Analysis of a mitotic role of Cdc42.
Rho GTPases including Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 determine the cell shape by regulating the actin and microtubule dynamics. Through these actions on cytoskeleton, Rho GTPases also regulate cell cycle progression. Specifically, Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 regulate G1-S progression, and Rho regulates cytokinesis. However, involvement of these GTPases in nuclear division has not been definitely shown. This seems to be due to the lack of standard procedures examining mitosis-specific functions of these GTPases. Recently, we have found a mitosis-specific role of Cdc42 by enrichment of cells in mitosis by cell cycle synchronization and interfering with functions of Rho GTPases. This chapter describes the procedures we used in these studies.
Yasuda
Shingo
S
Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto University, Faculty of Medicine, Japan.
Narumiya
Shuh
S
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D034622:RNA Interference; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000502:physiology*; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C031815:toxB protein, Clostridium difficile; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins