Protocol for structural and biochemical analyses of RhoA GTPase.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Lin Y
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8138865 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:ARAP3 (Arf-GAP with Rho-GAP domain, ANK repeat, and PH domain-containing protein 3) is unique for its dual specificity GAPs (GTPase-activating protein) activity for Arf6 (ADP-ribosylation factor 6) and RhoA (Ras homolog gene family member A) regulated by phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate and a small GTPase Rap1-GTP and is involved in regulation of cell shape and adhesion. However, the molecular interface between the ARAP3-RhoGAP domain and RhoA is unknown, as is the substrates specificity of the RhoGAP domain. In this study, we solved the crystal structure of RhoA in complex with the RhoGAP domain of ARAP3. The structure of the complex presented a clear interface between the RhoGAP domain and RhoA. By analyzing the crystal structure and in combination with in vitro GTPase activity assays and isothermal titration calorimetry experiments, we identified the crucial residues affecting RhoGAP activity and substrates specificity among RhoA, Rac1 (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1), and Cdc42 (cell division control protein 42 homolog).
| S-EPMC4974384 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The small GTPase RhoA promotes deregulated signaling upon interaction with lymphoid blast crisis (Lbc), the oncogenic form of A-kinase anchoring protein 13 (AKAP13). The onco-Lbc protein is a hyperactive Rho-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), but its structural mechanism has not been reported despite its involvement in cardiac hypertrophy and cancer causation. The pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of Lbc is located at the C-terminal end of the protein and is shown here to specifically recognize activated RhoA rather than lipids. The isolated dbl homology (DH) domain can function as an independent activator with an enhanced activity. However, the DH domain normally does not act as a solitary Lbc interface with RhoA-GDP. Instead it is negatively controlled by the PH domain. In particular, the DH helical bundle is coupled to the structurally dependent PH domain through a helical linker, which reduces its activity. Together the two domains form a rigid scaffold in solution as evidenced by small angle x-ray scattering and (1)H,(13)C,(15)N-based NMR spectroscopy. The two domains assume a "chair" shape with its back possessing independent GEF activity and the PH domain providing a broad seat for RhoA-GTP docking rather than membrane recognition. This provides structural and dynamical insights into how DH and PH domains work together in solution to support regulated RhoA activity. Mutational analysis supports the bifunctional PH domain mediation of DH-RhoA interactions and explains why the tandem domain is required for controlled GEF signaling.
| S-EPMC4156082 | biostudies-literature
Project description:During morphogenesis, contraction of the actomyosin cytoskeleton within individual cells drives cell shape changes that fold tissues. Coordination of cytoskeletal contractility is mediated by regulating RhoA GTPase activity. Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) activate and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) inhibit RhoA activity. Most studies of tissue folding, including apical constriction, have focused on how RhoA is activated by GEFs to promote cell contractility, with little investigation as to how GAPs may be important. Here, we identify a critical role for a RhoA GAP, Cumberland GAP (C-GAP), which coordinates with a RhoA GEF, RhoGEF2, to organize spatiotemporal contractility during Drosophila melanogaster apical constriction. C-GAP spatially restricts RhoA pathway activity to a central position in the apical cortex. RhoGEF2 pulses precede myosin, and C-GAP is required for pulsation, suggesting that contractile pulses result from RhoA activity cycling. Finally, C-GAP expression level influences the transition from reversible to irreversible cell shape change, which defines the onset of tissue shape change. Our data demonstrate that RhoA activity cycling and modulating the ratio of RhoGEF2 to C-GAP are required for tissue folding.
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Project description:The Rho family of GTP-binding proteins plays critical roles during myogenesis induction. To elucidate their role later during myogenesis, we have analyzed RhoA function during myoblast fusion into myotubes. We find that RhoA activity is rapidly and transiently increased when cells are shifted into differentiation medium and then is decreased until myoblast fusion. RhoA activity must be down-regulated to allow fusion, because expression of a constitutively active form of RhoA (RhoAV14) inhibits this process. RhoAV14 perturbs the expression and localization of M-cadherin, a member of the Ca2+-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule family that has an essential role in skeletal muscle cell differentiation. This mutant does not affect N-cadherin and other proteins involved in myoblast fusion, beta1-integrin and ADAM12. Active RhoA induces the entry of M-cadherin into a degradative pathway and thus decreases its stability in correlation with the monoubiquitination of M-cadherin. Moreover, p120 catenin association with M-cadherin is decreased in RhoAV14-expressing cells, which is partially reverted by the inhibition of the RhoA effector Rho-associated kinase ROCK. ROCK inhibition also restores M-cadherin accumulation at the cell-cell contact sites. We propose that the sustained activation of the RhoA pathway inhibits myoblast fusion through the regulation of p120 activity, which controls cadherin internalization and degradation.
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Project description:Transient receptor potential (TRP) channel TRPV4 is a polymodal cellular sensor that responds to moderate heat, cell swelling, shear stress, and small-molecule ligands. It is involved in thermogenesis, regulation of vascular tone, bone homeostasis, renal and pulmonary functions. TRPV4 is implicated in neuromuscular and skeletal disorders, pulmonary edema, and cancers, and represents an important drug target. The cytoskeletal remodeling GTPase RhoA has been shown to suppress TRPV4 activity. Here, we present a structure of the human TRPV4-RhoA complex that shows RhoA interaction with the membrane-facing surface of the TRPV4 ankyrin repeat domains. The contact interface reveals residues that are mutated in neuropathies, providing an insight into the disease pathogenesis. We also identify the binding sites of the TRPV4 agonist 4α-PDD and the inhibitor HC-067047 at the base of the S1-S4 bundle, and show that agonist binding leads to pore opening, while channel inhibition involves a π-to-α transition in the pore-forming helix S6. Our structures elucidate the interaction interface between hTRPV4 and RhoA, as well as residues at this interface that are involved in TRPV4 disease-causing mutations. They shed light on TRPV4 activation and inhibition and provide a template for the design of future therapeutics for treatment of TRPV4-related diseases.
| S-EPMC10290124 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Optogenetic tools are created to control RhoA GTPase, a central regulator of actin organization and actomyosin contractility. RhoA GTPase, or its upstream activator ARHGEF11, is fused to BcLOV4, a photoreceptor that can be dynamically recruited to the plasma membrane by a light-regulated protein-lipid electrostatic interaction with the inner leaflet. Direct membrane recruitment of these proteins induces potent contractile signaling sufficient to separate adherens junctions with as little as one pulse of blue light. Induced cytoskeletal morphology changes are dependent on the alignment of the spatially patterned stimulation with the underlying cell polarization. RhoA-mediated cytoskeletal activation drives yes-associated protein (YAP) nuclear localization within minutes and consequent mechanotransduction verified by YAP-transcriptional enhanced associate domain transcriptional activity. These single-transgene tools do not require protein binding partners for dynamic membrane localization and permit spatiotemporally precise control over RhoA signaling to advance the study of its diverse regulatory roles in cell migration, morphogenesis, and cell cycle maintenance.
| S-EPMC8446339 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The Rho family of guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) are essential eukaryotic signaling molecules that regulate cellular physiology. Virulence factors from various pathogens alter the signaling of GTPases by acting as GTPase activating factors, guanine nucleotide exchange factors, or direct covalent modifiers; however, bacterial virulence factors that sense rather than alter the signaling states of Rho GTPases have not been previously described. Here, we report that the translocated Salmonellae virulence factor SseJ binds to the guanosine triphosphate-bound form of RhoA. This interaction stimulates the lipase activity of SseJ, which results in the esterification of cholesterol in the host cell membrane. Our results suggest that the activation of molecules downstream of GTPases is not exclusive to eukaryotic proteins, and that a bacterial protein has evolved to recognize the activation state of RhoA, which regulates its enzymatic activity as part of the host-pathogen interaction.
| S-EPMC5096451 | biostudies-literature
Project description:AimsEndothelial cells (ECs) control vascular permeability by forming a monolayer that is sealed by extracellular junctions. Various mediators modulate the endothelial barrier by acting on junctional protein complexes and the therewith connected F-actin cytoskeleton. Different Rho GTPases participate in this modulation, but their mechanisms are still partly resolved. Here, we aimed to elucidate whether the opening and closure of the endothelial barrier are associated with distinct localized RhoA activities at the subcellular level.Methods and resultsLive fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy revealed spatially distinct RhoA activities associated with different aspects of the regulation of endothelial monolayer integrity. Unstimulated ECs were characterized by hotspots of RhoA activity at their periphery. Thrombin receptor activation in the femoral vein of male wistar rats and in cultured ECs enhanced RhoA activity at membrane protrusions, followed by a more sustained RhoA activity associated with cytoplasmic F-actin filaments, where prolonged RhoA activity coincided with cellular contractility. Unexpectedly, thrombin-induced peripheral RhoA hotspots were not spatially correlated to the formation of large inter-endothelial gaps. Rather, spontaneous RhoA activity at membrane protrusions coincided with the closure of inter-endothelial gaps. Electrical impedance measurements showed that RhoA signalling is essential for this protrusive activity and maintenance of barrier restoration.ConclusionSpontaneous RhoA activity at membrane protrusions is spatially associated with closure, but not formation of inter-endothelial gaps, whereas RhoA activity at distant contractile filaments contributes to thrombin-induced disruption of junctional integrity. Thus, these data indicate that distinct RhoA activities are associated with disruption and re-annealing of endothelial junctions.
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Project description:Protein prenylation involves the attachment of a hydrophobic isoprenoid moiety to the C-terminus of proteins. Several small GTPases, including members of the Ras and Rho subfamilies, require prenylation for their normal and pathological functions. Recent work has suggested that SmgGDS proteins regulate the prenylation of small GTPases in vivo. Using RhoA as a representative small GTPase, we directly test this hypothesis using biochemical assays and present a mechanism describing the mode of prenylation regulation. SmgGDS-607 completely inhibits RhoA prenylation catalyzed by protein geranylgeranyltransferase I (GGTase-I) in an in vitro radiolabel incorporation assay. SmgGDS-607 inhibits prenylation by binding to and blocking access to the C-terminal tail of the small GTPase (substrate sequestration mechanism) rather than via inhibition of the prenyltransferase activity. The reactivity of GGTase-I with RhoA is unaffected by addition of nucleotides. In contrast, the affinity of SmgGDS-607 for RhoA varies with the nucleotide bound to RhoA; SmgGDS-607 has a higher affinity for RhoA-GDP compared to RhoA-GTP. Consequently, the prenylation blocking function of SmgGDS-607 is regulated by the bound nucleotide. This work provides mechanistic insight into a novel pathway for the regulation of small GTPase protein prenylation by SmgGDS-607 and demonstrates that peptides are a good mimic for full-length proteins when measuring GGTase-I activity.
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Project description:Bacillus subtilis is one of the most studied gram-positive bacteria. In this work, YvgN and YtbE from B. subtilis, assigned as AKR5G1 and AKR5G2 of aldo-keto reductase (AKR) superfamily. AKR catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of aldehyde or aldose substrates to alcohols. YvgN and YtbE were studied by crystallographic and enzymatic analyses. The apo structures of these proteins were determined by molecular replacement, and the structure of holoenzyme YvgN with NADPH was also solved, revealing the conformational changes upon cofactor binding. Our biochemical data suggest both YvgN and YtbE have preferential specificity for derivatives of benzaldehyde, such as nitryl or halogen group substitution at the 2 or 4 positions. These proteins also showed broad catalytic activity on many standard substrates of AKR, such as glyoxal, dihydroxyacetone, and DL-glyceraldehyde, suggesting a possible role in bacterial detoxification.
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