title: The Cas family docking protein, HEF1, promotes the formation of neurite-like membrane extensions.
abstract: The Cas family proteins are a family of adhesion docking molecules that mediate protein-protein interactions and contribute to a number of signal transduction pathways. Recent studies of two family members, p130Cas and Sin, have suggested that they may play a role in neurite formation. The current study demonstrates that the third family member, HEF1, can also stimulate the formation of neurite-like processes, in the presence of Rho kinase inhibitors. The HEF1-promoted processes actively extend from the cell body and resemble neurites both in the manner of process extension and in the distribution of adhesion-associated molecules. The HEF1-promoted processes are dependent on the presence of an intact microtubule system and can be inhibited by co-expression of either constitutively active Rac or Cdc42 GTPase. Together, our data support a role for the Cas proteins in regulating cellular morphologies that contribute to tissue specialization.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Research Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, 2145, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Sharmilla D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Bargon
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Gunning
authors.forename: Geraldine M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: O'Neill
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000577:Amides / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D050719:Crk-Associated Substrate Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000502:physiology; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000577:Amides; D050719:Crk-Associated Substrate Protein; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C099942:NEDD9 protein, human; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C108830:Y 27632; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins