A new Rac/PAK/GC/cGMP signaling pathway.
Guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) and small GTPase Rac are critical regulators of cell functions. Recently, Rac has been shown to use its downstream effector p21-activated kinase (PAK) to directly activate transmembrane guanylyl cyclases (GCs). This novel Rac/PAK/GC/cGMP signaling pathway bridges Rac and cGMP, and provides a general molecular mechanism for diverse receptors to regulate physiological functions such as cell migration through elevating the cellular cGMP level.
Guo
Dagang
D
Department of Physiology, Cornell University Weill Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Zhang
J Jillian
JJ
Huang
Xin-Yun
XY
D000818:Animals; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D054462:p21-Activated Kinases; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase; D006152:Cyclic GMP