Requirement for C-terminal sequences in regulation of Ect2 guanine nucleotide exchange specificity and transformation

J Biol Chem. 2004 Jun 11;279(24):25226-33. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M313792200. Epub 2004 Apr 8.

Abstract

Ect2 was identified originally as a transforming protein and a member of the Dbl family of Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Like all Dbl family proteins, Ect2 contains a tandem Dbl homology (DH) and pleckstrin homology (PH) domain structure. Previous studies demonstrated that N-terminal deletion of sequences upstream of the DH domain created a constitutively activated, transforming variant of Ect2 (designated DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH/C), indicating that the N terminus served as a negative regulator of DH domain function in vivo. The role of sequences C-terminal to the DH domain has not been established. Therefore, we assessed the consequences of mutation of C-terminal sequences on Ect2-transforming activity. Surprisingly, in contrast to observations with other Dbl family proteins, we found that mutation of the invariant tryptophan residue in the PH domain did not impair DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH/C transforming activity. Furthermore, although the sequences C-terminal to the PH domain lack any known functional domains or motifs, deletion of these sequences (DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH) resulted in a dramatic reduction in transforming activity. Whereas DeltaN-Ect2 caused formation of lamellipodia, DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH enhanced actin stress fiber formation, suggesting that C-terminal sequences influenced Ect2 Rho GTPase specificity. Consistent with this possibility, we determined that DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH activated RhoA, but not Rac1 or Cdc42, whereas DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH/C activated all three Rho GTPases in vivo. Taken together, these observations suggest that regions of Ect2 C-terminal to the DH domain alter the profile of Rho GTPases activated in vivo and consequently may contribute to the enhanced transforming activity of DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH/C.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Ect2 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins