title: Signalling to actin: role of C3G, a multitasking guanine-nucleotide-exchange factor.
abstract: C3G (Crk SH3-domain-binding guanine-nucleotide-releasing factor) is a ubiquitously expressed member of a class of molecules called GEFs (guanine-nucleotide-exchange factor) that activate small GTPases and is involved in pathways triggered by a variety of signals. It is essential for mammalian embryonic development and many cellular functions in adult tissues. C3G participates in regulating functions that require cytoskeletal remodelling such as adhesion, migration, maintenance of cell junctions, neurite growth and vesicle traffic. C3G is spatially and temporally regulated to act on Ras family GTPases Rap1, Rap2, R-Ras, TC21 and Rho family member TC10. Increased C3G protein levels are associated with differentiation of various cell types, indicating an important role for C3G in cellular differentiation. In signalling pathways, C3G serves functions dependent on catalytic activity as well as protein interaction and can therefore integrate signals necessary for the execution of more than one cellular function. This review summarizes our current knowledge of the biology of C3G with emphasis on its role as a transducer of signals to the actin cytoskeleton. Deregulated C3G may also contribute to pathogenesis of human disorders and therefore could be a potential therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR), Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, India. vradha@ccmb.res.in
authors.forename: Vegesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Radha
authors.forename: Aninda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.forename: Kunal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dayma
authors.forename: Kotagiri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasikumar
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D020735:Guanine Nucleotide-Releasing Factor 2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D020735:Guanine Nucleotide-Releasing Factor 2; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins