smg GDS and rho GDI through rac2 p21 or the rac2-related small G protein in phagocytes.     

Rac GTPase interacts with GAPs and target proteins through multiple effector sites.

Rac, a small GTPase in the ras superfamily, regulates at least two biological processes in animal cells: (i) the polymerization of actin and the assembly of integrin complexes to produce lamellipodia and ruffles; and (ii) the activity of an NADPH oxidase in phagocytic cells. NADPH oxidase activation is mediated through a rac effector protein, p67phox, and using chimeras made between rac and the closely related GTPase, rho, we have identified two distinct effector sites in rac, one N-terminal and one C-terminal, both of which are required for activation of p67phox. The same two effector sites are essential for rac-induced actin polymerization in fibroblasts. p65PAK, a ubiquitous serine/threonine kinase, interacts with rac at both the N- and C-terminal effector sites, but the GTPase-activating protein, bcr interacts with rac at a different region. This makes p65PAK, but not bcr, a candidate effector of rac-induced lamellipodium formation.     

Direct interaction of actin with p47(phox) of neutrophil NADPH oxidase

The cell-free activation of human neutrophil NADPH oxidase is enhanced by actin, and actin filaments formed during activation are suggested to stabilize the oxidase. In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism, we examined the protein-protein interactions between actin and cytosolic components of the oxidase. Far-Western blotting using recombinant phox proteins showed that both alpha- and beta-actin interacted with p47(phox) and rac1, and weakly with rac2. A deletion mutant of p47(phox) proved that its C-terminal region was essential for the interaction. The dissociation constant (K(d)) for interaction between actin and p47(phox) was estimated to be 0.45 microM by surface plasmon resonance, and that between actin and rac1 or rac2 was 1.7 or 4.6 microM, respectively. Far-Western blotting using cytosol as a target showed an interaction between actin and endogenous p47(phox) and rac proteins. These results suggest that actin can directly interact with p47(phox) and possibly with rac in the cells.     

rac p21 is involved in insulin-induced membrane ruffling and rho p21 is involved in hepatocyte growth factor- and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced membrane ruffling in KB cells.

Insulin and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) induced morphologically different membrane rufflings in KB cells. Insulin-induced membrane ruffling was inhibited by microinjection of rho GDI, an inhibitory GDP/GTP exchange regulator for both rho p21 and rac p21 small GTP-binding proteins, but not inhibited by microinjection of botulinum exoenzyme C3, known to selectively ADP-ribosylate rho p21 and to impair its function. This rho GDI action was prevented by comicroinjection with guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S)-bound rac1 p21. In contrast, HGF-induced membrane ruffling was inhibited by microinjection of rho GDI or C3. This rho GDI action was prevented by comicroinjection with GTP gamma S-bound rhoA p21, and this C3 action was prevented by comicroinjection with GTP gamma S-bound rhoAIle-41 p21, which is resistant to C3. Microinjection of either GTP gamma S-bound rac1 p21 or rhoA p21 alone induced membrane ruffling in the absence of the growth factors. The rac1 p21-induced membrane ruffling was morphologically similar to the insulin-induced kind, whereas rhoA p21-induced ruffling was apparently different from both the insulin- and HGF-induced kinds. Membrane ruffling was also induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a protein kinase C-activating phorbol ester, but not by Ca2+ ionophore or microinjection of a dominant active Ki-ras p21 mutant (Ki-rasVal-12 p21). The phorbol ester-induced membrane ruffling was morphologically similar to the rhoA p21-induced kind and inhibited by microinjection of rho GDI or C3. These results indicate that rac p21 and rho GDI are involved in insulin-induced membrane ruffling and that rho p21 and rho GDI are involved in HGF- and phorbol ester-induced membrane rufflings.     

Both stimulatory and inhibitory GDP/GTP exchange proteins, smg GDS and rho GDI, are active on multiple small GTP-binding proteins.

Six peaks of small GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) were separated by column chromatographies from the cytosol fraction of the differentiated HL-60 cells: two peaks of rho p21, one peak of smg/rap1 p21, two peaks of rac1 p21, and one peak of an unidentified small G protein with a Mr of about 20,000 (20 KG). smg GDS, previously thought to be a stimulatory GDP/GTP exchange protein for smg p21, Ki-ras p21, and rho p21, but not for Ha-ras p21 or smg p25A, was also active on rac1 p21. rho GDI, previously thought to be an inhibitory GDP/GTP exchange protein specific for rho p21, was also active on rac1 p21. These results indicate that both smg GDS and rho GDI are active on multiple small G proteins.     

Yeast BUD5, encoding a putative GDP-GTP exchange factor, is necessary for bud site selection and interacts with bud formation gene BEM1

Cells of the yeast S. cerevisiae choose bud sites in an axial or bipolar spatial pattern depending on their cell type. We have identified a gene, BUD5, that resembles BUD1 and BUD2 in being required for both patterns; bud5- mutants also exhibit random budding in all cell types. The BUD5 nucleotide sequence predicts a protein of 538 amino acids that has similarity to the S. cerevisiae CDC25 product, an activator of RAS proteins that catalyzes GDP-GTP exchange. Two potential targets of BUD5 are known: BUD1 (RSR1) and CDC42, proteins involved in bud site selection and bud formation, respectively, that have extensive similarity to RAS. We also show that BUD5 interacts functionally with a gene, BEM1, that is required for bud formation. This interaction provides further support for the view that products involved in bud site selection guide the positioning of a complex necessary for bud formation.     

Regulation of neutrophil NADPH oxidase activation in a cell-free system by guanine nucleotides and fluoride. Evidence for participation of a pertussis and cholera toxin-insensitive G protein

Guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) transduce a remarkably diverse group of extracellular signals to a relatively limited number of intracellular target enzymes. In the neutrophil, transduction of the signal following fMet-Leu-Phe receptor-ligand interaction is mediated by a pertussis toxin substrate (Gi) that activates inositol-specific phospholipase C. We have utilized a plasma membrane-containing fraction from unstimulated human neutrophils as the target enzyme to explore the role of G proteins in arachidonate and cytosolic cofactor-dependent activation of the NADPH-dependent O-2-generating oxidase. When certain guanine nucleotides or their nonhydrolyzable analogues were present during arachidonate and cytosolic cofactor-dependent activation, they exerted substantial dose-dependent effects. The GTP analogue, GTP gamma S, caused a 2-fold increase in NADPH oxidase activation (half-maximal stimulation, 1.1 microM). Either GDP or its nonhydrolyzable analogue, GDP beta S, inhibited up to 80% of the basal NADPH oxidase activation (Ki GDP = 0.12 mM, GDP beta S = 0.23 mM). GTP caused only slight and variable stimulation, whereas F-, an agent known to promote the active conformation of G proteins, caused a 1.6-fold stimulation of NADPH oxidase activation. NADPH oxidase activation in the cell-free system was absolutely and specifically dependent on Mg2+. Although O2- production in response to fMet-Leu-Phe was inhibited greater than 90% in neutrophils pretreated with pertussis toxin, cytosolic cofactor and target oxidase membranes from neutrophils treated with pertussis toxin showed no change in basal- or GTP gamma S-stimulated NADPH oxidase activation. Cholera toxin treatment of neutrophils also had no effect on the cell-free activation system. Our results suggest a role for a G protein that is distinct from Gs or Gi in the arachidonate and cytosolic cofactor-dependent NADPH oxidase cell-free activation system.     

Resolution of a low molecular weight G protein in neutrophil cytosol required for NADPH oxidase activation and reconstitution by recombinant Krev-1 protein

Activation of the membrane-associated NADPH oxidase in intact human neutrophils requires a receptor-associated heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein that is sensitive to pertussis toxin. Activation of this NADPH oxidase by arachidonate in a cell-free system requires an additional downstream pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein (Gabig, T. G., English, D., Akard, L. P., and Schell, M. J. (1987) (J. Biol. Chem. 262, 1685-1690) that is located in the cytosolic fraction of unstimulated cells (Gabig, T. G., Eklund, E. A., Potter, G. B., and Dykes, J. R. (1990) J. Immunol. 145, 945-951). In the present study, immunodepletion of G proteins from the cytosolic fraction of unstimulated neutrophils resulted in a loss of the ability to activate NADPH oxidase in the membrane fraction. The activity in immunodepleted cytosol was fully reconstituted by a partially purified fraction from neutrophil cytosol that contained a 21-kDa GTP-binding protein. Purified human recombinant Krev-1 p21 also completely reconstituted immunodepleted cytosol whereas recombinant human H-ras p21 or yeast RAS GTP-binding proteins had no reconstitutive activity. Rabbit antisera raised against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the effector region of Krev-1 (amino acids 31-43) completely inhibited cell-free NADPH oxidase activation, and this inhibition was blocked by the synthetic 31-43 peptide. An inhibitory monoclonal antibody specific for ras p21 amino acids 60-77 (Y13-259) had no effect on cell-free NADPH oxidase activation. Activation of the NADPH oxidase in intact neutrophils by stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate caused a marked increase in the amount of membrane-associated antigen recognized by 151 antiserum on Western blot. Thus a G protein in the cytosol of unstimulated neutrophils antigenically and functionally related to Krev-1 may be the downstream effector G protein for NADPH oxidase activation. This system represents a unique model to study molecular interactions of a ras-like G protein.     

Involvement of rho p21 and its inhibitory GDP/GTP exchange protein (rho GDI) in cell motility.

Evidence is accumulating that rho p21, a ras p21-related small GTP-binding protein (G protein), regulates the actomyosin system. The actomyosin system is known to be essential for cell motility. In the present study, we examined the action of rho p21, its inhibitory GDP/GTP exchange protein (named rho GDI), its stimulatory GDP/GTP exchange protein (named smg GDS), and Clostridium botulinum ADP-ribosyltransferase C3, known to selectively ADP-ribosylate rho p21 and to impair its function, in cell motility (chemokinesis) of Swiss 3T3 cells. We quantitated the capacity of cell motility by measuring cell tracks by phagokinesis. Microinjection of the GTP gamma S-bound active form of rhoA p21 or smg GDS into Swiss 3T3 cells did not affect cell motility, but microinjection of rho GDI into the cells did inhibit cell motility. This rho GDI action was prevented by comicroinjection of rho GDI with the GTP gamma S-bound form of rhoA p21 but not with the same form of rhoA p21 lacking the C-terminal three amino acids which was not posttranslationally modified with lipids. The rho GDI action was not prevented by Ki-rasVal-12 p21 or any of the GTP gamma S-bound form of other small GTP-binding proteins including rac1 p21, G25K, and smg p21B. Among these small G proteins, rhoA p21, rac1 p21, and G25K are known to be substrates for rho GDI. The rho GDI action was not prevented by comicroinjection of rho GDI with smg GDS. Microinjection of C3 into Swiss 3T3 cells also inhibited cell motility. These results indicate that the rho GDI-rho p21 system regulates cell motility, presumably through the actomyosin system.     

P67-phox-mediated NADPH oxidase assembly: imaging of cytochrome b558 liposomes by atomic force microscopy

NADPH oxidase activity depends on the assembly of the cytosolic activating factors, p67-phox, p47-phox, p40-phox, and Rac with cytochrome b(558). The transition from an inactive to an active oxidase complex induces the transfer of electrons from NADPH to oxygen through cytochrome b(558). The assembly of oxidase complex was studied in vitro after reconstitution in a heterologous cell-free assay by using true noncontact mode atomic force microscopy. Cytochrome b(558) was purified from neutrophils and Epstein-Barr virus-immortalized B lymphocytes and incorporated into liposomes. The effect of protein glycosylation on liposome size and oxidase activity was investigated. The liposomes containing the native hemoprotein purified from neutrophils had a diameter of 146 nm, whereas after deglycosylation, the diameter was reduced to 68 nm, although oxidase activity was similar in both cases. Native cytochrome b(558) was used after purification in reconstitution experiments to investigate the topography of NADPH oxidase once it was assembled. For the first time, atomic force microscopy illustrated conformational changes of cytochrome b(558) during the transition from the inactive to the active state of oxidase; height measurements allow the determination of a size of 4 nm for the assembled complex. In the processes that were studied, p67-phox displayed a critical function; it was shown to be involved in both assembly and activation of oxidase complex while p47-phox proceeded as a positive effector and increased the affinity of p67-phox with cytochrome b(558), and p40-phox stabilizes the resting state. The results suggest that although an oligomeric structure of oxidase machinery has not been demonstrated, allosteric regulation mechanisms may be proposed.     

Evaluation of the process for superoxide production by NADPH oxidase in human neutrophils: evidence for cytoplasmic origin of superoxide

Abstract

We present an up-to-date insight into the function of NADPH oxidase in human neutrophils, the signalling pathways involved in activation of this enzyme and the process of association of its components with the cytoskeleton. We also discuss the functional implications of morphological studies revealing localization of the sites of NADPH oxidase activity. An original model of the process of superoxide (O2) production in human neutrophils is shown. Organization of NADPH oxidase is associated with several components. Upon stimulation, tri-phox cytosolic components of NADPH oxidase (p40-phox, p47-phox and p67-phox) bind to actin filaments. This process involves other actin-binding proteins, such as cofilin and coronin. Activated protein kinase C, translocated from the plasma membrane, phosphorylates cytosolic components at a scaffold of cytoskeleton. Subsequently, p40-phox, responsible for maintaining the resting state of NADPH oxidase, is separated from other two cytosolic phox proteins following an attachment of the active form of small GTP-binding protein Rac to p67-phox. Cytosolic duo-phox proteins (p47-phox and p67-phox) conjugate with membrane components (gp91-phox, p22-phox and Rap1a) of NADPH oxidase residing within membranes of intracellular compartments. This chain of events triggers production of O2. Then, oxidant-producing intracellular compartments associate with the plasma membrane. Eventually, intracellularly produced O2 is released to the extracellular environment through the orifice formed by fusion of oxidant-producing compartments with the plasma membrane. Intracellular movement of the oxidant-producing compartments may be regulated by myosin light chain kinase. The review emphasizes that functional assembly of NADPH oxidase and, therefore, generation of O2 is accomplished essentially within the intracellular compartments. Upon neutrophil stimulation, intracellularly generated O2 is transported to the plasma membrane to be released and to ensure host defense against infection.     

Evaluation of the process for superoxide production by NADPH oxidase in human neutrophils: evidence for cytoplasmic origin of superoxide

We present an up-to-date insight into the function of NADPH oxidase in human neutrophils, the signalling pathways involved in activation of this enzyme and the process of association of its components with the cytoskeleton. We also discuss the functional implications of morphological studies revealing localization of the sites of NADPH oxidase activity. An original model of the process of superoxide (O2*-) production in human neutrophils is shown. Organization of NADPH oxidase is associated with several components. Upon stimulation, tri-phox cytosolic components of NADPH oxidase (p40-phox, p47-phox and p67-phox) bind to actin filaments. This process involves other actin-binding proteins, such as cofilin and coronin. Activated protein kinase C, translocated from the plasma membrane, phosphorylates cytosolic components at a scaffold of cytoskeleton. Subsequently, p40-phox, responsible for maintaining the resting state of NADPH oxidase, is separated from other two cytosolic phox proteins following an attachment of the active form of small GTP-binding protein Rac to p67-phox. Cytosolic duo-phox proteins (p47-phox and p67-phox) conjugate with membrane components (gp91-phox, p22-phox and Rapla) of NADPH oxidase residing within membranes of intracellular compartments. This chain of events triggers production of O2*-. Then, oxidant-producing intracellular compartments associate with the plasma membrane. Eventually, intracellularly produced O2*- is released to the extracellular environment through the orifice formed by fusion of oxidant-producing compartments with the plasma membrane. Intracellular movement of the oxidant-producing compartments may be regulated by myosin light chain kinase. The review emphasizes that functional assembly of NADPH oxidase and, therefore, generation of O2*- is accomplished essentially within the intracellular compartments. Upon neutrophil stimulation, intracellularly generated O2*- is transported to the plasma membrane to be released and to ensure host defense against infection.     

Rac2 is an essential regulator of neutrophil nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activation in response to specific signaling pathways

Rac2 is a hematopoietic-specific Rho family GTPase implicated as an important constituent of the NADPH oxidase complex and shares 92% amino acid identity with the ubiquitously expressed Rac1. In bone marrow (BM) neutrophils isolated from rac2(-/-) mice generated by gene targeting, we previously reported that PMA-induced superoxide production was reduced by about 4-fold, which was partially corrected in TNF-alpha-primed BM neutrophils and in peritoneal exudate neutrophils. We investigated receptor-mediated activation of the NADPH oxidase in the current study, finding that superoxide production in rac2(-/-) BM and peritoneal exudate neutrophils was normal in response to opsonized zymosan, reduced to 22% of wild type in response to IgG-coated SRBC, and almost absent in response to fMLP. In wild-type murine BM neutrophils, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and Akt was induced by PMA or fMLP, which was decreased in rac2(-/-) neutrophils for ERK1/2 and p38. Activation of p38 by either opsonized zymosan or IgG-coated SRBC was similar in wild-type and rac2(-/-) cells. Inhibition of ERK1/2 or p38 activation using either PD98059 or SB203580, respectively, had only a modest effect on fMLP-elicited superoxide production and no effect on the PMA-induced response. These data provide genetic evidence supporting an important role for Rac2 in regulating neutrophil NADPH oxidase activation downstream of chemoattractant and Fcgamma receptors. The effect of Rac2 deficiency on superoxide production is probably exerted through multiple pathways, including those independent of mitogen-activated protein kinase activation.     

Role of Mg2+ in activation of NADPH oxidase of human neutrophils: evidence that Mg2+ acts through G-protein.

The membrane fraction and three cytosolic proteins of neutrophils, p47-phox, p67-phox and a G-protein, are involved in the cell-free activation of the O2(-)-generating NADPH oxidase in the presence of SDS, though it has been controversial whether the G-protein is required or just enhancing the activity. We have used the three cytosolic factors, the solubilized membrane fraction, GTP gamma S and SDS, and found that both G-protein and GTP gamma S are essential for the activation of the NADPH oxidase. The effect of GTP gamma S is modified by Mg2+: the cations enhance the O2- generation at low concentrations of GTP gamma S, whereas they attenuate the activity at higher concentrations of GTP gamma S. In presence of 10 microM GTP gamma S, the maximal activity is observed at 0.1 microM Mg2+, which is several-fold higher than that at 1 mM Mg2+. The omission of Mg2+ followed by the chelation with EDTA results in loss of the activation, which is completely restored by the addition of Mg2+. Thus, Mg2+ seems to modulate the activation of the NADPH oxidase at the level of the G-protein.     

A fusion protein between rac and p67phox (1-210) reconstitutes NADPH oxidase with higher activity and stability than the individual components.

Activation of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase, a superoxide-generating enzyme, involves assembly of cytosolic p47(phox), p67(phox), and rac with the membrane-associated cytochrome b(558). Following cell-free activation, enzymatic activity is highly labile [Tamura, M., Takeshita, M., Curnutte, J. T., Uhlinger, D. J., and Lambeth, J. D. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 7529-7538]. In an attempt to stabilize the activity and to investigate the nature of the complex, we have produced fusion proteins between rac and a C-terminal truncated form of p67(phox) (residues 1-210, 67N), which is a minimal active fragment. In a cell-free system, a fusion protein 67N-rac had higher activity and a 3-fold higher affinity than the individual cytosolic proteins, and 67N-Ser3-rac, which has a longer linker, showed a similar activity with the individual proteins. In contrast, rac-67N, a fusion in the opposite orientation, showed considerably lower activity. The enzyme activity reconstituted with 67N-rac showed a 10-fold higher stability and a lower K(m) for NADPH than the individual components. In the absence of p47, 67N-rac fusion protein at a high concentration showed nearly full activation, which was higher than that with the individual components. These results indicate that covalent binding between p67N and rac in the correct order produces a more stable complex than the individual components, suggesting that interactions among the subunits significantly influence the duration of the oxidase activation. On the basis of these findings, we propose a model for the topology among rac, 67N, and cytochrome b(558).     

Yeast RHO3 and RHO4 ras superfamily genes are necessary for bud growth, and their defect is suppressed by a high dose of bud formation genes CDC42 and BEM1.

RHO3 and RHO4 are members of the ras superfamily genes of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and are related functionally to each other. Experiments using a conditionally expressed allele of RHO4 revealed that depletion of both the RHO3 and RHO4 gene products resulted in lysis of cells with a small bud, which could be prevented by the presence of osmotic stabilizing agents in the medium. rho3 rho4 cells incubated in medium containing an osmotic stabilizing agent were rounded and enlarged and displayed delocalized deposition of chitin and delocalization of actin patches, indicating that these cells lost cell polarity. Nine genes whose overexpression could suppress the defect of the RHO3 function were isolated (SRO genes). Two of them were identical with CDC42 and BEM1, bud site assembly genes involved in the process of bud emergence. A high dose of CDC42 complemented the rho3 defect, whereas overexpression of RHO3 had an inhibitory effect on the growth of mutants defective in the CDC24-CDC42 pathway. These results, along with comparison of cell morphology between rho3 rho4 cells and cdc24 (or cdc42) mutant cells kept under the restrictive conditions, strongly suggest that the functions of RHO3 and RHO4 are required after initiation of bud formation to maintain cell polarity during maturation of daughter cells.     

The assembly of integrin adhesion complexes requires both extracellular matrix and intracellular rho/rac GTPases

Interaction of cells with extracellular matrix via integrin adhesion receptors plays an important role in a wide range of cellular: functions, for example cell growth, movement, and differentiation. Upon interaction with substrate, integrins cluster and associate with a variety of cytoplasmic proteins to form focal complexes and with the actin cytoskeleton. Although the intracellular signals induced by integrins are at present undefined, it is thought that they are mediated by proteins recruited to the focal complexes. It has been suggested, for example, that after recruitment to focal adhesions p125FAK can activate the ERK1/2 MAP kinase cascade. We have previously reported that members of the rho family of small GTPases can trigger the assembly of focal complexes when activated in cells. Using microinjection techniques, we have now examined the role of the extracellular matrix and of the two GTP-binding proteins, rac and rho, in the assembly of integrin complexes in both mouse and human fibroblasts. We find that the interaction of integrins with extracellular matrix alone is not sufficient to induce integrin clustering and focal complex formation. Similarly, activation of rho or rac by extracellular growth factors does not lead to focal complex formation in the absence of matrix. Focal complexes are only assembled in the presence of both matrix and functionally active members of the rho family. In agreement with this, the interaction of integrins with matrix in the absence of rho/rac activity is unable to activate the ERK1/2 kinases in Swiss 3T3 cells. In fact, ERK1/2 can be activated fully by growth factors in the absence of matrix and it seems unlikely, therefore, that the adhesion dependence of fibroblast growth is mediated through the ras/MAP kinase pathway. We conclude that extracellular matrix is not sufficient to trigger focal complex assembly and subsequent integrin-dependent signal transduction in the absence of functionally active members of the rho family of GTPases.     

A novel serine kinase activated by rac1/CDC42Hs-dependent autophosphorylation is related to PAK65 and STE20.

We identified three proteins in neutrophil cytosol of molecular size 65, 62 and 68 kDa which interact in a GTP-dependent manner with rac1 and CDC42Hs, but not with rho. Purification of p65 and subsequent peptide sequencing revealed identity to rat brain PAK65 and to yeast STE20 kinase domains. Based on these sequences we screened a human placenta library and cloned the full-length cDNA. The complete amino acid sequence of the human cDNA shares approximately identity with rat brain PAK65; within the kinase domain the human protein shares > 95% and approximately 63% identity with rat PAK65 and yeast STE20 respectively. The new human (h)PAK65 mRNA is ubiquitously expressed and hPAK65 protein is distinct from either human or rat brain PAK65. Recombinant hPAK65 exhibits identical specificity to the endogenous p65; both can bind rac1 and CDC42Hs in a GTP-dependent manner. The GTP-bound forms of rac1 and CDC42Hs induce autophosphorylation of hPAK65 on serine residues only. hPAK65 activated by either rac1 or CDC42Hs is phosphorylated on the same sites. Induction of hPAK65 autophosphorylation by rac1 or CDC42Hs stimulates hPAK65 kinase activity towards myelin basic protein and once hPAK65 is activated, rac1 or CDC42Hs are no longer required to keep it active. The affinities of rac/CDC42Hs for the non-phosphorylated and phosphorylated hPAK65 were similar. hPAK65 had only a marginal effect on the intrinsic GTPase activity of CDC42Hs, but significantly affected the binding and GAP activity of p190. These data are consistent with a model in which hPAK65 functions as an effector molecule for rac1 and CDC42Hs.