title: POSH localizes activated Rac1 to control the formation of cytoplasmic dilation of the leading process and neuronal migration.
abstract: The formation of proximal cytoplasmic dilation in the leading process (PCDLP) of migratory neocortical neurons is crucial for somal translocation and neuronal migration, processes that require the elaborate coordination of F-actin dynamics, centrosomal movement, and nucleokinesis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the Rac1-interacting scaffold protein POSH is essential for neuronal migration in vivo. We demonstrate that POSH is concentrated in the PCDLP and that knockdown of POSH impairs PCDLP formation, centrosome translocation, and nucleokinesis. Furthermore, POSH colocalizes with F-actin and the activated form of Rac1. Knockdown of POSH impairs F-actin assembly and delocalizes activated Rac1. Interference of Rac1 activity also disrupts F-actin assembly and PCDLP formation and perturbs neuronal migration. Thus, we have uncovered a mechanism by which POSH regulates the localization of activated Rac1 and F-actin assembly to control PCDLP formation and subsequent somal translocation of migratory neurons.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yiming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuangang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Huashun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhiheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D018385:Centrosome / Q000378:metabolism; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D019579:Neocortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; C484602:Rac1 protein, mouse; C111370:Sh3md2 protein, mouse; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein