title: A role for RalGDS and a novel Ras effector in the Ras-mediated inhibition of skeletal myogenesis.
abstract: Oncogenic Ras inhibits the differentiation of skeletal muscle cells through the activation of multiple downstream signaling pathways, including a Raf-dependent, mitogen-activated or extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK/MAPK)-independent pathway. Here we report that a non-Raf binding Ras effector-loop variant (H-Ras G12V,E37G), which retains interaction with the Ral guanine nucleotide dissociation stimulator (RalGDS), inhibits the conversion of MyoD-expressing C3H10T1/2 mouse fibroblasts to skeletal muscle. We show that H-Ras G12V,E37G, RalGDS, and the membrane-localized RalGDS CAAX protein inhibit the activity of alpha-actin-Luc, a muscle-specific reporter gene containing a necessary E-box and serum response factor (SRF) binding site, while a RalGDS protein defective for Ras interaction has no effect on alpha-actin-Luc transcription. H-Ras G12V,E37G does not activate endogenous MAPK, but does increase SRF-dependent transcription. Interestingly, RalGDS, RalGDS CAAX, and RalA G23V inhibit H-Ras G12V, E37G-induced expression of an SRF-regulated reporter gene, demonstrating that signaling through RalGDS does not duplicate the action of H-Ras G12V,E37G in this system. As additional evidence for this, we show that H-Ras G12V,E37G inhibits the expression of troponin I-Luc, an SRF-independent muscle-specific reporter gene, whereas RalGDS and RalGDS CAAX do not. Although our studies show that signaling through RalGDS can interfere with the expression of reporter genes dependent on SRF activity (including alpha-actin-Luc), our studies also provide strong evidence that an additional signaling molecule(s) activated by H-Ras G12V,E37G is required to achieve the complete inhibition of the myogenic differentiation program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1392, USA.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ramocki
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Konieczny
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Taparowsky
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D024510:Muscle Development; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000254:growth & development*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / Q000502:physiology*; D026362:Serum Response Factor; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D020726:ral Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor; D020668:rap GTP-Binding Proteins
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D026362:Serum Response Factor; D020726:ral Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor; D008156:Luciferases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D020668:rap GTP-Binding Proteins