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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Carboxyl-terminal isoprenylation of ras-related GTP-binding proteins encoded by rac1, rac2, and ralA.

Membrane localization of p21ras is dependent upon its posttranslational modification by a 15-carbon farnesyl group. The isoprenoid is linked to a cysteine located within a conserved carboxyl-terminal sequence termed the "CAAX" box (where C is cysteine, A is an aliphatic amino acid, and X is any amino acid). We now show that three GTP-binding proteins encoded by the recently identified rac1, rac2, and ralA genes also undergo isoprenoid modification. cDNAs coding for each protein were transcribed in vitro, and the RNAs were translated in reticulocyte lysates. Incorporation of isoprenoid precursors, [3H]mevalonate or [3H]farnesyl pyrophosphate, indicated that the translation products were modified by isoprenyl groups. A protein recognized by an antibody to rac1 also comigrated with a protein metabolically labeled by a product of [3H] mevalonate in cultured cells. Gel permeation chromatography of radiolabeled hydrocarbons released from the rac1, rac2, and ralA proteins by reaction with Raney nickel catalyst indicated that unlike p21Hras, which was modified by a 15-carbon moiety, the rac and ralA translation products were modified by 20-carbon isoprenyl groups. Site-directed mutagenesis established that the isoprenylated cysteines in the rac1, rac2, and ralA proteins were located in the fourth position from the carboxyl terminus. The three-amino acid extension distal to the cysteine was required for this modification. The isoprenylation of rac1 (CSLL), ralA (CCIL), and the site-directed mutants rac1 (CRLL) and ralA (CSIL), demonstrates that the amino acid adjacent to the cysteine need not be aliphatic. Therefore, proteins with carboxyl-terminal CXXX sequences that depart from the CAAX motif should be considered as potential targets for isoprenoid modification.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

SmgGDS stabilizes nucleotide-bound and -free forms of the Rac1 GTP-binding protein and stimulates GTP/GDP exchange through a substituted enzyme mechanism.

The Rac proteins, Rac1 and Rac2, are essential components of the NADPH oxidase system of phagocytes and regulate the actin assembly associated with membrane ruffling. These functions are controlled by the GTP-bound form of Rac. The biochemical interaction between Rac and its only known GDP-dissociation stimulator (termed smgGDS) was characterized. SmgGDS was able to stimulate the incorporation of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]-triphosphate GTP[gamma S] into the RhoA, Rac2, Rac1, Rap1A and CDC42Hs GTP-binding proteins, but the activity was greatest toward RhoA and Rac2. Isoprenoid modification of these proteins was not absolutely required for the interaction with smgGDS. Interestingly, the activity of smgGDS toward Rac1 could not be observed in a [3H]GDP/GTP exchange assay under conditions where it stimulated incorporation of GTP[gamma S] into Rac1. We determined that smgGDS prevented the loss of Rac1 activity during the [3H]GDP/GTP exchange assay by demonstrating the ability of smgGDS to inhibit the loss of Rac1 GTP[gamma S]-binding during incubations at 30 degrees C. This stabilizing effect was exactly counterbalanced by the ability of smgGDS to stimulate the release of [3H]GDP from Rac1, thereby producing no net observable effect in the exchange assay. SmgGDS was able to effectively stimulate the release of GDP but not GTP[gamma S] from Rac1. SmgGDS maintains Rac1 in a nucleotide-free form after release of GDP, indicating that the reaction between Rac1 and smgGDS involves a substituted enzyme mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Post-translational processing of rac p21s is important both for their interaction with the GDP/GTP exchange proteins and for their activation of NADPH oxidase.

rac1 and rac2 p21s are ras p21-like small GTP-binding proteins which are implicated in the NADPH oxidase-catalyzed superoxide generation in phagocytes. rac1 and rac2 p21s have a Cys-A-A-Leu (A = aliphatic amino acid) structure in their C-terminal region which may undergo post-translational processing including prenylation, proteolysis, and carboxyl methylation. We studied the function of this post-translational processing of rac p21s in their interaction with the stimulatory and inhibitory GDP/GTP exchange proteins for rac p21s, named smg GDS and rho GDI, and in their NADPH oxidase activation. We produced human recombinant rac1 and rac2 p21s in insect cells and purified them from the membrane and soluble fractions as the post-translationally processed and unprocessed forms, respectively. Post-translationally processed rac1 and rac2 p21s were sensitive to both smg GDS and rho GDI, but post-translationally unprocessed rac1 and rac2 p21s were insensitive to them. The GTP gamma S (guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate)-bound form of post-translationally processed rac1 and rac2 p21s stimulated the NADPH oxidase activity, but post-translationally unprocessed rac1 and rac2 p21s were far less effective. These results indicate that both rac1 and rac2 p21s stimulate the NADPH oxidase activity and that their post-translational processing is important not only for their interaction with smg GDS and rho GDI but also for their NADPH oxidase activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Inhibition of superoxide production in B lymphocytes by rac antisense oligonucleotides.

Rac1 and Rac2 gene products are small GTP-binding proteins showing 92% homology to each other. According to recent studies performed in cell-free systems, Rac1 and Rac2 proteins may be involved in the activation of NADPH-oxidase, the superoxide-generating enzymatic complex active in phagocytes. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformed B lymphocytes, which express rac1 and rac2 genes, also efficiently release superoxide anions when triggered by various cell surface stimuli. To investigate the regulatory role of Rac proteins in living cells, we analyzed superoxide production in response to cross-linking of surface immunoglobulins or phorbol ester treatment in human EBV-transformed B lymphocytes pretreated with Rac sense and antisense oligonucleotides. We report here that (i) the rac protein content estimated by immunoblotting can be decreased by 60% in Rac antisense pretreated cells and (ii) a strong (50-60%), dose-dependent inhibition of superoxide production is observed in antisense pretreated cells whereas cells pretreated with sense oligonucleotide are unaffected. The data presented show, for the first time in whole cells, that superoxide production is modulated by the Rac protein content, thus demonstrating the physiological role of Rac proteins in the regulation of NADPH-oxidase.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1995

Characterization of the effector-specifying domain of Rac involved in NADPH oxidase activation.

Production of microbicidal oxidants by phagocytic leukocytes requires activation of a latent NADPH oxidase by the coordinated assembly of a membrane-associated flavocytochrome b558, with three cytosolic components, p47phox, p67phox, and the low molecular weight GTP-binding protein Rac. Rac1 and Rac2 have 92% sequence identity and are both active in supporting the oxidase, while CDC42Hs, the closest relative to Rac with 70% sequence identity, only weakly supports oxidase activation in vitro. We have used CDC42Hs as a foil to identify residues in Rac that are critical for oxidase activation. Most of the divergent sequences of CDC42Hs could be incorporated into Rac-CDC42Hs chimeric proteins without affecting cell-free NADPH oxidase activity. However, incorporation of the amino-terminal segment of CDC42Hs (residues 1-40), which differs from Rac1 by only four residues (positions 3, 27, 30, and 33), resulted in a marked loss of oxidase activation capacity. Point mutagenesis studies showed that this was due to changes at residues 27 and 30, but not residues 3 and 33. Conversely, incorporation of the amino terminus of Rac1 (residues 1-40) into CDC42Hs increased its activity to that of Rac1, indicating that this terminus contains the effector-specifying domain of Rac. Taken together, these studies show that the difference in the activity between CDC42Hs and Rac1 is due entirely to differences in amino acids at position 27 and 30.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Identification of heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins in human megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line, MEG-01, and their alteration during cellular differentiation.

Various heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) are possible to have important functions in hematopoietic cells. However, there has been no information regarding their expression in magakaryoblasts and/or megakaryocytes. In the present study, protein contents of seven G protein alpha subunits (Gs alpha, Gi2 alpha, Gi3 alpha, Gz alpha, G11 alpha, Gq alpha and G12 alpha) and beta subunit in a human megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line, MEG-01, were analyzed by immunoblotting. Immature MEG-01 cells expressed the alpha subunits of Gs, Gi2, Gi3, Gz, G11 and G12 at protein molecule level. During the 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced differentiation process, the contents of Gi2 alpha and Gi3 alpha increased, whereas the protein levels of Gz alpha, Gs alpha, G11 alpha and G12 alpha were observed to hardly change. beta subunit was also observed to be present in immature MEG-01 cells and to increase continuously throughout the differentiation process. For the expression of Gi2 alpha and beta subunits, chronic TPA-treatment was required although Rac2, a low M(r) GTP-binding protein, was expressed abundantly by only 30 min-TPA-treatment followed by 3 day-culture.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1995

Abr and Bcr are multifunctional regulators of the Rho GTP-binding protein family.

Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemias result from the fusion of the BCR and ABL genes, which generates a functional chimeric molecule. The Abr protein is very similar to Bcr but lacks a structural domain which may influence its biological regulatory capabilities. Both Abr and Bcr have a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) domain similar to those found in other proteins that stimulate GTP hydrolysis by members of the Rho family of GTP-binding proteins, as well as a region of homology with the guanine nucleotide dissociation-stimulating domain of the DBL oncogene product. We purified as recombinant fusion proteins the GAP- and Dbl-homology domains of both Abr and Bcr. The Dbl-homology domains of Bcr and Abr were active in stimulating GTP binding to CDC42Hs, RhoA, Rac1, and Rac2 (rank order, CDC42Hs > RhoA > Rac1 = Rac2) but were inactive toward Rap1A and Ha-Ras. Both Bcr and Abr acted as GAPs for Rac1, Rac2, and CDC42Hs but were inactive toward RhoA, Rap1A, and Ha-Ras. Each individual domain bound in a noncompetitive manner to GTP-binding protein substrates. These data suggest the multifunctional Bcr and Abr proteins might interact simultaneously and/or sequentially with members of the Rho family to regulate and coordinate cellular signaling.

Binding, Competitive↗
PubMed1989

rac, a novel ras-related family of proteins that are botulinum toxin substrates.

A new family of ras-related proteins, designated rac (ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate) has been identified. rac1 and rac2 cDNA clones were isolated from a differentiated HL-60 library and encode proteins that are 92% homologous and share 58% and 26-30% amino acid homology with human rhos and ras, respectively. Nucleotide sequence analysis predicts both rac1 and rac2 proteins to contain 192 amino acids with molecular masses of 21,450 and 21,429 daltons, respectively. rac1 and rac2 possess four of the five conserved functional domains in ras associated with binding and hydrolysis of guanine nucleotides. They also contain the COOH-terminal consensus sequence Cys-X-X-X-COOH which localizes ras to the inner plasma membrane and the residues Gly12 and Ala59, at which sites mutations elicit transforming potential to ras. The rac transcripts, particularly rac2, display relative myeloid tissue selectivity. Both rac1 transcripts (2.4 and 1.1 kilobases (kb] increase when HL-60 cells differentiate to neutrophil-like morphology. In contrast, differentiation of U937 cells to monocyte-like morphology causes no change in the 2.4-kb mRNA and a decrease in the 1.1-kb mRNA species. rac2 mRNA (1.45 kb) increases 7-9-fold and 3-fold upon differentiation of HL-60 and U937 cells, respectively. Neither rac mRNAs are present in a Jurkat T cell line, and unlike rac1, rac2 mRNA is absent in human brain and liver tissue. Transfection experiments permitted the demonstration that rac1 and rac2 are substrates for ADP-ribosylation by the C3 component of botulinum toxin. The data suggest that racs are plasma membrane-associated GTP-binding proteins which could regulate secretory processes, particularly in myeloid cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Regulation of the superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase by a small GTP-binding protein and its stimulatory and inhibitory GDP/GTP exchange proteins.

The superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase system in phagocytes consists of at least membrane-associated cytochrome b558 and three cytosolic components named SOCI/NCF-3/sigma 1/C1, SOCII/NCF-1/p47-phox, and SO-CIII/NCF-2/p67-phox. p47-phox and p67-phox were isolated, and their primary structures were determined, but SOCI has not been well characterized. In the present study, we first purified SOCI to homogeneity from the cytosol fraction of the differentiated HL-60 cells. The purified SOCI was a small GTP-binding protein (G protein) with a M(r) of about 22,000. The guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate-bound form, but not the GDP-bound form, of this small G protein showed the SOCI activity. The partial amino acid sequence of SOCI thus far determined was identical to the amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA encoding rac2 p21. None of the purified small G proteins, including Ki-ras p21, smg p21B/rap1B p21, rhoA p21, and rac1 p21, showed the SOCI activity. These results indicate that SOCI is a small G protein very similar, if not identical, to rac2 p21. The GDP/GTP exchange reaction of SOCI was stimulated and inhibited by stimulatory and inhibitory GDP/GTP exchange proteins for small G proteins, named smg GDS and rho GDI, respectively. The NADPH oxidase activity was also stimulated and inhibited by smg GDS and rho GDI, respectively. These results indicate that the superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase system is regulated by both smg GDS and rho GDI through rac2 p21 or the rac2-related small G protein in phagocytes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins in HL-60 granulocytes. Assessment of the role of ARF and of a 50-kDa cytosolic protein in phospholipase D activation.

Phospholipase D (PLD) activation by guanine nucleotides requires protein cofactors in both the plasma membrane and the cytosol. HL-60 cytosol was fractionated by ammonium sulfate and gel-permeation chromatography. Two cytosolic protein fractions were found to reconstitute the GTP gamma S (guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate)-stimulated PLD in a reconstitution assay consisting of 3H-labeled HL-60 membranes and eluted column fractions. The major peak of reconstituting activity was in the region of 50 kDa, and a second discrete peak of PLD reconstitution activity was observed in the region of 18 kDa. Rho GDP/GTP exchange inhibitor, Rho GDI, comigrated with Rac2 and RhoA, but not Rac1. RhoA and Rac2 were entirely complexed with Rho GDI and eluted with an apparent molecular mass of 43 kDa by gel filtration chromatography. The partial overlap between cytosolic Rac2 and RhoA with the 50-kDa peak of reconstituting activity was not consistent with the participation of cytosolic Rho-related GTPases in the activation of PLD by guanine nucleotides. However, recombinant Rho GDI, which inhibits nucleotide exchange on the Rho family of small GTP-binding proteins, reduced GTP gamma S-stimulated PLD activity in HL-60 homogenates. The stimulatory exchange factor, Smg GDS, which is active on Rho and Rac, could be partially separated from the PLD-stimulating factor(s) by gel-permeation chromatography. Moreover, recombinant Smg GDS failed to stimulate GTP-dependent PLD activity. Cytosolic ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) was exclusively located in the 18-kDa peak of reconstitution activity. Faint amounts of membrane-bound ARF were also detected using the monoclonal antibody 1D9. The effects of the 50-kDa and 18-kDa PLD-inducing factors on the salt-extracted PLD activity were synergistic. The weak stimulatory effect of ARF alone suggested that the GTP gamma S-stimulated PLD activity is dependent on the presence of another protein(s), presumably ARF-regulatory proteins. We propose that a membrane-bound GTP-binding protein, possibly ARF, may be involved in the activation of PLD when combined with the component(s) of the 50-kDa fraction.

ADP-Ribosylation Factors↗
PubMed1994

Rac translocates independently of the neutrophil NADPH oxidase components p47phox and p67phox. Evidence for its interaction with flavocytochrome b558.

When the neutrophil NADPH oxidase is activated to generate superoxide, the cytosolic components, p47phox, p67phox, and the GTP-binding protein Rac, become stably associated with the plasma membrane. The translocation of p47phox and p67phox is dependent on the presence in the membrane of the flavocytochrome b558, itself composed of two subunits, gp91phox and p22phox. In this study we have quantitated Rac1 and Rac2 in human neutrophils and show that > 96% of the Rac protein is Rac2 and that chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) neutrophils contain normal levels of the protein. We used a cell-free translocation system as well as intact normal and CGD neutrophils to determine whether the translocation of Rac2 is dependent upon the presence of the other oxidase components. When cell-free reactions contained any combination of normal, p47phox-deficient or p67phox-deficient cytosol and normal or flavocytochrome b558-deficient membranes, the GTP gamma S (guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate)-dependent association of Rac2 with the re-isolated membranes was not significantly different from the control mixture of normal membranes and cytosol. In intact CGD neutrophils lacking p47phox or p67phox and stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate the translocation of Rac2 was also normal, and we conclude that Rac translocation can occur independently of the cytosolic NADPH oxidase components. In contrast, in the absence of flavocytochrome b558 from intact X-chromosome linked CGD neutrophils, Rac2 translocation was reduced to only 25% of the control value. On the basis of these observations we propose that while Rac2 can bind to a site distinct from either gp91phox or p22phox, it depends upon an interaction with the flavocytochrome b558 for maximal stability in the membrane.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1995

A dominant inhibitory version of the small GTP-binding protein Rac disrupts cytoskeletal structures and inhibits developmental cell shape changes in Drosophila.

The Rho subfamily of Ras-related small GTP-binding proteins is involved in regulation of the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeletal changes induced by two members of this subfamily, Rho and Rac, in response to growth factor stimulation, have dramatic effects on cell morphology. We are interested in using Drosophila as a system for studying how such effects participate in development. We have identified two Drosophila genes, DRacA and DRacB, encoding proteins with homology to mammalian Rac1 and Rac2. We have made transgenic flies bearing dominant inhibitory (N17DRacA), and wild-type versions of the DRacA cDNA under control of an Hsp70 promoter. Expression of the N17DRacA transgene during embryonic development causes a high frequency of defects in dorsal closure which are due to disruption of cell shape changes in the lateral epidermis. Embryonic expression of N17DRacA also affects germband retraction and head involution. The epidermal cell shape defects caused by expression of N17DRacA are accompanied by disruption of a localized accumulation of actin and myosin thought to be driving epidermal cell shape change. Thus the Rho subfamily may be generating localized changes in the cytoskeleton during Drosophila development in a similar fashion to that seen in mammalian and yeast cells. The Rho subfamily is likely to be participating in a wide range of developmental processes in Drosophila through its regulation of the cytoskeleton.

Actins↗
PubMed1995

Dissociation of Rac translocation from p47phox/p67phox movements in human neutrophils by tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Cytosolic components of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase (p47phox, p67phox, and Rac2) translocate to the plasma membrane on cell activation where they interact with a membrane-bound cytochrome b to generate superoxide anion. Phosphorylation reactions are known to be important for activity of NADPH oxidase. Translocation of Rac2, p47phox, and p67phox were all enhanced in formyl-Met-Leu-Phe-stimulated neutrophils treated with 50 nM of the protein phosphatase 1/2A inhibitor calyculin A. Rac translocation was blocked by the tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein (50 microM) and herbimycin (17 microM), whereas movement of p47phox and p67phox were not inhibited. Cell-free analysis of Rac translocation also demonstrated that translocation of p47phox and p67phox were not linked to the movement or availability of Rac2. Thus, Rac2 does not appear to regulate NADPH oxidase by controlling movements of the cytosolic components to the membrane-associated enzyme but may exert its effect at the level of the assembled complex. Tyrosine kinase activity is required for translocation of Rac in the chemoattractant-stimulated human neutrophil.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1994

Inhibition of NADPH oxidase activation by synthetic peptides mapping within the carboxyl-terminal domain of small GTP-binding proteins. Lack of amino acid sequence specificity and importance of polybasic motif.

The small GTP-binding protein (G protein) Rac1 is an obligatory participant in the assembly of the superoxide (O2-.)-generating NADPH oxidase complex of macrophages. We investigated the effect of synthetic peptides, mapping within the near carboxyl-terminal domains of Rac1 and of related G proteins, on the activity of NADPH oxidase in a cell-free system consisting of solubilized guinea pig macrophage membrane, a cytosolic fraction enriched in p47phox and p67phox (or total cytosol), highly purified Rac1-GDP dissociation inhibitor for Rho (Rho GDI) complex, and the activating amphiphile, lithium dodecyl sulfate. Peptides Rac1-(178-188) and Rac1-(178-191), but not Rac2-(178-188), inhibited NADPH oxidase activity in a Rac1-dependent system when added prior to or simultaneously with the initiation of activation. However, undecapeptides corresponding to the near carboxyl-terminal domains of RhoA and RhoC and, most notably, a peptide containing the same amino acids as Rac1-(178-188), but in reversed orientation, were also inhibitory. Surprisingly, O2-. production in a Rac2-dependent cell-free system was inhibited by Rac1-(178-188) but not by Rac2-(178-188). Finally, basic polyamino acids containing lysine, histidine, or arginine, also inhibited NADPH oxidase activation. We conclude that inhibition of NADPH oxidase activation by synthetic peptides mapping within the carboxyl-terminal domain of certain small G proteins is not amino acid sequence-specific but related to the presence of a polybasic motif. It has been proposed that such a motif serves as a plasma membrane targeting signal for a number of small G proteins (Hancock, J.F., Paterson, H., and Marshall, C.J. (1990) Cell 63, 133-139).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Characterization of rho GTPase family homologues in Drosophila melanogaster: overexpressing Rho1 in retinal cells causes a late developmental defect.

The rho family of GTPases has been implicated in regulating changes in cell morphology in response to extracellular signals. We have cloned three widely expressed members of this family from Drosophila melanogaster; a rho homologue (Rho1) and two rac homologues (Rac1 and Rac2). Flies harbouring a Rho1 transgene that is specifically expressed in the eye exhibit a dramatic dose dependent disruption of normal eye development. Flies bearing at least two copies of the transgene display a severe rough eye phenotype characterized by missing secondary and tertiary pigment cells, a substantial reduction in the number of photoreceptor cells and a grossly abnormal morphology of the rhabdomeres. Cell fate determination in the imaginal disc occurs normally and abnormalities become manifest late in pupariation, coincident with the phase when the cells undergo major morphological changes. This phenotype is modified by mutations at several other loci that have been implicated in signal transduction, but not by mutations in ras pathway components.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

A new member of the ras superfamily, the rac1 homologue from Caenorhabditis elegans. Cloning and sequence analysis of cDNA, pattern of developmental expression, and biochemical characterization of the protein.

A new member of the ras superfamily, designated CErac1 has been identified. The CErac1 cDNA clone was isolated from a Caenorhabditis elegans mixed stage library and encodes a protein of 191 amino acids with 82 and 79% identity to human rac1 and rac2 proteins, respectively. The CErac1 cDNA maps to a position on C. elegans chromosome IV in close proximity to cha-1, a choline acetyltransferase gene. The CErac1 cDNA hybridizes to two mRNAs (1.7 and 0.9 kilobases). Their expression is developmentally regulated, that of the more abundant 1.7 kilobases being highest at the embryonic stage and decreasing dramatically during development with 10% of the embryonic level in adult nematodes. The glutathione-S-transferase/CErac1 fusion protein expressed in Escherichia coli binds GTP and exhibits intrinsic GTPase activity. The GTPase activity of the CErac1 protein is stimulated by human n-chimaerin, a GTPase-activating protein for p21 rac1. These data suggest a role of CErac1 in C. elegans early development. The conserved biochemical properties indicate that further characterization of CErac1 by genetic analysis will be helpful in elucidating not only its role in the signal transduction, but also the biological function of its mammalian homologues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗