Laminin-1 activates Cdc42 in the mechanism of laminin-1-mediated neurite outgrowth.
Here, we investigated the role of the small Rho GTPases Rac, Cdc42, and Rho in the mechanism of laminin-1-mediated neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. PC12 cells were transfected with plasmids expressing wild-type and dominant-negative mutants of Rac (RacN17), Cdc42 (Cdc42N17), or Rho (RhoN19). Over 90% of the dominant-negative Rho- and Rac-transfected cells extended neurites when plated on laminin-1; however, none of the PC12 cells transfected with the dominant-negative Cdc42 mutant extended neurites. In cells cotransfected with plasmids expressing c-Jun N-terminal kinase and wild-type Cdc42, laminin-1 treatment stimulated detectable levels of c-Jun phosphorylation. Further, cotransfection with c-Jun N-terminal kinase and the dominant-negative Cdc42 mutant blocked laminin-1-mediated c-Jun phosphorylation. Transfection with either wild-type Rac or the dominant-negative Rac did not effect c-Jun phosphorylation. These data demonstrate that Cdc42 is activated by laminin-1 and that Cdc42 activation is required in the mechanism of laminin-1-mediated neurite outgrowth.
Weston
C A
CA
Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, 11794-8651, USA.
Anova
L
L
Rialas
C
C
Prives
J M
JM
Weeks
B S
BS
D000818:Animals; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism*; D016296:Mutagenesis; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
D007797:Laminin; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; C121346:laminin 1; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein