title: Mutation of Ha-Ras C terminus changes effector pathway utilization.
abstract: In PC12 cells, Ha-Ras modulates multiple effector proteins that induce neuronal differentiation. To regulate these pathways Ha-Ras must be located at the plasma membrane, a process normally requiring attachment of farnesyl and palmitate lipids to the C terminus. Ext61L, a constitutively activated and palmitoylated Ha-Ras that lacks a farnesyl group, induced neurites with more actin cytoskeletal changes and lamellipodia than were induced by farnesylated Ha-Ras61L. Ext61L-triggered neurite outgrowth was prevented easily by co-expressing inhibitory Rho, Cdc42, or p21-activated kinase but required increased amounts of inhibitory Rac. Compared with Ha-Ras61L, Ext61L caused 2-fold greater Rac GTP binding and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity in membranes, a hyperactivation that explained the numerous lamellipodia and ineffectiveness of Rac(N17). In contrast, Ext61L activated B-Raf kinase and ERK phosphorylation more poorly than Ha-Ras61L. Thus, accentuated differentiation by Ext61L apparently results from heightened activation of one Ras effector (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) and suboptimal activation of another (B-Raf). This surprising unbalanced effector activation, without changes in the designated Ras effector domain, indicates the Ext61L C-terminal alternations are a new way to influence Ha-Ras-effector utilization and suggest a broader role of the lipidated C terminus in Ha-Ras biological functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, the Department of Zoology/Genetics, and the Signal Transduction Training Group, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Booden
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Buss
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003599:Cytoskeleton; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D016501:Neurites; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; D018631:ras Proteins