Published in

American Society for Cell Biology, Molecular Biology of the Cell

DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e15-11-0796

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

The Novel RacE Binding Protein GflB Sharpens Ras Activity at The Leading Edge of Migrating Cells

Journal article published in 2016 by Hiroshi Senoo, Huaqing Cai ORCID, Yu Wang, Hiromi Sesaki, Miho Iijima
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

Full text: Download

Red circle
Preprint: archiving forbidden
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Orange circle
Published version: archiving restricted
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Directional sensing, a process in which cells convert an external chemical gradient into internal signaling events, is essential in chemotaxis. We previously showed that a Rho GTPase, RacE, regulates gradient sensing in Dictyostelium cells. Here, using affinity purification and mass spectrometry, we identify a novel RacE-binding protein, GflB, which contains a Ras GEF domain and a Rho GAP domain. Using biochemical and gene knockout approaches, we show that GflB balances the activation of Ras and Rho GTPases, which enables cells to precisely orient signaling events toward higher concentrations of chemoattractants. Furthermore, we find that GflB is located at the leading edge of migrating cells, and this localization is regulated by the actin cytoskeleton and phosphatidylserine. Our findings provide a new molecular mechanism that connects directional sensing and morphological polarization.