title: Rit contributes to nerve growth factor-induced neuronal differentiation via activation of B-Raf-extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades.
abstract: Rit is one of the original members of a novel Ras GTPase subfamily that uses distinct effector pathways to transform NIH 3T3 cells and induce pheochromocytoma cell (PC6) differentiation. In this study, we find that stimulation of PC6 cells by growth factors, including nerve growth factor (NGF), results in rapid and prolonged Rit activation. Ectopic expression of active Rit promotes PC6 neurite outgrowth that is morphologically distinct from that promoted by oncogenic Ras (evidenced by increased neurite branching) and stimulates activation of both the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathways. Furthermore, Rit-induced differentiation is dependent upon both MAP kinase cascades, since MEK inhibition blocked Rit-induced neurite outgrowth, while p38 blockade inhibited neurite elongation and branching but not neurite initiation. Surprisingly, while Rit was unable to stimulate ERK activity in NIH 3T3 cells, it potently activated ERK in PC6 cells. This cell type specificity is explained by the finding that Rit was unable to activate C-Raf, while it bound and stimulated the neuronal Raf isoform, B-Raf. Importantly, selective down-regulation of Rit gene expression in PC6 cells significantly altered NGF-dependent MAP kinase cascade responses, inhibiting both p38 and ERK kinase activation. Moreover, the ability of NGF to promote neuronal differentiation was attenuated by Rit knockdown. Thus, Rit is implicated in a novel pathway of neuronal development and regeneration by coupling specific trophic factor signals to sustained activation of the B-Raf/ERK and p38 MAP kinase cascades.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Room MS639, Chandler Medical Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, 800 Rose St., Lexington, KY 40536-0298, USA.
authors.forename: Geng-Xian
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Douglas A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Andres
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C486776:RIT1 protein, human; D018631:ras Proteins