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Biomedical subjects

Miguel A Del Pozo

Publications and source records attributed to Miguel A Del Pozo.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Caveolae internalization regulates integrin-dependent signaling pathways.

Integrin-mediated adhesion regulates trafficking of cholesterol-enriched membrane microdomains (CEMM). Upon cell detachment from the extracellular matrix (ECM), CEMMs undergo rapid internalization and are cleared from the plasma membrane. This pathway regulates integrin-mediated Rac membrane targeting, allowing coupling of Rac to downstream effectors. Internalization of CEMMs is mediated by Dynamin-2, a regulator of caveolae dynamics, and caveolin-1, an essential caveolae coat protein. Translocation of tyrosine phosphorylated caveolin-1 from focal adhesions to caveolae upon cell detachment induces CEMM internalization. Notably, integrin-mediated regulation of Erk, phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI3K) and Rac pathways is dependent on caveolin-1. These results describe a novel pathway in which integrins prevent downregulation of Erk, PI3K and Rac-dependent pathways by inhibiting caveolin-1-dependent endocytosis. This pathway define a novel molecular mechanism for regulated cell growth and tumor suppression by caveolin-1.

Animals↗

Integrin signaling and lipid rafts.

Integrin-mediated adhesion regulates the recruitment of the small GTPase Rac to the plasma membrane and subsequent activation of downstream signaling. We recently reported that Rac binds preferentially to cholesterol-rich membranes ("lipid rafts"), and integrins regulate Rac function by preventing the internalization of its binding sites within these domains. Regulation of lipid rafts by integrins may be important for the spatial control of cell migration and signaling pathways involved in anchorage-dependent cell growth.

Animals↗

Zizimin1, a novel Cdc42 activator, reveals a new GEF domain for Rho proteins.

The Rho family GTPases Rac, Rho and Cdc42 are critical in regulating the actin-based cytoskeleton, cell migration, growth, survival and gene expression. These GTPases are activated by guanine nucleotide-exchange factors (GEFs). A biochemical search for Cdc42 activators led to the cloning of zizimin1, a new protein whose overexpression induces Cdc42 activation. Sequence comparison combined with mutational analysis identified a new domain, which we named CZH2, that mediates direct interaction with Cdc42. CZH2-containing proteins constitute a new superfamily that includes the so-called 'CDM' proteins that bind to and activate Rac. Together, the results suggest that CZH2 is a new GEF domain for the Rho family of proteins.

3T3 Cells↗