An essential role for Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 GTPases in cell cycle progression through G1

Olson, M. F. , Ashworth, A. and Hall, A. (1995) An essential role for Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 GTPases in cell cycle progression through G1. Science, 269(5228), pp. 1270-1272. (doi: 10.1126/science.7652575) (PMID:7652575)

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Abstract

Members of the Rho family of small guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) regulate the organization of the actin cytoskeleton; Rho controls the assembly of actin stress fibers and focal adhesion complexes, Rac regulates actin filament accumulation at the plasma membrane to produce lamellipodia and membrane ruffles, and Cdc42 stimulates the formation of filopodia. When microinjected into quiescent fibroblasts, Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 stimulated cell cycle progression through G1 and subsequent DNA synthesis. Furthermore, microinjection of dominant negative forms of Rac and Cdc42 or of the Rho inhibitor C3 transferase blocked serum-induced DNA synthesis. Unlike Ras, none of the Rho GTPases activated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade that contains the protein kinases c-Raf1, MEK (MAPK or ERK kinase), and ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase). Instead, Rac and Cdc42, but not Rho, stimulated a distinct MAP kinase, the c-Jun kinase JNK/SAPK (Jun NH2-terminal kinase or stress-activated protein kinase). Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 control signal transduction pathways that are essential for cell growth.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Olson, Professor Michael
Authors: Olson, M. F., Ashworth, A., and Hall, A.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
Journal Name:Science
Publisher:American Association for the Advancement of Science
ISSN:0036-8075
ISSN (Online):1095-9203

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