[HTML][HTML] Plexin-B1 directly interacts with PDZ-RhoGEF/LARG to regulate RhoA and growth cone morphology

JM Swiercz, R Kuner, J Behrens, S Offermanns - Neuron, 2002 - cell.com
Neuron, 2002cell.com
Plexins are widely expressed transmembrane proteins that, in the nervous system, mediate
repulsive signals of semaphorins. However, the molecular nature of plexin-mediated signal
transduction remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that plexin-B family
members associate through their C termini with the Rho guanine nucleotide exchange
factors PDZ-RhoGEF and LARG. Activation of plexin-B1 by semaphorin 4D regulates PDZ-
RhoGEF/LARG activity leading to RhoA activation. In addition, a dominant-negative form of …
Abstract
Plexins are widely expressed transmembrane proteins that, in the nervous system, mediate repulsive signals of semaphorins. However, the molecular nature of plexin-mediated signal transduction remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that plexin-B family members associate through their C termini with the Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors PDZ-RhoGEF and LARG. Activation of plexin-B1 by semaphorin 4D regulates PDZ-RhoGEF/LARG activity leading to RhoA activation. In addition, a dominant-negative form of PDZ-RhoGEF blocks semaphorin 4D-induced growth cone collapse in primary hippocampal neurons. Our study indicates that the interaction of mammalian plexin-B family members with the multidomain proteins PDZ-RhoGEF and LARG represents an essential molecular link between plexin-B and localized, Rho-mediated downstream signaling events which underly various plexin-mediated cellular phenomena including axonal growth cone collapse.
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