Regulation of cell polarity and protrusion formation by targeting RhoA for degradation

Science. 2003 Dec 5;302(5651):1775-9. doi: 10.1126/science.1090772.

Abstract

The Rho family of small guanosine triphosphatases regulates actin cytoskeleton dynamics that underlie cellular functions such as cell shape changes, migration, and polarity. We found that Smurf1, a HECT domain E3 ubiquitin ligase, regulated cell polarity and protrusive activity and was required to maintain the transformed morphology and motility of a tumor cell. Atypical protein kinase C zeta (PKCzeta), an effector of the Cdc42/Rac1-PAR6 polarity complex, recruited Smurf1 to cellular protrusions, where it controlled the local level of RhoA. Smurf1 thus links the polarity complex to degradation of RhoA in lamellipodia and filopodia to prevent RhoA signaling during dynamic membrane movements.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / physiology
  • Cell Movement*
  • Cell Polarity*
  • Cell Size
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Cytoskeleton / ultrastructure
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Junctions / metabolism
  • Mice
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Pseudopodia / metabolism*
  • Pseudopodia / ultrastructure
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transfection
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / chemistry
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / genetics
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • SMURF2 protein, human
  • Smurf1 protein, mouse
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • protein kinase C zeta
  • Protein Kinase C
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein