Our results identify p190 RhoGAPs as effectors of Rnd proteins and demonstrate a novel mechanism by which Rnd proteins function as antagonists of RhoA.

Wound healing in epithelia requires coordinated cell migration and proliferation regulated by signaling mechanisms that are poorly understood. Here we show that epithelial cells expressing constitutively active or kinase-dead mutants of the Rac/Cdc42 effector Pak1 fail to undergo growth arrest upon wound closure. Strikingly, this phenotype is only observed when the Pak1 kinase mutants are expressed in cells possessing a free lateral surface, i.e. one that is not engaged in contact with neighboring cells. The Pak1 kinase mutants perturb contact inhibition by a mechanism that depends on the Pak-interacting Rac-GEF PIX. In control cells, endogenous activated Pak and PIX translocate from focal complexes to cell-cell contacts during wound closure. This process is abrogated in cells expressing Pak1 kinase mutants. In contrast, Pak1 mutants rendered defective in PIX binding do not impede translocation of activated Pak and PIX, and exhibit normal wound healing. Thus, recruitment of activated Pak and PIX to cell-cell contacts is pivotal to transduction of growth-inhibitory signals from neighboring cells in epithelial wound healing.

Summary The Rac GTPase regulates Rho signaling in a broad range of physiological settings and in oncogenic transformation [1–3]. Here, we report a novel mechanism by which cross-talk between Rac and Rho GTPases is achieved. Activated Rac1 binds directly to p190B RhoGAP (GTPase activating protein), a major modulator of Rho signaling. p190B co-localizes with constitutively active Rac1 in membrane ruffles. Moreover, activated Rac1 is sufficient to recruit p190B into a detergent-insoluble membrane fraction, which is accompanied by a decrease in GTP-bound RhoA from membranes. p190B is recruited to the plasma membrane in response to integrin engagement [4]. We demonstrate that collagen type-I, a potent inducer of Rac1-dependent cell motility in HeLa cells, counteracts cytoskeletal collapse resulting from overexpression of wild-type p190B but not of a p190B mutant specifically lacking the Rac1-binding sequence. Furthermore, this p190B mutant exhibits dramatically enhanced RhoGAP activity consistent with a model whereby binding of Rac1 relieves autoinhibition of p190B RhoGAP function. Collectively, these observations establish that activated Rac1, through direct interaction with p190B, modulates subcellular RhoGAP localization and activity, thereby providing a novel mechanism for Rac to control Rho signaling in a broad range of physiological processes.

The Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor (RhoGDI) regulates the activation-inactivation cycle of Rho small GTPases, such as Cdc42 and RhoA, by extracting them from the membrane. To study the roles of Mg(2+), phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)), ionic strength and phosphorylation on the interactions of RhoGDI with Cdc42 and RhoA, we developed a new, efficient and reliable method to produce prenylated Rho proteins using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It has been previously reported that protein kinase A (PKA)-treatment of isolated membranes increased RhoA extraction from membranes by RhoGDI [Lang, Gesbert, Delespine-Carmagnat, Stancou, Pouchelet and Bertoglio (1996) EMBO J. 16, 510-519]. In the present study, we used an in vitro affinity chromatography system to show that phosphorylation of RhoA and Cdc42 significantly increased their interaction with RhoGDI under physiological conditions of ionic strength. This increase was independent of the nucleotide (GDP or guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate) loaded on to the Rho proteins, as well as of Mg(2+) and PIP(2). Moreover, dephosphorylation of rat brain membranes by alkaline phosphatase significantly decreased the extraction of RhoA and Cdc42 by RhoGDI. Subsequent re-phosphorylation by PKA restored the extraction levels, indicating the reversibility of this process. These results clearly demonstrate that the phosphorylation states of Cdc42 and RhoA regulate their interactions with RhoGDI and, consequently, their extraction from rat brain membranes. We therefore suggest that phosphorylation is a mechanism of regulation of Cdc42 and RhoA activity that is independent of GDP-GTP cycling.

The Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor (RhoGDI) regulates the activation—inactivation cycle of Rho small GTPases, such as Cdc42 and RhoA, by extracting them from the membrane. To study the roles of Mg2+, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), ionic strength and phosphorylation on the interactions of RhoGDI with Cdc42 and RhoA, we developed a new, efficient and reliable method to produce prenylated Rho proteins using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It has been previously reported that protein kinase A (PKA)-treatment of isolated membranes increased RhoA extraction from membranes by RhoGDI [Lang, Gesbert, Delespine-Carmagnat, Stancou, Pouchelet and Bertoglio (1996) EMBO J. 16, 510–519]. In the present study, we used an in vitro affinity chromatography system to show that phosphorylation of RhoA and Cdc42 significantly increased their interaction with RhoGDI under physiological conditions of ionic strength. This increase was independent of the nucleotide (GDP or guanosine 5′-[γ-thio]triphosphate) loaded on to the Rho proteins, as well as of Mg2+ and PIP2. Moreover, dephosphorylation of rat brain membranes by alkaline phosphatase significantly decreased the extraction of RhoA and Cdc42 by RhoGDI. Subsequent re-phosphorylation by PKA restored the extraction levels, indicating the reversibility of this process. These results clearly demonstrate that the phosphorylation states of Cdc42 and RhoA regulate their interactions with RhoGDI and, consequently, their extraction from rat brain membranes. We therefore suggest that phosphorylation is a mechanism of regulation of Cdc42 and RhoA activity that is independent of GDP—GTP cycling.

Physiological processes involving remodelling of the extracellular matrix, such as wound healing, embryogenesis, angiogenesis, and the female reproductive cycle, require the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). This group of proteases degrades basal membranes and connective tissues and plays an essential role in the homeostasis of the extracellular matrix. An imbalance in the expression or activity of MMPs can have important consequences in diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, or the development of cancers. Because of the pathophysiological importance of MMPs, their activity is highly controlled in order to confine them to specific areas. An activation cascade, initiated by the proteolysis of plasminogen, cleaves proMMPs, and every step is controlled by specific activators or inhibitors. MMPs destabilize the organization of the extracellular matrix and influence the development of cancer by contributing to cell migration, tumor cell proliferation, and angiogenesis. Accordingly, these proteases possess an important role in cell-matrix interactions by affecting fundamental processes such as cell differentiation and proliferation. Therefore, the characterization of MMPs involved in specific types and stages of tumors will significantly improve the diagnosis and treatment of these cancers in humans.

Physiological processes involving remodelling of the extracellular matrix, such as wound healing, embryogenesis, angiogenesis, and the female reproductive cycle, require the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). This group of proteases degrades basal membranes and connective tissues and plays an essential role in the homeostasis of the extracellular matrix. An imbalance in the expression or activity of MMPs can have important consequences in diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, or the development of cancers. Because of the pathophysiological importance of MMPs, their activity is highly controlled in order to confine them to specific areas. An activation cascade, initiated by the proteolysis of plasminogen, cleaves proMMPs, and every step is controlled by specific activators or inhibitors. MMPs destabilize the organization of the extracellular matrix and influence the development of cancer by contributing to cell migration, tumor cell proliferation, and angiogenesis. Accordingly, these proteases possess an important role in cell-matrix interactions by affecting fundamental processes such as cell differentiation and proliferation. Therefore, the characterization of MMPs involved in specific types and stages of tumors will significantly improve the diagnosis and treatment of these cancers in humans.

Astrocytic tumors are the most common human brain tumors. Establishment of tumor grade is a key determinant both in the choice of a therapeutic approach and in the prognosis. The diagnosis of astrocytic tumors is currently determined following histopathological analysis. The identification of molecular markers would offer a complementary tool for characterizing tumors with respect to their clinical behavior. In this study we determined the expression levels of 3 small GTP binding proteins (RhoA, RhoB and Rac1), of their inhibitor RhoGDI and of caveolin-1 in 24 human astrocytic tumors of grades I to IV. Our results demonstrated that the expression of RhoA and RhoB decreased significantly in all brain tumors studied and was inversely related with tumor of grade II to IV malignancy. The amount of caveolin-1 immunodetected was not significantly different from normal brain samples while the Rac1 expression level was diminished in astrocytic tumors of grades III and IV. Our finding that RhoA and RhoB expression levels are correlated to tumor malignancy suggests that they may serve as novel and efficient diagnostic markers for astrocytic brain tumors of histological grade II to IV and complement currently applied histopathological analysis.