title: The GTPase RhoA increases utrophin expression and stability, as well as its localization at the plasma membrane.
abstract: The Rho family of small GTPases are signalling molecules involved in cytoskeleton remodelling and gene transcription. Their activities are important for many cellular processes, including myogenesis. In particular, RhoA positively regulates skeletal-muscle differentiation. We report in the present study that the active form of RhoA increases the expression of utrophin, the autosomal homologue of dystrophin in the mouse C2C12 and rat L8 myoblastic cell lines. Even though this RhoA-dependent utrophin increase is higher in proliferating myoblasts, it is maintained during myogenic differentiation. This occurs via two mechanisms: (i) transcriptional activation of the utrophin promoter A and (ii) post-translational stabilization of utrophin. In addition, RhoA increases plasma-membrane localization of utrophin. Thus RhoA activation up-regulates utrophin levels and enhances its localization at the plasma membrane.
authors.affiliation: CRBM (Centre de Recherches en Biochimie Macromoléculaire), CNRS FRE2593, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Armelle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonet-Kerrache
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fortier
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Comunale
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gauthier-Rouvière
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D051379:Mice; D032448:Myoblasts, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D021381:Protein Transport; D051381:Rats; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015854:Up-Regulation; D049411:Utrophin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D049411:Utrophin; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein