Regulation of G protein-linked guanine nucleotide exchange factors for Rho, PDZ-RhoGEF, and LARG by tyrosine phosphorylation: evidence of a role for focal adhesion kinase

J Biol Chem. 2002 Apr 5;277(14):12463-73. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M108504200. Epub 2002 Jan 17.

Abstract

A recently identified family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors for Rho that includes PDZ-RhoGEF, LARG, and p115RhoGEF exhibits a unique structural feature consisting in the presence of area of similarity to regulators of G protein signaling (RGS). This RGS-like (RGL) domain provides a structural motif by which heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunits of the Galpha(12) family can bind and regulate the activity of RhoGEFs. Hence, these newly discovered RGL domain-containing RhoGEFs provide a direct link from Galpha(12) and Galpha(13) to Rho. Recently available data suggest, however, that tyrosine kinases can regulate the ability of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to stimulate Rho, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unknown. Here, we found that the activation of thrombin receptors endogenously expressed in HEK-293T cells leads to a remarkable increase in the levels of GTP-bound Rho within 1 min (11-fold) and a more limited but sustained activation (4-fold) thereafter, which lasts even for several hours. Interestingly, tyrosine kinase inhibitors did not affect the early phase of Rho activation, immediately after thrombin addition, but diminished the levels of GTP-bound Rho during the delayed phase. As thrombin receptors stimulate focal adhesion kinase (FAK) potently, we explored whether this non-receptor tyrosine kinase participates in the activation of Rho by GPCRs. We obtained evidence that FAK can be activated by thrombin, Galpha(12), Galpha(13), and Galpha(q) through both Rho-dependent and Rho-independent mechanisms and that PDZ-RhoGEF and LARG can in turn be tyrosine-phosphorylated through FAK in response to thrombin, thereby enhancing the activation of Rho in vivo. These data indicate that FAK may act as a component of a positive feedback loop that results in the sustained activation of Rho by GPCRs, thus providing evidence of the existence of a novel biochemical route by which tyrosine kinases may regulate the activity of Rho through the tyrosine phosphorylation of RGL-containing RhoGEFs.

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line
  • DNA, Complementary / metabolism
  • Dimerization
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Genistein / pharmacology
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Mutation
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Precipitin Tests
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Thrombin / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Transfection
  • Tyrosine / metabolism*
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • ARHGEF12 protein, human
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • RAPGEF2 protein, human
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Tyrosine
  • Genistein
  • Thrombin
  • GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins