Identification of the ral and rac1 Gene Products, Low Molecular Mass GTP-binding Proteins from Human Platelets

Atorvastatin-mediated inhibition of prenylation of Rab27b and Rap1a in platelets attenuates their prothrombotic capacity and modulates clot structure

Statins inhibit the mevalonate pathway by impairing protein prenylation via depletion of lipid geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP). Rab27b and Rap1a are small GTPase proteins involved in dense granule secretion, platelet activation, and regulation. We analyzed the impact of statins on prenylation of Rab27b and Rap1a in platelets and the downstream effects on fibrin clot properties. Whole blood thromboelastography revealed that atorvastatin (ATV) delayed clot formation time (P < .005) and attenuated clot firmness (P < .005). ATV pre-treatment inhibited platelet aggregation and clot retraction. Binding of fibrinogen and P-selectin exposure on stimulated platelets was significantly lower following pre-treatment with ATV (P < .05). Confocal microscopy revealed that ATV significantly altered the structure of platelet-rich plasma clots, consistent with the reduced fibrinogen binding. ATV enhanced lysis of Chandler model thrombi 1.4-fold versus control (P < .05). Western blotting revealed that ATV induced a dose-dependent accumulation of unprenylated Rab27b and Rap1a in the platelet membrane. ATV dose-dependently inhibited ADP release from activated platelets. Exogenous GGPP rescued the prenylation of Rab27b and Rap1a, and partially restored the ADP release defect, suggesting these changes arise from reduced prenylation of Rab27b. These data demonstrate that statins attenuate platelet aggregation, degranulation, and binding of fibrinogen thereby having a significant impact on clot contraction and structure.

Rac1: A Regulator of Cell Migration and A Potential Target for Cancer Therapy

Cell migration is crucial for physiological and pathological processes such as morphogenesis, wound repair, immune response and cancer invasion/metastasis. There are many factors affecting cell migration, and the regulatory mechanisms are complex. Rac1 is a GTP-binding protein with small molecular weight belonging to the Rac subfamily of the Rho GTPase family. As a key molecule in regulating cell migration, Rac1 participates in signal transduction from the external cell to the actin cytoskeleton and promotes the establishment of cell polarity which plays an important role in cancer cell invasion/metastasis. In this review, we firstly introduce the molecular structure and activity regulation of Rac1, and then summarize the role of Rac1 in cancer invasion/metastasis and other physiological processes. We also discuss the regulatory mechanisms of Rac1 in cell migration and highlight it as a potential target in cancer therapy. Finally, the current state as well as the future challenges in this area are considered. Understanding the role and the regulatory mechanism of Rac1 in cell migration can provide fundamental insights into Rac1-related cancer progression and further help us to develop novel intervention strategies for cancer therapy in clinic.

Stress-Sensitive Protein Rac1 and Its Involvement in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) is a small GTPase that is well known for its sensitivity to the environmental stress of a cell or an organism. It senses the external signals which are transmitted from membrane-bound receptors and induces downstream signaling cascades to exert its physiological functions. Rac1 is an important regulator of a variety of cellular processes, such as cytoskeletal organization, generation of oxidative products, and gene expression. In particular, Rac1 has a significant influence on certain brain functions like neuronal migration, synaptic plasticity, and memory formation via regulation of actin dynamics in neurons. Abnormal Rac1 expression and activity have been observed in multiple neurological diseases. Here, we review recent findings to delineate the role of Rac1 signaling in neurodevelopmental disorders associated with abnormal spine morphology, synaptogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. Moreover, certain novel inhibitors of Rac1 and related pathways are discussed as potential avenues toward future treatment for these diseases.

Gene expression profile of Dclk1+ cells in intestinal tumors

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidence has shown the existence of tumor stem cells with therapeutic potential. Previously, we reported that doublecortin like kinase 1 (Dclk1) marks tumor stem cells but not normal stem cells in the intestine of Apc^Min/+ mice, and that Dclk1- and Lgr5-double positive tumor cells are the tumor stem cells of intestinal tumors.

AIM

To investigate molecules highly expressed in the Dclk1⁺ normal intestinal and Dclk1⁺ tumor cells in Apc^Min/+ mice.

METHODS

We used microarray analyses to examine the gene expression profile of Dclk1⁺ cells in both mouse normal intestinal epithelium and Apc^Min/+ mouse intestinal tumors. We also performed immunofluorescence analyses.

RESULTS

Genes related to microtubules and the actin cytoskeleton (e.g., Rac2), and members of the Src family kinases (i.e., Hck, Lyn, Csk, and Ptpn6) were highly expressed in both Dclk1⁺ normal intestinal and Dclk1⁺ tumor cells. Phosphorylated Hck and phosphorylated Lyn were expressed in Lgr5⁺ cells in the intestinal tumors of Lgr5^{EGFP-IRES-CreERT2/+}; Apc^Min/+ mice.

CONCLUSION

We revealed factors that are highly expressed in Dclk1⁺ intestinal tumor cells, which may help to develop cancer stem cell-targeted therapy in future.

Mouse Platelet Ral GTPases Control P-Selectin Surface Expression, Regulating Platelet-Leukocyte Interaction

OBJECTIVE

RalA and RalB GTPases are important regulators of cell growth, cancer metastasis, and granule secretion. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of Ral GTPases in platelets with the use of platelet-specific gene-knockout mouse models.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

This study shows that platelets from double knockout mice, in which both GTPases have been deleted, show markedly diminished (≈85% reduction) P-selectin translocation to the surface membrane, suggesting a critical role in α-granule secretion. Surprisingly, however, there were only minor effects on stimulated release of soluble α- and δ-granule content, with no alteration in granule count, morphology, or content. In addition, their expression was not essential for platelet aggregation or thrombus formation. However, absence of surface P-selectin caused a marked reduction (≈70%) in platelet-leukocyte interactions in blood from RalAB double knockout mice, suggesting a role for platelet Rals in platelet-mediated inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

Platelet Ral GTPases primarily control P-selectin surface expression, in turn regulating platelet-leukocyte interaction. Ral GTPases could therefore be important novel targets for the selective control of platelet-mediated immune cell recruitment and inflammatory disease.

Emerging roles of RAC1 in treating lung cancer patients

The Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (RAC1), a member of the Rho family of small guanosine triphosphatases, is critical for many cellular activities, such as phagocytosis, adhesion, migration, motility, cell proliferation, and axonal growth. In addition, RAC1 plays an important role in cancer angiogenesis, invasion, and migration, and it has been reported to be related to most cancers, such as breast cancer, gastric cancer, testicular germ cell cancer, and lung cancer. Recently, the therapeutic target of RAC1 in cancer has been investigated. In addition, some investigations have shown that inhibition of RAC1 can reverse drug-resistance in non-small cell lung cancer. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in understanding the role of RAC1 in lung cancer and the underlying mechanisms and discuss its value in clinical therapy.

Systematic analysis of copy number variants of a large cohort of orofacial cleft patients identifies candidate genes for orofacial clefts

Orofacial clefts (OFCs) represent a large fraction of human birth defects and are one of the most common phenotypes affected by large copy number variants (CNVs). Due to the limited number of CNV patients in individual centers, CNV analyses of a large number of OFC patients are challenging. The present study analyzed 249 genomic deletions and 226 duplications from a cohort of 312 OFC patients reported in two publicly accessible databases of chromosome imbalance and phenotype in humans, DECIPHER and ECARUCA. Genomic regions deleted or duplicated in multiple patients were identified, and genes in these overlapping CNVs were prioritized based on the number of genes encompassed by the region and gene expression in embryonic mouse palate. Our analyses of these overlapping CNVs identified two genes known to be causative for human OFCs, SATB2 and MEIS2, and 12 genes (DGCR6, FGF2, FRZB, LETM1, MAPK3, SPRY1, THBS1, TSHZ1, TTC28, TULP4, WHSC1, WHSC2) that are associated with OFC or orofacial development. Additionally, we report 34 deleted and 24 duplicated genes that have not previously been associated with OFCs but are associated with the BMP, MAPK and RAC1 pathways. Statistical analyses show that the high number of overlapping CNVs is not due to random occurrence. The identified genes are not located in highly variable genomic regions in healthy populations and are significantly enriched for genes that are involved in orofacial development. In summary, we report a CNV analysis pipeline of a large cohort of OFC patients and identify novel candidate OFC genes.

Rho GTPases in platelet function

The Rho family of GTP binding proteins, also commonly referred to as the Rho GTPases, are master regulators of the platelet cytoskeleton and platelet function. These low-molecular-weight or 'small' GTPases act as signaling switches in the spatial and temporal transduction, and amplification of signals from platelet cell surface receptors to the intracellular signaling pathways that drive platelet function. The Rho GTPase family members RhoA, Cdc42 and Rac1 have emerged as key regulators in the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton in platelets and play key roles in platelet aggregation, secretion, spreading and thrombus formation. Rho GTPase regulators, including GEFs and GAPs and downstream effectors, such as the WASPs, formins and PAKs, may also regulate platelet activation and function. In this review, we provide an overview of Rho GTPase signaling in platelet physiology. Previous studies of Rho GTPases and platelets have had a shared history, as platelets have served as an ideal, non-transformed cellular model to characterize Rho function. Likewise, recent studies of the cell biology of Rho GTPase family members have helped to build an understanding of the molecular regulation of platelet function and will continue to do so through the further characterization of Rho GTPases as well as Rho GAPs, GEFs, RhoGDIs and Rho effectors in actin reorganization and other Rho-driven cellular processes.

The Small GTPase Rap1b: A Bidirectional Regulator of Platelet Adhesion Receptors

Integrins and other families of cell adhesion receptors are responsible for platelet adhesion and aggregation, which are essential steps for physiological haemostasis, as well as for the development of thrombosis. The modulation of platelet adhesive properties is the result of a complex pattern of inside-out and outside-in signaling pathways, in which the members of the Rap family of small GTPases are bidirectionally involved. This paper focuses on the regulation of the main Rap GTPase expressed in circulating platelets, Rap1b, downstream of adhesion receptors, and summarizes the most recent achievements in the investigation of the function of this protein as regulator of platelet adhesion and thrombus formation.

Genetic and pharmacologic dissection of Ras effector utilization in oncogenesis

Ras proteins function as signaling nodes that are activated by diverse extracellular stimuli. Equally complex for this family of molecular switches is the multitude of downstream effectors and the pathways that they traverse to translate extracellular signals into a spectrum of cellular consequences. To better understand the individual and collective roles of these effector signaling networks, both genetic and pharmacological tools have been developed. By either stimulating or ablating specific components in a cascade downstream of Ras activation, one can gain insight into the specific signaling underlying a particular Ras phenotype, for example, malignant transformation. In this chapter, we describe the use of activating and dominant-negative mutations, both artificial and naturally occurring, of Ras and its effectors, as well as pharmacological inhibitors used to probe the effector pathways (Raf kinase, phosphoinositol 3-kinase, Tiam1, phospholipase C epsilon, and RalGEF) implicated in Ras-mediated oncogenesis.

Identification and characterization of putative tumor suppressor NGB, a GTP-binding protein that interacts with the neurofibromatosis 2 protein

Mutations of the neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) tumor suppressor gene have frequently been detected not only in schwannomas and other central nervous system tumors of NF2 patients but also in their sporadic counterparts and malignant tumors unrelated to the NF2 syndrome such as malignant mesothelioma, indicating a broader role for the NF2 gene in human tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms by which the NF2 product, merlin or schwannomin, is regulated and controls cell proliferation remain elusive. Here, we identify a novel GTP-binding protein, dubbed NGB (referring to NF2-associated GTP binding protein), which binds to merlin. NGB is highly conserved between Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Caenorhabditis elegans, and human cells, and its GTP-binding region is very similar to those found in R-ras and Rap2. However, ectopic expression of NGB inhibits cell growth, cell aggregation, and tumorigenicity in tumorigenic schwanomma cells. Down-regulation and infrequent mutation of NGB were detected in human glioma cell lines and primary tumors. The interaction of NGB with merlin impairs the turnover of merlin, yet merlin does not affect the GTPase nor GTP-binding activity of NGB. Finally, the tumor suppressor functions of NGB require merlin and are linked to its ability to suppress cyclin D1 expression. Collectively, these findings indicate that NGB is a tumor suppressor that regulates and requires merlin to suppress cell proliferation.

Purification and biochemical properties of Rac1, 2, 3 and the splice variant Rac1b

Rac proteins (Rac1, 1b, 2, 3) belong to the GTP-binding proteins (or GTPases) of the Ras superfamily and thus act as molecular switches cycling between an active GTP-bound and an inactive GDP-bound form through nucleotide exchange and hydrolysis. Like most other GTPases, these proteins adopt different conformations depending on the bound nucleotide, the main differences lying in the conformation of two short and flexible loop structures designated as the switch I and switch II region. The three distinct mammalian Rac isoforms, Rac1, 2 and 3, share a very high sequence identity (up to 90%), with Rac1b being an alternative splice variant of Rac1 with a 19 amino acid insertion in vicinity to the switch II region. We have demonstrated that Rac1 and Rac3 are very closely related with respect to their biochemical properties, such as effector interaction, nucleotide binding, and hydrolysis. In contrast, Rac2 displays a slower nucleotide association and is more efficiently activated by the Rac-GEF Tiam1. Modeling and normal mode analysis corroborate the hypothesis that the altered molecular dynamics of Rac2, in particular at the switch I region, may be responsible for different biochemical properties. On the other hand, our structural and biochemical analysis of Rac1b has shown that, compared with Rac1, Rac1b has an accelerated GEF-independent GDP/GTP-exchange and an impaired GTP-hydrolysis, accounting for a self-activating GTPase. This chapter discusses the use of fluorescence spectroscopic methods, allowing real-time monitoring of the interaction of nucleotides, regulators, and effectors with the Rac proteins at submicromolar concentrations and quantification of the kinetic and equilibrium constants.

Cytoskeletal remodeling in leukocyte function

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review focuses on recent developments in understanding the roles and regulation of the cytoskeleton in the function of leukocytes.

RECENT FINDINGS

New studies have shed light on the regulation and dynamics of actin and microtubules in leukocytes relevant both to cell motility generally and to immune function specifically. The roles of cytoskeletal dynamics in processes such as cell activation, cell migration, and phagocytosis are being elucidated. Dramatic progress has been made recently in understanding the mechanisms of leukocyte directional sensing, polarization, and chemotaxis.

SUMMARY

Leukocytes need to be activated, polarize, change shape, move, or phagocytose in response to their environment. Leukocytes accomplish these processes by remodeling their cytoskeleton, the active musculoskeletal system of the cell that is not just the ultimate effector of motile responses but is also a dynamic framework for subcellular organization and regional signaling. Active areas of research include the direct and indirect reciprocal interactions between the cytoskeleton and the membrane and among cytoskeletal elements. The pervasive and multi-layered roles played by small GTPases of the Rho family and phosphoinositides in leukocyte function are also becoming clearer.

Molecular genetic studies of human chromosome 7 in Russell-Silver syndrome

Russell-Silver syndrome (RSS) is a form of congenital short stature characterized by severe growth retardation and variable dysmorphic features. In some RSS individuals, alterations in imprinted genes may be involved because approximately 7% of sporadic patients have been observed to have maternal uniparental disomy (mUPD) of chromosome 7. RSS patients with structural abnormalities of chromosome 7 have also been described. In these individuals the chromosome rearrangement could disrupt the balance of imprinted genes, contribute to a recessive form of RSS, or lead to haploinsufficiency of a crucial developmental gene product. Because the mechanism and molecular defects on chromosome 7 causing RSS are still unknown, we tested our collection of 77 RSS families for mUPD7 and were able to identify three new cases. We also characterized two RSS patients with de novo cytogenetic abnormalities involving the short arm of chromosome 7. One had a partial duplication [46, XX, dup(7)(p12 p14)] and the second contained a paracentric inversion [46, XY, inv(7)(p14 p21)]. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) mapping revealed that the breakpoints on 7p14 were localized to the same novel gene, C7orf10, which encompasses >700 kb of DNA. We also identified other transcription units from this immediate region, but all seem to be biallelically expressed when using a somatic cell hybrid assay.

The exocyst complex binds the small GTPase RalA to mediate filopodia formation

The Ras-related small GTPase RalA is involved in controlling actin cytoskeletal remodelling and vesicle transport in mammalian cells. We identified the mammalian homologue of Sec5, a subunit of the exocyst complex determining yeast cell polarity, as a specific binding partner for GTP-ligated RalA. Inhibition of RalA binding to Sec5 prevents filopod production by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) and by activated forms of RalA and Cdc42, signalling intermediates downstream of these inflammatory cytokines. We propose that the RalA-exocyst complex interaction integrates the secretory and cytoskeletal pathways.

Cloning and characterization of bovine low molecular weight GTPases (Rac1 and Rac2) and rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor 2 (D4-GDI)

GTPases of the Rho family play important roles in human leukocyte signal transduction pathways; however, little is known about the function of these proteins in bovine cells. In the present studies, we isolated molecular clones of bovine Rac1, Rac2, and the Rac/Rho GTPase regulatory protein D4-GDP dissociation inhibitor (D4-GDI) from a bovine bone marrow cDNA library. These clones contained complete open reading frames, encoding 192, 192, and 200 amino acids, respectively. Comparison of the bovine amino acid sequences with those of other species demonstrated a high degree of identity of these proteins across all species, suggesting that these proteins likely play conserved functional roles in bovine leukocyte signal transduction pathways. Comparative Western blotting of these proteins in human and bovine neutrophil cytosol demonstrated that Rac2 was the predominant Rac species and that D4-GDI was the predominant GDI species in bovine neutrophil cytosol. Despite the high degree of homology between human and bovine Rac2, some of the anti-peptide antibody probes prepared against human Rac2 failed to recognize the bovine homologue. We also showed by subcellular fractionation techniques that Rac2 is localized primarily to the cytosolic compartment of resting bovine neutrophils, but is translocated to the plasma membrane after stimulation with PMA. These findings suggest that Rac2 does play a role in bovine neutrophil activation. In addition, these data will be helpful in developing more specific probes for investigating the role of these proteins in bovine leukocyte signal transduction pathways and for studying various inflammatory diseases in cattle.

Effector recognition by the small GTP-binding proteins Ras and Ral

The Ral effector protein RLIP76 (also called RIP/RalBP1) binds to Ral.GTP via a region that shares no sequence homology with the Ras-binding domains of the Ser/Thr kinase c-Raf-1 and the Ral-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factors. Whereas the Ras-binding domains have a similar ubiquitin-like structure, the Ral-binding domain of RLIP was predicted to comprise a coiled-coil region. In order to obtain more information about the specificity and the structural mode of the interaction between Ral and RLIP, we have performed a sequence space and a mutational analysis. The sequence space analysis of a comprehensive nonredundant assembly of Ras-like proteins strongly indicated that positions 36 and 37 in the core of the effector region are tree-determinant positions for all subfamilies of Ras-like proteins and dictate the specificity of the interaction of these GTPases with their effector proteins. Indeed, we could convert the specific interaction with Ras effectors and RLIP by mutating these residues in Ras and Ral. We therefore conclude that positions 36 and 37 are critical for the discrimination between Ras and Ral effectors and that, despite the absence of sequence homology between the Ral-binding and the Ras-binding domains, their mode of interaction is most probably similar.

Ca2+/calmodulin stimulates GTP binding to the ras-related protein ral-A

Ral-A is a Ras-related GTP-binding protein that has been suggested to be the downstream target of Ras proteins and is involved in the tyrosine kinase-mediated, Ras-dependent activation of phospholipase D. We reported recently that Ral-A purified from human erythrocyte membrane binds to calmodulin in a Ca2+-dependent manner at a calmodulin binding domain identified near its C-terminal region (Wang, K. L., Khan, M. T., and Roufogalis, B. D. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 16002-16009). In this study we show the enhancement of GTP binding to Ral-A by Ca2+/calmodulin. The stimulation up to 3-fold by calmodulin was Ca2+-dependent, with half-maximum activation occurring at 180 nM calmodulin and 80 nM free Ca2+ concentration. The present work supports a regulatory role of Ca2+/calmodulin for the activation of Ral-A and suggests a possible direct link between signal transduction pathways of Ca2+/calmodulin and Ral-A proteins.

Mutational analysis of novel effector domains in Rac1 involved in the activation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced) oxidase

The small molecular weight GTP-binding protein Rac (1 or 2) is an obligatory participant in the activation of the superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase. Active NADPH oxidase can be reconstituted in a cell-free system, consisting of phagocyte-derived membranes, containing cytochrome b559, and the recombinant cytosolic proteins p47-phox, p67-phox, and Rac, supplemented with an anionic amphiphile as an activator. The cell-free system was used before for the analysis of structural requirements of individual components participating in the assembly of NADPH oxidase. In earlier work, we mapped four previously unidentified domains in Rac1, encompassing residues 73-81 (a), 103-107 (b), 123-133 (c), and 163-169 (d), as important for cell-free NADPH oxidase activation. The domains were defined by assessing the activation inhibitory effect of a series of overlapping peptides, spanning the entire length of Rac1 [Joseph, G., and Pick, E. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 29079-29082]. We now used the construction of Rac1/H-Ras chimeras, domain deletion, and point mutations, to ascertain the functional relevance of three domains (b, c, and d) predicted by "peptide walking" and to determine the importance of specific residues within these domains. This methodology firmly establishes the involvement of domains b and d in the activation of NADPH oxidase by Rac1 and identifies H103 and K166, respectively, as residues critical for the effector function of these two domains. The functional significance of domain c (insert region) could not be confirmed, as shown by the minor effect of deleting this domain on NADPH oxidase activation. Analysis of the three-dimensional structure of Rac1 reveals that residues H103 and K166 are exposed on the surface of the molecule. Modeling of the activity-impairing point mutations suggests that the effect on the ability to activate NADPH oxidase depends on the side chains of the mutated amino acids and not on changes in the global structure of the protein. In conclusion, we demonstrate the existence of two novel effector sites in Rac1, necessary for supporting NADPH oxidase activation, supplementing the canonical N-terminal effector region.

Activation of the small GTPase Ral in platelets

Ral is a ubiquitously expressed Ras-like small GTPase which is abundantly present in human platelets. The biological function of Ral and the signaling pathway in which Ral is involved are largely unknown. Here we describe a novel method to measure Ral activation utilizing the Ral binding domain of the putative Ral effector RLIP76 as an activation-specific probe. With this assay we investigated the signaling pathway that leads to Ral activation in human platelets. We found that Ral is rapidly activated after stimulation with various platelet agonists, including alpha-thrombin. In contrast, the platelet antagonist prostaglandin I2 inhibited alpha-thrombin-induced Ral activation. Activation of Ral by alpha-thrombin could be inhibited by depletion of intracellular Ca2+, whereas the induction of intracellular Ca2+ resulted in the activation of Ral. Our results show that Ral can be activated by extracellular stimuli. Furthermore, we show that increased levels of intracellular Ca2+ are sufficient for Ral activation in platelets. This activation mechanism correlates with the activation mechanism of the small GTPase Rap1, a putative upstream regulator of Ral guanine nucleotide exchange factors.

Identification and characterization of a calmodulin-binding domain in Ral-A, a Ras-related GTP-binding protein purified from human erythrocyte membrane

A 28-kDa protein (p28) has been purified from Triton X-100 extracts of human erythrocyte plasma membrane by calmodulin affinity chromatography. Based on internal peptide sequencing and its protein amino acid composition, this protein has been shown to be highly related, if not identical to, Ral-A, a Ras-related GTP-binding protein. This protein assignment is consistent with the findings that p28 binds [32P]GTP specifically and has low GTPase activity. In this study we describe the identification and characterization of a calmodulin-binding domain in Ral-A. The Ca2+-dependent interaction of p28 with calmodulin was first detected by a calmodulin affinity column. Gel overlay experiments of both p28 and recombinant Ral-A with biotinylated calmodulin provided strong evidence that Ral-A is a calmodulin-binding protein. A peptide of 18 residues (P18) with the sequence SKEKNGKKKRKSLAKRIR has been identified as a putative calmodulin-binding domain in Ral-A, because it comprises a basic/hydrophobic composition with the propensity to form an amphiphilic helix. P18 was synthesized, and its interaction with calmodulin by gel overlay was shown to be Ca2+-dependent. Circular dichroism analysis demonstrated that this interaction results in less alpha-helical content upon calmodulin complex formation. These results indicate that Ral-A is a calmodulin-binding protein, raising the possibility that it may be associated with Ca2+-dependent intracellular signaling pathways.

Mechanisms of inflammation and leukocyte activation

This article reviews the current status of the knowledge of mechanisms of activating inflammatory responses. It also describes inflammatory mediators, adhesion proteins, the inflammatory process itself, and the molecular mechanisms controlling inflammatory cell activation and regulation.

Generation of antibodies specific for the RalA and RalB GTP-binding proteins and determination of their concentration and distribution in human platelets

Peptide specific polyclonal antibodies directed against C-termini of ras p21 related GTP-binding proteins, ralA and ralB, were generated. To assess antibody specificity, cDNAs coding for full length ralA and ralB were expressed in Escherichia coli as GST fusion proteins. Western blotting analysis using enhanced chemiluminescence technique confirmed that ralA and ralB antibodies were specific for their respective protein. To determine the concentration and distribution, varying amounts of GST-ralA and GST-ralB and, human platelet particulate and cytosolic proteins were loaded during Western blotting. The amount of ralA and ralB proteins in the platelet particulate fraction was determined to be 0.16 +/- 0.017 microgram/mg protein (n = 3) and 0.15 +/- 0.009 microgram/mg protein (n = 3) respectively. In the cytosol, only ralB protein was detected and its concentration was estimated to be 0.03 +/- 0.009 microgram/mg protein (n = 3). Both ralA and ralB proteins were isoprenylated in the presence of [3H] mevalonolactone plus rabbit reticulocyte lysate although radioactivity incorporated into ralA was three times higher than that associated with the ralB protein. Addition of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate to the reaction mixture inhibited incorporation of radioactivity into ralA and ralB but not cH-ras suggesting that both ralA and ralB proteins are geranylgeranylated. Differential distribution of ralA and ralB GTP-binding proteins in human platelets suggests a distinct role for each of these proteins in platelet function.

Post-translational modifications of Ras and Ral are important for the action of Ral GDP dissociation stimulator

Ral GDP dissociation stimulator (RalGDS) is a GDP/GTP exchange protein of Ral and a new effector protein of Ras. Therefore, there may be a new signaling pathway from Ras to Ral. In this paper, we examined the roles of the post-translational modifications of Ras and Ral on this new signal transduction pathway. The post-translationally modified form of Ras bound to RalGDS more effectively than the unmodified form. The modification of Ras was required to regulate the distribution of RalGDS between the cytosol and membrane fractions in COS cells. The post-translational modification of Ral enhanced the activities of RalGDS to stimulate the dissociation of GDP from and the binding of GTP to Ral. Furthermore, the modified form of Ral bound to Ral-binding protein 1 (RalBP1), a putative effector protein of Ral, more effectively than the unmodified form. Taken together with the observations that Ras and Ral are localized to the membranes, these results suggest that the post-translational modifications of Ras and Ral play a role for transmitting the signal effectively on the membranes in the signal transduction pathway of Ras/RalGDS/Ral/RalBP1.

Characterization of human platelet GTPase activating protein for the Ral GTP-binding protein

RalA, a ras p21 related 27 kDa GTP-binding protein, was expressed as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity using an immunoaffinity column. The purified protein was capable of binding and hydrolyzing GTP. Addition of platelet cytosolic or detergent solubilized particulate proteins stimulated the intrinsic GTPase activity of ralA by at least six-fold with maximal effect observed at pH 6.5. Addition of platelet proteins denatured by boiling had no effect on ralA GTPase activity. Analysis of GTPase reaction products by thin layer chromatography demonstrated that in samples containing ralA, 78.5 +/- 6.3% of the radioactivity was recovered in the GTP form while samples containing ralA plus platelet cytosol or particulate proteins, only 7.5 +/- 0.2% and 9.0 +/- 1.4% of the radioactivity was in the GTP form respectively. The GTPase activating protein(s) in the cytosolic and particulate fraction was further characterized by measuring GAP activity in proteins eluted from gel slices after sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The ralA GTPase activating protein present in the cytosol and particulate fractions was recovered in a single gel slice of identical apparent molecular weight. The molecular mass of the ral specific GTPase activating protein was estimated to be 34 +/- 2 kDa. This protein did not stimulate the intrinsic GTPase activity of ras p21, G25K/CDC42Hs or rab3A GTP-binding proteins. Results demonstrate that in human platelets, the activity/function of ral-related GTP-binding protein(s) is under the regulation of a specific GTPase activating protein of molecular mass of 34 +/- 2 kDa that is distributed equally in the cytosol and particulate fraction.

Integrin alpha IIb beta 3-mediated translocation of CDC42Hs to the cytoskeleton in stimulated human platelets

To investigate the function of the human Ras-related CDC42 GTP-binding protein (CDC42Hs) we studied its subcellular redistribution in platelets stimulated by thrombin-receptor activating peptide (TRAP) or ADP. In resting platelets CDC42Hs was detected exclusively in the membrane skeleton (9.6 +/- 1.5% of total) and the detergent soluble fraction (90 +/- 4%). When platelets were aggregated with TRAP or ADP, CDC42Hs (10% of total) appeared in the cytoskeleton and decreased in the membrane skeleton, whereas RhoGDI (guanine-nucleotide dissociation inhibitor) and CDC42HsGAP (GTPase-activating protein) remained exclusively in the detergent-soluble fraction. Upon prolonged platelet stimulation CDC42Hs disappeared from the cytoskeleton and reappeared in the membrane skeleton. Rac translocated to the cytoskeleton with a similar time course as CDC42Hs. When platelets were stimulated under conditions that precluded the activation of the alpha IIb beta 3 integrin and platelet aggregation, cytoskeletal association of CDC42Hs was abolished. Translocation of CDC42Hs to the cytoskeleton but not aggregation was also prevented by cytochalasins B or D or the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. Platelet secretion and thromboxane formation were not required but facilitated the cytoskeletal association of CDC42Hs. The results indicate that in platelets stimulated by TRAP or ADP, a fraction of CDC42Hs translocates from the membrane skeleton to the cytoskeleton. This process is reversible and is mediated by activation of the alpha IIb beta 3 integrin and subsequent actin polymerization and protein-tyrosine kinase stimulation. CDC42Hs might be a new component of a signaling complex containing specific cytoskeletal proteins and protein-tyrosine kinases that forms after activation of the alpha IIb beta 3 integrin in platelets.

Intracellular translocation of rap 1-B G-protein induced by prostaglandin E1 is blocked by phorbol ester in human platelets

Prostaglandin E1 induced increase in cytosolic immunoreactive rap 1-B G-protein in a time and concentration dependent manner in human platelets. However, this increase was completely blocked by simultaneous treatment of platelets with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA).

Ral and Rab3a are major GTP-binding proteins of axonal rapid transport and synaptic vesicles and do not redistribute following depolarization stimulated synaptosomal exocytosis

We have employed high-resolution SDS polyacrylamide gels to demonstrate that there are two major low-molecular-weight GTP-binding proteins associated with axonal membranes including synaptic vesicles, rapid transported membranes and clathrin-coated vesicles. We demonstrate that one of the major proteins is Ral and that the other is Rab3A. Following the depolarization of synaptosomes resulting in increased neurotransmitter release, we see no significant dissociation of either Ral or Rab3a from synaptic vesicle derived membranes in contrast to results reported previously.

Cytoskeletal interactions of Rap1b in platelets

We have presented evidence that rap1b, a 22 kDa low molecular weight GTP binding protein, becomes associated with the cytoskeleton in thrombin-activated platelets. The initial incorporation is very rapid and occurs as fast as we can measure it. Thus, some rap1b is associated with the cytoskeleton as fast as it is formed. The remainder of the rap1b is incorporated more slowly. This biphasic incorporation of rap1b is similar to the incorporation of GPIIb/IIIa into the cytoskeleton, but no interaction between GPIIb/IIIa and rap1b could be demonstrated. Phosphorylation of rap1b by cAMP-dependent protein kinase did not inhibit its association with the cytoskeleton. We conclude that rap1b is one of an increasing number of proteins that associate with the cytoskeleton during cell activation. The function of rap1b in the cytoskeleton is unclear at this time. However, it is possible to speculate on potential roles. There is growing evidence that low molecular weight G proteins participate in the formation of multi-molecular aggregates. For example, p21rac promotes the assembly of a membrane-associated complex composed of NADPH oxidase, p47, and p67 and this complex is important for activation of NADPH oxidase in neutrophils. Similarly, in yeast, BUD1, a homolog of rap1, forms a complex with BUD5 (a homolog of GDI), BEMI, CDC24, and CDC42 (a homolog of G25K). This multi-protein aggregate may be important in cytoskeletal structure in yeast. In platelets, rad1b, which is membrane associated, may promote the assembly of a complex of proteins during cell activation and may localize this complex to the plasma membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Drugs acting on the intracellular signalling system

Cellular response to extracellular messages is a basic process to maintain and to support cell life. Several signalling molecules important as sites of therapeutic drug action are involved in the response. Recent studies on life sciences have elucidated molecular properties of intracellular signalling factors and mechanisms of cascading. Novel drugs acting on signalling molecules and possessing new sites and mechanisms of action have been found. This article summarizes the properties (subtypes, structures, functions) of signalling factors (receptors, ion channels, GTP binding proteins, second messenger-generating enzymes, second messenger-metabolizing enzymes, second messengers protein kinases, protein phosphatases) and lists in Tables A-H drugs that act on signalling molecules and which should find clinical use.

Purification and characterization of a low M(r) GTP-binding protein, c25KG, from human platelet membranes

A low M(r) GTP-binding protein with a M(r) of 26,000 has been purified from a sodium cholate extract of human platelet membranes by using an antibody raised against a synthetic peptide of c25KG, which was previously purified from human platelet cytosol (Nagata, N., et al. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 17000-17005). The M(r) of membranous c25KG (m-c25KG) was slightly higher than that from cytosolic c25KG (M(r) 25,000) and calculated to be 26,000. It was suggested that m-c25KG contains an equimolar amount of GDP. The purified protein could bind approx. 1 mol of [35S]guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate)(GTP gamma S)/mol of protein, with a Kd value of 50 nM. [35S]GTP gamma S-binding to this protein was inhibited by GTP and GDP, but not by ATP and ADP, showing that the binding is specific for guanine. In the presence of 10 mM Mg2+, the dissociation of [8,5'-3H]GDP from the m-c25KG occurred with a rate of 0.01 min-1. The rate of release of Pi from [gamma-32P]GTP-bound m-c25KG was calculated to be 0.03 min-1. These results indicate that c25KG is also present in membrane fraction of human platelet which has very similar biochemical properties in those of the cytosolic type.

Rac1, a low-molecular-mass GTP-binding-protein with high intrinsic GTPase activity and distinct biochemical properties

Rac1, a member of the family of low-molecular-mass GTP-binding proteins, functions in phagocytic leukocytes as a component necessary for activation of the respiratory burst. To characterize the biochemical properties of rac1, the protein was expressed as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli and purified to greater than 99% homogeneity by affinity chromatography. Rac1 protein bound maximally bound and hydrolyzed GTP under low free-Mg2+ concentrations. Under those conditions, (45 nm free Mg2+), purified rac1 exhibited a steady-state GTPase activity of 18 nmol.min-1.mg protein-1 (turnover number approximately 0.39 min-1 at 37 degrees C), which is 40-fold higher than H-ras. The high intrinsic GTPase activity of rac1 under low free Mg2+ was mainly due to an increased kcat, the rate constant for hydrolysis of bound GTP, which was 0.29 min-1 for rac1 vs 0.007 min-1 for H-ras (at 20 degrees C). Rac1 also released bound GDP faster than H-ras (koff.GDP = 1.02 min-1 for rac1 vs 0.33 min-1 for H-ras at 20 degrees C). In contrast, rac1 released bound guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) at a slower rate than H-ras (koff.GTP[S] approximately 0.04 min-1 for rac1 vs 0.31 min-1 for H-ras at 20 degrees C). Rac1 was a very good substrate for in vitro geranylgeranylation (C20) but not for farnesylation (C15), whereas the converse is true for H-ras. Surprisingly, rac1 was a very poor substrate for in vitro ADP-ribosylation by the C3 component of Clostridium botulinum toxin compared to rhoA. As a further characterization of rac1, a mutant was made in which the Thr115 was replaced by asparagine. This protein (referred to as [Thr115----Asn]rac1) contains the consensus amino acids of all four GTP-binding domains of H-ras. The koff.GDP of [Thr115----Asn]rac1 was reduced to that of H-ras, but [Thr115----Asn]rac1 exhibited essentially identical kcat (0.13 min-1 at 20 degrees C) and koff-GTP[S] (0.03 min-1 at 20 degrees C) values as the wild-type protein. Thus, the region(s) in rac1 which control the dissociation of GTP[S] (and presumably GTP) do not entirely coincide with those controlling GDP dissociation. Biochemical analysis of [Thr115----Asn]rac1 also suggests that the region responsible for the increased kcat of rac1 is not within the consensus amino acids of the four guanine-nucleotide-binding domains.

Interaction of the low-molecular-mass, guanine-nucleotide-binding protein with the actin-binding protein and its modulation by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase in bovine platelets

Platelets have been shown to possess several, different, low-molecular-mass, guanine-nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins) with molecular masses about 20-30 kDa. We report here that a 25-kDa G-protein copurified with the bovine platelet actin-binding protein (ABP), a cross-linker of actin filaments which is known to generate the three-dimensional network of actin. Both the G-protein and ABP were recovered in a fraction that was insoluble in Triton X-100 and were extracted in 0.6 M NaCl. Gel-filtration chromatography of the high-salt extract and rechromatography in a low-salt solution indicated that the two proteins may be associated with each other. The association of the two proteins was suggested by cosedimentation of the G-protein with the actin gel formed by actin and ABP. The amounts of the cosedimented G-protein and ABP was unaffected by guanosine-5'-O-[beta-thio]diphosphate and guanosine-5'-O-[gamma-thio]triphosphate, but the G-protein, not ABP, was partially released from the actin gel by phosphorylating ABP with cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Thus, the association of the two proteins was affected by modification of ABP, but not by modification of G-proteins. The physiological significance of the possible association of the two proteins might be that the membrane skeleton functions as a modulator of the G-protein, rather than that the G-protein modulates the function of the membrane skeleton which comprises ABP.

Clostridium botulinum C3 ADP-ribosyltransferase

C3 and C3-like ADP-ribosyltransferases modify the low-molecular-mass GTP-binding proteins Rho and Rac. ADP-ribosylation occurs in asparagine-41, which is located in the putative effector region of these highly conserved regulatory proteins. First studies indicate that the Rho proteins are somehow involved in the regulation of cytoskeletal proteins, e.g., microfilament proteins. Although the precise mechanism of the interaction of the C3 substrate with cytoskeletal elements is unclear, it appears that the ADP-ribosylation by C3 renders the GTP-binding protein biologically inactive. Thus C3 and/or C3-like ADP-ribosyltransferases may be useful instruments with which to study the physiological functions of its eukaryotic substrates. Moreover, those studies may help to elucidate whether these exoenzymes are of pathophysiological and pathogenetic relevance in diseases caused by clostridia producing these agents.

Catalysis of guanine nucleotide exchange on the CDC42Hs protein by the dbl oncogene product

THE superfamily of low molecular mass GTP-binding proteins, for which the ras proteins are prototypes, has been implicated in the regulation of diverse biological activities including protein trafficking, secretion, and cell growth and differentiation. One member of this family, CDC42Hs (originally referred to as Gp or G25K), seems to be the human homologue of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell-division-cycle protein, CDC42Sc. A second S. cerevisiae protein, CDC24, which is known from complementation studies to act with CDC42Sc to regulate the development of normal cell shape and the selection of nonrandom budding sites in yeast, contains a region with sequence similarity to the dbl oncogene product. Here we show that dbl specifically catalyses the dissociation of GDP from CDC42Hs and thereby qualifies as a highly selective guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the GTP-binding protein. Although guanine nucleotide exchange activities have been previously described for other members of the Ras-related GTP-binding protein family, this is the first demonstration, to our knowledge, of the involvement of a human oncogenic protein in catalysing exchange activity.

Evidence that the signal-initiating membrane protein CD9 is associated with small GTP-binding proteins

F(ab')2 fragments of anti-CD9 mAb aggregate platelets by a thromboxane-dependent pathway implicating CD9 as signal initiating molecule. We demonstrate that mAbs directed against CD9, but not against GPIIb/IIIa specifically immunoprecipitate, from detergent lysates of human platelets, proteins of 25 and 26 kDa which bind [alpha 32P]GTP on nitrocellulose transfers. The binding is specific since it is blocked by GTP, but not by ATP. The GTP-binding proteins do not belong to a Mg(2+)-sensitive subset since they are unaffected by the addition of 2 microM-20 mM Mg2+. The observations demonstrate that CD9 is associated with selected small G-proteins.

A synthetic peptide corresponding to a sequence in the GTPase activating protein inhibits p21ras stimulation and promotes guanine nucleotide exchange

Amino acid sequence homology between the GTPase Activating Protein (GAP) and the GTP-binding regulatory protein, Gs alpha, suggests that a specific region of GAP primary structure (residues 891-898) may be involved in its stimulation of p21ras GTP hydrolytic activity (McCormick, F. [1989] Nature 340, 678-679). A peptide, designated p891, corresponding to GAP residues 891-906 (M891RTRVVSGFVFLRLIC906) was synthesized and tested for its ability to inhibit GAP-stimulated p21ras GTPase activity. At a concentration of 25 microM, p891 inhibited GAP activity approximately 50%. Unexpectedly, p891 also stimulated GTP binding to p21N-ras independent of GAP. This stimulation correlated with an enhancement of p21N-ras.GDP dissociation; an approximate 15-fold increase in the presence of 10 microM p891. In contrast, dissociation of the p21N-ras.GTP gamma S complex was unaffected by 10 microM p891. The p21N-ras.GDP complex was unresponsive to 100 microM mastoparan, a peptide toxin shown previously to accelerate GDP dissociation from the guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins, Gi and Go. p21H-ras, as well as the two p21H-ras effector mutants, Ala-38, and Ala-35, Leu-36, also exhibited increased rates of GDP dissociation in the presence of p891. Also tested were three ras-related GTP-binding proteins; rap, G25K and rac. The rap.-GDP complex was unaffected by 10 microM p891. Dissociation of the G25K- and rac.GDP complexes were enhanced slightly; approximately 1.3- and 1.8-fold over control, respectively. Thus, the inhibitory effect of p891 on GAP stimulation of p21ras suggests that amino acids within the region 891-906 of GAP may be essential for interaction with p21ras. In addition, p891 independently affects the nucleotide exchange properties of p21ras.