EhGEF3, a novel Dbl family member, regulates EhRacA activation during chemotaxis and capping in Entamoeba histolytica

Rho GTPases are critical elements involved in the regulation of signal transduction cascades from extracellular stimuli to cytoskeleton. The Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RhoGEFs) have been implicated in direct activation of these GTPases. Here, we describe a novel RhoGEF, denominated EhGEF3 from the parasite Entamoeba histolytica, which encodes a 110 kDa protein containing the domain arrangement of a Dbl homology domain in tandem with a pleckstrin homology domain, the DH domain of EhGEF3 is closely related with the one of the Vav3 protein. Biochemical analysis revealed that EhGEF3 is capable of stimulating nucleotide exchange on the E. histolytica EhRacA and EhRho1 GTPases in vitro, however only a partial GEF activity toward Cdc42 was observed. Conserved residue analysis showed that the N816 and L817 residues are critical for EhGEF3 activity. Cellular studies revealed that EhGEF3 colocalises with EhRacA in the rear of migrating cells, probably regulating the retraction of the uroid and promoting the activation of these GTPase during the chemotactic response toward fibronectin, and that EhGEF3 also regulates EhRacA activation during the capping of cell receptors. These results suggest that EhGEF3 should have a direct role in activating EhRacA, and in bringing the activated GTPase to specific target sites such as the uroid.     

Entamoeba histolytica: inhibition of cellular functions by overexpression of EhGEF1, a novel Rho/Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor

The molecular, biochemical, and cellular characterization of EhGEF1 protein is described. Complete cDNA sequence of 1890 bp revealed an open reading frame that encodes a protein of 69 kDa. EhGEF1 is constituted of Dbl homology domain, pleckstrin homology domain, and several putative regulation sites. Studies of guanine nucleotide exchange activity of EhGEF1 on several GTPases from Entamoeba histolytica and Homo sapiens showed preferential activation on EhRacG, suggesting that EhGEF1 protein could be involved in mechanisms related to actin cytoskeleton activation, cytokinesis, capping, and uroid formation in trophozoite. Confocal microscopy studies of pExEhNeo/HSV-tagged-EhGEF1-transfected cells showed that trophozoites stimulated with ConA, EhGEF1, and EhRacG were localized at plasma membrane. Cellular studies showed that F-actin content of pExEhNeo/HSV-tagged-EhGEF1-transfected trophozoites as well as cellular migration and cell damage capacity were significantly altered. The observations suggest that EhRacG was the principal target of EhGEF1 and that EhGEF1 may provide a link between F-actin dynamics and EhRacG signaling.     

Oncogenic Dbl, Cdc42, and p21-activated kinase form a ternary signaling intermediate through the minimum interactive domains

Activation of many Rho family GTPase pathways involves the signaling module consisting of the Dbl-like guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), the Rho GTPases, and the Rho GTPase specific effectors. The current biochemical model postulates that the GEF-stimulated GDP/GTP exchange of Rho GTPases leads to the active Rho-GTP species, and subsequently the active Rho GTPases interact with and activate the effectors. Here we report an unexpected finding that the Dbl oncoprotein, Cdc42 GTPase, and PAK1 can form a complex through their minimum functional motifs, i.e., the Dbl-homolgy (DH) and Pleckstrin-homology domains of Dbl, Cdc42, and the PBD domain of PAK1. The Dbl-Cdc42-PAK1 complex is sensitive to the nucleotide-binding state of Cdc42 since either dominant negative or constitutively active Cdc42 readily disrupts the ternary binding interaction. The complex formation depends on the interactions between the DH domain of Dbl and Cdc42 and between Cdc42 and the PBD domain of PAK1 and can be reconstituted in vitro by using the purified components. Furthermore, the Dbl-Cdc42-PAK1 ternary complex is active in generating signaling output through the activated PAK1 kinase in the complex. The GEF-Rho-effector ternary intermediate is also found in other Dbl-like GEF, Rho GTPase, and effector interactions. Finally, PAK1, through the PDB domain, is able to accelerate the GEF-induced GTP loading onto Cdc42. These results suggest that signal transduction through Cdc42 and possibly other Rho family GTPases could involve tightly coupled guanine nucleotide exchange and effector activation mechanisms and that Rho GTPase effector may have a feedback regulatory role in the Rho GTPase activation.     

SWAP70 functions as a Rac/Rop guanine nucleotide-exchange factor in rice

Rho family small GTPases are involved in diverse signaling processes including immunity, growth, and development. The activity of Rho GTPases is regulated by cycling between guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-bound inactive and guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-bound active forms, in which guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) predominantly function to promote activation of the GTPases. In animals, most Rho GEFs possess a Dbl (diffuse B-cell lymphoma) homology (DH) domain which functions as a GEF-catalytic domain. However, no proteins with the DH domain have been identified in plants so far. Instead, plant-specific Rho GEFs with the PRONE domain responsible for GEF activity have been found to constitute a large family in plants. In this study, we found rice homologs of human SWAP70, Oryza sativa (Os) SWAP70A and SWAP70B, containing the DH domain. OsSWAP70A interacted with rice Rho GTPase OsRac1, an important signaling factor for immune responses. The DH domain of OsSWAP70A exhibited the GEF-catalytic activity toward OsRac1 as found in animal Rho GEFs, indicating that plants have the functional DH domains. Transient expression of OsSWAP70A enhanced OsRac1-mediated production of reactive oxygen species in planta. Reduction of OsSWAP70A and OsSWAP70B mRNA levels by RNA interference resulted in the suppression of chitin elicitor-induced defense gene expression and ROS production. Thus, it is likely that OsSWAP70 regulates immune responses through activation of OsRac1.     

Larger than Dbl: new structural insights into RhoA activation

Dbl homology (DH) domains are almost always followed immediately by pleckstrin homology (PH) domains in Dbl family proteins, and these DH-PH fragments directly activate GDP-bound Rho GTPases by catalyzing the exchange of GDP for GTP. New crystal structures of the DH-PH domains from leukemia-associated Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor (RhoGEF) and PDZ-RhoGEF bound to RhoA reveal how DH-PH domains cooperate to specifically activate Rho GTPases.     

IgA1 protease from Neisseria gonorrhoeae inhibits TNFalpha-mediated apoptosis of human monocytic cells

The target Rho GTPases of many guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) of the Dbl family remain to be identified. Here we report a new method: the yeast exchange assay (YEA), a rapid qualitative test to perform a wide range screen for GEF specificity. In this assay based on the two-hybrid system, a wild type GTPase binds to its effector only after activation by a specific GEF. We validated the YEA by activating GTPases by previously reported GEFs. We further established that a novel GEF, GEF337, activates RhoA in the YEA. GEF337 promoted nucleotide exchange on RhoA in vitro and promoted F-actin stress fiber assembly in fibroblasts, characteristic of RhoA activation.     

Liposome Reconstitution and Modulation of Recombinant Prenylated Human Rac1 by GEFs,GDI1 and Pak1

Small Rho GTPases are well known to regulate a variety of cellular processes by acting as molecular switches. The regulatory function of Rho GTPases is critically dependent on their posttranslational modification at the carboxyl terminus by isoprenylation and association with proper cellular membranes. Despite numerous studies, the mechanisms of recycling and functional integration of Rho GTPases at the biological membranes are largely unclear. In this study, prenylated human Rac1, a prominent member of the Rho family, was purified in large amount from baculovirus-infected Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells using a systematic detergent screening. In contrast to non-prenylated human Rac1 purified from Escherichia coli, prenylated Rac1 from insect cells was able to associate with synthetic liposomes and to bind Rho-specific guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor 1 (GDI1). Subsequent liposome reconstitution experiments revealed that GDI1 efficiently extracts Rac1 from liposomes preferentially in the inactive GDP-bound state. The extraction was prevented when Rac1 was activated to its GTP-bound state by Rac-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), such as Vav2, Dbl, Tiam1, P-Rex1 and TrioN, and bound by the downstream effector Pak1. We found that dissociation of Rac1-GDP from its complex with GDI1 strongly correlated with two distinct activities of especially Dbl and Tiam1, including liposome association and the GDP/GTP exchange. Taken together, our results provided first detailed insights into the advantages of the in vitro liposome-based reconstitution system to study both the integration of the signal transducing protein complexes and the mechanisms of regulation and signaling of small GTPases at biological membranes.     

XPLN,a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for RhoA and RhoB,but not RhoC

Rho proteins cycle between an inactive, GDP-bound state and an active, GTP-bound state. Activation of these GTPases is mediated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), which promote GDP to GTP exchange. In this study we have characterized XPLN, a Rho family GEF. Like other Rho GEFs, XPLN contains a tandem Dbl homology and pleckstrin homology domain topography, but lacks homology with other known functional domains or motifs. XPLN protein is expressed in the brain, skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, platelets, and macrophage and neuronal cell lines. In vitro, XPLN stimulates guanine nucleotide exchange on RhoA and RhoB, but not RhoC, RhoG, Rac1, or Cdc42. Consistent with these data, XPLN preferentially associates with RhoA and RhoB. The specificity of XPLN for RhoA and RhoB, but not RhoC, is surprising given that they share over 85% sequence identity. We determined that the inability of XPLN to exchange RhoC is mediated by isoleucine 43 in RhoC, a position occupied by valine in RhoA and RhoB. When expressed in cells, XPLN activates RhoA and RhoB, but not RhoC, and stimulates the assembly of stress fibers and focal adhesions in a Rho kinase-dependent manner. We also found that XPLN possesses transforming activity, as determined by focus formation assays. In conclusion, here we describe a Rho family GEF that can discriminate between the closely related RhoA, RhoB, and RhoC, possibly giving insight to the divergent functions of these three proteins.     

Structural basis of guanine nucleotide exchange mediated by the T-cell essential Vav1

The guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Vav1 plays an important role in T-cell activation and tumorigenesis. In the GEF superfamily, Vav1 has the ability to interact with multiple families of Rho GTPases. The structure of the Vav1 DH-PH-CRD/Rac1 complex to 2.6 Å resolution reveals a unique intramolecular network of contacts between the Vav1 cysteine-rich domain (CRD) and the C-terminal helix of the Vav1 Dbl homology (DH) domain. These unique interactions stabilize the Vav1 DH domain for its intimate association with the Switch II region of Rac1 that is critical for the displacement of the guanine nucleotide. Small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) studies support this domain arrangement for the complex in solution. Further, mutational analyses confirms that the atypical CRD is critical for maintaining both optimal guanine nucleotide exchange activity and broader specificity of Vav family GEFs. Taken together, the data outline the detailed nature of Vav1's ability to contact a range of Rho GTPases using a novel protein-protein interaction network.     

Unique structural and nucleotide exchange features of the Rho1 GTPase of Entamoeba histolytica

The single-celled human parasite Entamoeba histolytica possesses a dynamic actin cytoskeleton vital for its intestinal and systemic pathogenicity. The E. histolytica genome encodes several Rho family GTPases known to regulate cytoskeletal dynamics. EhRho1, the first family member identified, was reported to be insensitive to the Rho GTPase-specific Clostridium botulinum C3 exoenzyme, raising the possibility that it may be a misclassified Ras family member. Here, we report the crystal structures of EhRho1 in both active and inactive states. EhRho1 is activated by a conserved switch mechanism, but diverges from mammalian Rho GTPases in lacking a signature Rho insert helix. EhRho1 engages a homolog of mDia, EhFormin1, suggesting a role in mediating serum-stimulated actin reorganization and microtubule formation during mitosis. EhRho1, but not a constitutively active mutant, interacts with a newly identified EhRhoGDI in a prenylation-dependent manner. Furthermore, constitutively active EhRho1 induces actin stress fiber formation in mammalian fibroblasts, thereby identifying it as a functional Rho family GTPase. EhRho1 exhibits a fast rate of nucleotide exchange relative to mammalian Rho GTPases due to a distinctive switch one isoleucine residue reminiscent of the constitutively active F28L mutation in human Cdc42, which for the latter protein, is sufficient for cellular transformation. Nonconserved, nucleotide-interacting residues within EhRho1, revealed by the crystal structure models, were observed to contribute a moderating influence on fast spontaneous nucleotide exchange. Collectively, these observations indicate that EhRho1 is a bona fide member of the Rho GTPase family, albeit with unique structural and functional aspects compared with mammalian Rho GTPases.     

Structural elements, mechanism, and evolutionary convergence of Rho protein-guanine nucleotide exchange factor complexes

Rho GTPases act as key regulators of cellular biochemistry by determining the timing, direction, and amplitude of signal transduction in a number of important pathways. The rate of activation of a GTPase-controlled reaction is limited by the rate of GTP binding to the Rho protein, and this, in turn, depends on the rate that GDP dissociates from the GTPase. The latter is controlled by the action of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that catalyze GDP-GTP exchange by increasing the rate of GDP dissociation. Here, the recently reported structural information for Rho GTPase-GEF complexes and the molecular basis for the specificity of their interactions are discussed. Underscoring the importance of regulating the Rho GTPase activation pathway, genetically unrelated proteins have evolved which complement or mimic the Dbl homology-Pleckstrin homology (DH-PH) domain-containing family of proteins in their ability to catalyze GDP-GTP exchange. In particular, the structure of the mammalian Cdc42 protein bound to the SopE protein from Salmonella typhimurium illustrates how two unrelated protein folds are able to carry out guanine nucleotide exchange by a remarkably similar mechanism. It will be interesting to see if this conservation of mechanism extends to a newly recognized class of GEFs related to the DOCK180 family.     

Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Dbl Regulates GTPase Signaling

Rho GTPases are molecular “switches” that cycle between “on” (GTP-bound) and “off” (GDP-bound) states and regulate numerous cellular activities such as gene expression, protein synthesis, cytoskeletal rearrangements, and metabolic responses. Dysregulation of GTPases is a key feature of many diseases, especially cancers. Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) of the Dbl family are activated by mitogenic cell surface receptors and activate the Rho family GTPases Cdc42, Rac1, and RhoA. The molecular mechanisms that regulate GEFs from the Dbl family are poorly understood. Our studies reveal that Dbl is phosphorylated on tyrosine residues upon stimulation by growth factors and that this event is critical for the regulated activation of the GEF. These findings uncover a novel layer of complexity in the physiological regulation of this protein.     

The role of Mg2+ cofactor in the guanine nucleotide exchange and GTP hydrolysis reactions of Rho family GTP-binding proteins

The biological activities of Rho family GTPases are controlled by their guanine nucleotide binding states in cells. Here we have investigated the role of Mg(2+) cofactor in the guanine nucleotide binding and hydrolysis processes of the Rho family members, Cdc42, Rac1, and RhoA. Differing from Ras and Rab proteins, which require Mg(2+) for GDP and GTP binding, the Rho GTPases bind the nucleotides in the presence or absence of Mg(2+) similarly, with dissociation constants in the submicromolar concentration. The presence of Mg(2+), however, resulted in a marked decrease in the intrinsic dissociation rates of the nucleotides. The catalytic activity of the guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) appeared to be negatively regulated by free Mg(2+), and GEF binding to Rho GTPase resulted in a 10-fold decrease in affinity for Mg(2+), suggesting that one role of GEF is to displace bound Mg(2+) from the Rho proteins. The GDP dissociation rates of the GTPases could be further stimulated by GEF upon removal of bound Mg(2+), indicating that the GEF-catalyzed nucleotide exchange involves a Mg(2+)-independent as well as a Mg(2+)-dependent mechanism. Although Mg(2+) is not absolutely required for GTP hydrolysis by the Rho GTPases, the divalent ion apparently participates in the GTPase reaction, since the intrinsic GTP hydrolysis rates were enhanced 4-10-fold upon binding to Mg(2+), and k(cat) values of the Rho GTPase-activating protein (RhoGAP)-catalyzed reactions were significantly increased when Mg(2+) was present. Furthermore, the p50RhoGAP specificity for Cdc42 was lost in the absence of Mg(2+) cofactor. These studies directly demonstrate a role of Mg(2+) in regulating the kinetics of nucleotide binding and hydrolysis and in the GEF- and GAP-catalyzed reactions of Rho family GTPases. The results suggest that GEF facilitates nucleotide exchange by destabilizing both bound nucleotide and Mg(2+), whereas RhoGAP utilizes the Mg(2+) cofactor to achieve high catalytic efficiency and specificity.     

CYLD Regulates RhoA Activity by Modulating LARG Ubiquitination

Rho family guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases), such as RhoA, Cdc42, and Rac1, play a fundamental role in various cellular processes. The activation of Rho proteins is catalyzed by guanine nucleotide-exchange factors (GEFs), which promote the exchange of GDP for GTP. The precise mechanisms regulating the activation of Rho proteins are not fully understood. Herein, we demonstrate that RhoA activity is regulated by cylindromatosis (CYLD), a deubiquitinase harboring multiple functions. In addition, we find that RhoA-mediated cytoskeletal rearrangement, chromosome separation, and cell polarization are altered in CYLD-depleted cells. Mechanistically, CYLD does not interact with RhoA; instead, it interacts with and deubiquitinates leukemia-associated RhoGEF (LARG). Our data further show that CYLD-mediated deubiquitination of LARG enhances its ability to stimulate the GDP/GTP exchange on RhoA. These data thus identify LARG as a new substrate of CYLD and provide novel insights into the regulation of RhoA activation. Our results also suggest that the LARG-RhoA signaling pathway may play a role in diverse CYLD-mediated cellular events.     

Activation of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Dbl following ACK1-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation

Signals triggered by diverse receptors modulate the activity of Rho family proteins, although the regulatory mechanism remains largely unknown. On the basis of their biochemical activity as guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), Dbl family proteins are believed to be implicated in the regulation of Rho family GTP-binding proteins in response to a variety of extracellular stimuli. Here we show that GEF activity of full-length proto-Dbl is enhanced upon tyrosine phosphorylation. When transiently coexpressed with the activated form of the non-receptor tyrosine kinase ACK1, a downstream target of Cdc42, Dbl became tyrosine-phosphorylated. In vitro GEF activity of Dbl toward Rho and Cdc42 was augmented following tyrosine phosphorylation. Moreover, accumulation of the GTP-bound form of Rho and Rac within the cell paralleled ACK-1-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of Dbl. Consistently, activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase downstream of Rho family GTP-binding proteins was also enhanced when Dbl was tyrosine-phosphorylated. Collectively, these findings suggest that the tyrosine kinase ACK1 may act as a regulator of Dbl, which in turn activates Rho family proteins.     

The Rac1- and RhoG-specific GEF domain of Trio targets filamin to remodel cytoskeletal actin

Rho GTPases control actin reorganization and many other cellular functions. Guanine nucleotide-exchange factors (GEFs) activate Rho GTPases by promoting their exchange of GDP for GTP. Trio is a unique Rho GEF, because it has separate GEF domains, GEFD1 and GEFD2, that control the GTPases RhoG/Rac1 and RhoA, respectively. Dbl-homology (DH) domains that are common to GEFs catalyse nucleotide exchange, and pleckstrin-homology (PH) domains localize Rho GEFs near their downstream targets. Here we show that Trio GEFD1 interacts through its PH domain with the actin-filament-crosslinking protein filamin, and localizes with endogenous filamin in HeLa cells. Trio GEFD1 induces actin-based ruffling in filamin-expressing, but not filamin-deficient, cells and in cells transfected with a filamin construct that lacks the Trio-binding domain. In addition, Trio GEFD1 exchange activity is not affected by filamin binding. Our results indicate that filamin, as a molecular target of Trio, may be a scaffold for the spatial organization of Rho-GTPase-mediated signalling pathways.     

鸟苷酸交换因子P92GEF通过靶向调控RhoA抑制肿瘤细胞增殖侵袭（英文稿）

摘要：Dbl家族鸟苷交换因子（GEFs）是Rho家族蛋白发生恶性转化的主要调控单位,它通过使Rho蛋白从无活性的GDP形式转换为GTP形式的Rho蛋白而发挥作用,参与细胞骨架重排,细胞的生长和活力。P92GEF是一GEFs家族分子。本研究通过Real time PCR对P92GEF在人体48种正常组织中的表达情况进行了测定;GST-pulldown技术对P92GEF的体内GEF活性进行了检测;双荧光素酶报告基因检测技术对下游小分子进行转录因子活性检测;应用免疫荧光双染标记法完成了高表达P92GEF对正常细胞骨架形态的影响;在细胞表型实验中分别使用CCK8法、Transwell法及软琼脂克隆形成实验检测了高表达P92GEF对细胞增殖侵袭迁移及体外成瘤能力的影响。研究结果显示P92GEF有841个氨基酸,具有典型的Dbl家族分子结构域,在肺组织中表达量最高,能够促使正常成纤维细胞中的应力纤维（stress fiber）增多,P92GEF转染的NIH3T3细胞可以独立生长和形成继发性病灶,同时促使细胞增殖,侵袭及克隆形成能力增强,体外转录因子活性检测发现该基因可能与JAK/STAT通路有关。因此,P92GEF是一个典型的鸟苷交换因子家族分子,能激活Rho家族分子RhoA,具有明显的癌基因特征。