title: Requirement for C-terminal sequences in regulation of Ect2 guanine nucleotide exchange specificity and transformation.
abstract: Ect2 was identified originally as a transforming protein and a member of the Dbl family of Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Like all Dbl family proteins, Ect2 contains a tandem Dbl homology (DH) and pleckstrin homology (PH) domain structure. Previous studies demonstrated that N-terminal deletion of sequences upstream of the DH domain created a constitutively activated, transforming variant of Ect2 (designated DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH/C), indicating that the N terminus served as a negative regulator of DH domain function in vivo. The role of sequences C-terminal to the DH domain has not been established. Therefore, we assessed the consequences of mutation of C-terminal sequences on Ect2-transforming activity. Surprisingly, in contrast to observations with other Dbl family proteins, we found that mutation of the invariant tryptophan residue in the PH domain did not impair DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH/C transforming activity. Furthermore, although the sequences C-terminal to the PH domain lack any known functional domains or motifs, deletion of these sequences (DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH) resulted in a dramatic reduction in transforming activity. Whereas DeltaN-Ect2 caused formation of lamellipodia, DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH enhanced actin stress fiber formation, suggesting that C-terminal sequences influenced Ect2 Rho GTPase specificity. Consistent with this possibility, we determined that DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH activated RhoA, but not Rac1 or Cdc42, whereas DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH/C activated all three Rho GTPases in vivo. Taken together, these observations suggest that regions of Ect2 C-terminal to the DH domain alter the profile of Rho GTPases activated in vivo and consequently may contribute to the enhanced transforming activity of DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH/C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Solski
authors.forename: Rhonda S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Wilder
authors.forename: Kent L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Rossman
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sondek
authors.forename: Adrienne D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Channing J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Der
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C080509:Ect2 protein, mouse; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins