Signaling role of Cdc42 in regulating mammalian physiology.
Cdc42 is a member of the Rho GTPase family of intracellular molecular switches regulating multiple signaling pathways involved in actomyosin organization and cell proliferation. Knowledge of its signaling function in mammalian cells came mostly from studies using the dominant-negative or constitutively active mutant overexpression approach in the past 2 decades. Such an approach imposes a number of experimental limitations related to specificity, dosage, and/or clonal variability. Recent studies by conditional gene targeting of cdc42 in mice have revealed its tissue- and cell type-specific role and provide definitive information of the physiological signaling functions of Cdc42 in vivo.
Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA.
Jaime
J
Melendez
Matthew
M
Grogg
Yi
Y
Zheng
D000205:Actomyosin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018390:Gene Targeting; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D000205:Actomyosin; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein