Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search | Table of Contents

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF, 725K) PPT slides of all figures Alert me when this article is cited Citation Map Services Email this article Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new content in the JCB Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Albertinazzi, C. Articles by de Curtis, I. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Albertinazzi, C. Articles by de Curtis, I. Social Bookmarking                            What's this?

© The Rockefeller University Press, 0021-9525/1998//815 $5.00
The Journal of Cell Biology, Volume 142, Number 3, , 1998 815-825

Overexpression of a Neural-specific Rho Family GTPase, cRac1B, Selectively Induces Enhanced Neuritogenesis and Neurite Branching in Primary Neurons

Chiara Albertinazzi^*, Daniela Gilardelli^*, Simona Paris^*, Renato Longhi, and Ivan de Curtis^*

^* Cell Adhesion Unit, Department of Biological and Technological Research, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy; and Institute of Hormone Chemistry, National Research Council, 20133 Milano, Italy

Rho family GTPases have been implicated in cytoskeletal reorganization during neuritogenesis. We have recently identified a new gene of this family, cRac1B, specifically expressed in the chicken developing nervous system. This GTPase was overexpressed in primary neurons to study the role of cRac1B in the development of the neuronal phenotype. Overexpression of cRac1B induced an increment in the number of neurites per neuron, and dramatically increased neurite branching, whereas overexpression of the highly related and ubiquitous cRac1A GTPase did not evidently affect neuronal morphology. Furthermore, expression of an inactive form of cRac1B strikingly inhibited neurite formation. The specificity of cRac1B action observed in neurons was not observed in fibroblasts, where both GTPases produced similar effects on cell morphology and actin organization, indicating the existence of a cell type-dependent specificity of cRac1B function. Molecular dissection of cRac1B function by analysis of the effects of chimeric cRac1A/cRac1B proteins showed that the COOH-terminal portion of cRac1B is essential to induce increased neuritogenesis and neurite branching. Considering the distinctive regulation of cRac1B expression during neural development, our data strongly support an important role of cRac1B during neuritogenesis, and they uncover new mechanisms underlying the functional specificity of distinct Rho family GTPases.

Key Words: small GTPases • neurites • cytoskeleton • actin • development

Abbreviations used in this paper: CEF, chicken embryo fibroblast; E6, embryonic day 6; F-actin, filamentous actin; GST, glutathione-S-transferase; PEI, polyethylenimine; RGM, retinal growth medium.

CiteULike

Complore

Connotea

Del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Reddit

Technorati

Twitter

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Corbetta, S., Gualdoni, S., Ciceri, G., Monari, M., Zuccaro, E., Tybulewicz, V. L. J., de Curtis, I. (2009). Essential role of Rac1 and Rac3 GTPases in neuronal development. FASEB J. 23: 1347-1357 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Bonanomi, D., Fornasiero, E. F., Valdez, G., Halegoua, S., Benfenati, F., Menegon, A., Valtorta, F. (2008). Identification of a developmentally regulated pathway of membrane retrieval in neuronal growth cones. J. Cell Sci. 121: 3757-3769 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Waters, J. E., Astle, M. V., Ooms, L. M., Balamatsias, D., Gurung, R., Mitchell, C. A. (2008). P-Rex1 - a multidomain protein that regulates neurite differentiation. J. Cell Sci. 121: 2892-2903 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hayashi, T., Okabe, T., Nasu-Nishimura, Y., Sakaue, F., Ohwada, S., Matsuura, K., Akiyama, T., Nakamura, T. (2007). PX-RICS, a novel splicing variant of RICS, is a main isoform expressed during neural development. GENES CELLS 12: 929-939 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hajdo-Milasinovic, A., Ellenbroek, S. I. J., van Es, S., van der Vaart, B., Collard, J. G. (2007). Rac1 and Rac3 have opposing functions in cell adhesion and differentiation of neuronal cells. J. Cell Sci. 120: 555-566 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Za, L., Albertinazzi, C., Paris, S., Gagliani, M., Tacchetti, C., de Curtis, I. (2006). {beta}PIX controls cell motility and neurite extension by regulating the distribution of GIT1. J. Cell Sci. 119: 2654-2666 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Nasu-Nishimura, Y., Hayashi, T., Ohishi, T., Okabe, T., Ohwada, S., Hasegawa, Y., Senda, T., Toyoshima, C., Nakamura, T., Akiyama, T. (2006). Role of the Rho GTPase-activating protein RICS in neurite outgrowth. GENES CELLS 11: 607-614 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Orioli, D., Colaluca, I. N., Stefanini, M., Riva, S., Dotti, C. G., Peverali, F. A. (2006). Rac3-induced Neuritogenesis Requires Binding to Neurabin I. Mol. Biol. Cell 17: 2391-2400 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Corbetta, S., Gualdoni, S., Albertinazzi, C., Paris, S., Croci, L., Consalez, G. G., de Curtis, I. (2005). Generation and Characterization of Rac3 Knockout Mice. Mol. Cell. Biol. 25: 5763-5776 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Govek, E.-E., Newey, S. E., Van Aelst, L. (2005). The role of the Rho GTPases in neuronal development. Genes Dev. 19: 1-49 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Namekata, K., Enokido, Y., Iwasawa, K., Kimura, H. (2004). MOCA Induces Membrane Spreading by Activating Rac1. J. Biol. Chem. 279: 14331-14337 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hernandez-Deviez, D. J., Roth, M. G., Casanova, J. E., Wilson, J. M. (2004). ARNO and ARF6 Regulate Axonal Elongation and Branching through Downstream Activation of Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate 5-Kinase {alpha}. Mol. Biol. Cell 15: 111-120 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wylie, S. R., Chantler, P. D. (2003). Myosin IIA Drives Neurite Retraction. Mol. Biol. Cell 14: 4654-4666 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hynds, D. L., Spencer, M. L., Andres, D. A., Snow, D. M. (2003). Rit promotes MEK-independent neurite branching in human neuroblastoma cells. J. Cell Sci. 116: 1925-1935 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Albertinazzi, C., Za, L., Paris, S., de Curtis, I. (2003). ADP-Ribosylation Factor 6 and a Functional PIX/p95-APP1 Complex Are Required for Rac1B-mediated Neurite Outgrowth. Mol. Biol. Cell 14: 1295-1307 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Nakamura, T., Komiya, M., Sone, K., Hirose, E., Gotoh, N., Morii, H., Ohta, Y., Mori, N. (2002). Grit, a GTPase-Activating Protein for the Rho Family, Regulates Neurite Extension through Association with the TrkA Receptor and N-Shc and CrkL/Crk Adapter Molecules. Mol. Cell. Biol. 22: 8721-8734 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Shin, E.-Y., Shin, K.-S., Lee, C.-S., Woo, K.-N., Quan, S.-H., Soung, N.-K., Kim, Y. G., Cha, C. I., Kim, S.-R., Park, D., Bokoch, G. M., Kim, E.-G. (2002). Phosphorylation of p85 beta PIX, a Rac/Cdc42-specific Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor, via the Ras/ERK/PAK2 Pathway Is Required for Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor-induced Neurite Outgrowth. J. Biol. Chem. 277: 44417-44430 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Kwon, B. K., Borisoff, J. F., Tetzlaff, W. (2002). Molecular Targets for Therapeutic Intervention after Spinal Cord Injury. Mol. Interv. 2: 244-258 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Matafora, V., Paris, S., Dariozzi, S., Curtis, I. d. (2002). Molecular mechanisms regulating the subcellular localization of p95-APP1 between the endosomal recycling compartment and sites of actin organization at the cell surface. J. Cell Sci. 114: 4509-4520 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Katoh, H., Yasui, H., Yamaguchi, Y., Aoki, J., Fujita, H., Mori, K., Negishi, M. (2000). Small GTPase RhoG Is a Key Regulator for Neurite Outgrowth in PC12 Cells. Mol. Cell. Biol. 20: 7378-7387 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wong, W. T., Faulkner-Jones, B. E., Sanes, J. R., Wong, R. O. L. (2000). Rapid Dendritic Remodeling in the Developing Retina: Dependence on Neurotransmission and Reciprocal Regulation by Rac and Rho. J. Neurosci. 20: 5024-5036 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Patrone, C., Pollio, G., Vegeto, E., Enmark, E., de Curtis, I., Gustafsson, J.-A., Maggi, A. (2000). Estradiol Induces Differential Neuronal Phenotypes by Activating Estrogen Receptor {alpha} or {beta}. Endocrinology 141: 1839-1845 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Penzes, P., Johnson, R. C., Alam, M. R., Kambampati, V., Mains, R. E., Eipper, B. A. (2000). An Isoform of Kalirin, a Brain-specific GDP/GTP Exchange Factor, Is Enriched in the Postsynaptic Density Fraction. J. Biol. Chem. 275: 6395-6403 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Dumontier, M, Hocht, P, Mintert, U, Faix, J (2000). Rac1 GTPases control filopodia formation, cell motility, endocytosis, cytokinesis and development in Dictyostelium. J. Cell Sci. 113: 2253-2265 [Abstract]  
• Ruchhoeft, M. L., Ohnuma, S.-i., McNeill, L., Holt, C. E., Harris, W. A. (1999). The Neuronal Architecture of Xenopus Retinal Ganglion Cells Is Sculpted by Rho-Family GTPases In Vivo. J. Neurosci. 19: 8454-8463 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Lehmann, M., Fournier, A., Selles-Navarro, I., Dergham, P., Sebok, A., Leclerc, N., Tigyi, G., McKerracher, L. (1999). Inactivation of Rho Signaling Pathway Promotes CNS Axon Regeneration. J. Neurosci. 19: 7537-7547 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Albertinazzi, C, Cattelino, A, de Curtis, I (1999). Rac GTPases localize at sites of actin reorganization during dynamic remodeling of the cytoskeleton of normal embryonic fibroblasts. J. Cell Sci. 112: 3821-3831 [Abstract]  
• Yamaguchi, Y., Katoh, H., Yasui, H., Mori, K., Negishi, M. (2001). RhoA Inhibits the Nerve Growth Factor-induced Rac1 Activation through Rho-associated Kinase-dependent Pathway. J. Biol. Chem. 276: 18977-18983 [Abstract] [Full Text]  

Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search | Table of Contents