RalB mobilizes the exocyst to drive cell migration.
The Ras family GTPases RalA and RalB have been defined as central components of the regulatory machinery supporting tumor initiation and progression. Although it is known that Ral proteins mediate oncogenic Ras signaling and physically and functionally interact with vesicle trafficking machinery, their mechanistic contribution to oncogenic transformation is unknown. Here, we have directly evaluated the relative contribution of Ral proteins and Ral effector pathways to cell motility and directional migration. Through loss-of-function analysis, we find that RalA is not limiting for cell migration in normal mammalian epithelial cells. In contrast, RalB and the Sec6/8 complex or exocyst, an immediate downstream Ral effector complex, are required for vectorial cell motility. RalB expression is required for promoting both exocyst assembly and localization to the leading edge of moving cells. We propose that RalB regulation of exocyst function is required for the coordinated delivery of secretory vesicles to the sites of dynamic plasma membrane expansion that specify directional movement.
Rossé
Carine
C
Institut Curie, Inserm U528, Transduction Networks Analysis Group, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris cedex 05, France.
Hatzoglou
Anastassia
A
Parrini
Maria-Carla
MC
White
Michael A
MA
Chavrier
Philippe
P
Camonis
Jacques
J
D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D020725:ral GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D002352:Carrier Proteins; C511410:Exoc2 protein, rat; C096102:Exoc3 protein, rat; C076326:Exoc4 protein, rat; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C082190:Ralb protein, rat; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; C492197:Rala protein, rat; D020725:ral GTP-Binding Proteins