Rho GTPase activity zones and transient contractile arrays.
The Rho GTPases-Rho, Rac and Cdc42-act as molecular switches, cycling between an active GTP-bound state and an inactive GDP-bound state, to regulate the actin cytoskeleton. It has recently become apparent that the Rho GTPases can be activated in subcellular zones that appear semi-stable, yet are dynamically maintained. These Rho GTPase activity zones are associated with a variety of fundamental biological processes including symmetric and asymmetric cytokinesis and cellular wound repair. Here we review the basic features of Rho GTPase activity zones, suggest that these zones represent a fundamental signaling mechanism, and discuss the implications of zone properties from the perspective of both their function and how they are likely to be controlled.
Bement
William M
WM
Department of Zoology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. wmbement@wisc.edu
Miller
Ann L
AL
von Dassow
George
G
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000502:physiology; D048749:Cytokinesis / Q000502:physiology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D005246:Feedback; D008954:Models, Biological; D020239:Receptor Cross-Talk; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D000199:Actins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins