title: A Rac-cGMP signaling pathway.
abstract: The small GTPase Rac and the second messenger cGMP (guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate) are critical regulators of diverse cell functions. When activated by extracellular signals via membrane signaling receptors, Rac executes its functions through engaging downstream effectors such as p21-activated kinase (PAK), a serine/threonine protein kinase. However, the molecular mechanism by which membrane signaling receptors regulate cGMP levels is not known. Here we have uncovered a signaling pathway linking Rac to the increase of cellular cGMP. We show that Rac uses PAK to directly activate transmembrane guanylyl cyclases (GCs), leading to increased cellular cGMP levels. This Rac/PAK/GC/cGMP pathway is involved in platelet-derived growth factor-induced fibroblast cell migration and lamellipodium formation. Our findings connect two important regulators of cellular physiological functions and provide a general mechanism for diverse receptors to modulate physiological responses through elevating cellular cGMP levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Cornell University Weill Medical College, New York, NY 10021, and Division of Experimental Hematology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
authors.forename: Dagang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Ying-cai
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Dawei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Madhusoodanan
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maack
authors.forename: J Jillian
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xin-Yun
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011554:Pseudopodia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; C515903:PAK1 protein, human; C515905:Pak1 protein, mouse; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase; D006152:Cyclic GMP