Novel aspects of signal transduction through Rho GTPases: cGMP, proteasomal degradation and mitochondrial homeostasis

• Antragsteller: Privatdozent Dr. Francisco J. Rivero Crespo
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Zellbiologie
• Förderung: Förderung von 2005 bis 2009
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 12446911

Since the first reports in 1992 on their role as regulators of cytoskeletal structures, Rho GTPases have emerged as pivotal signaling components for the control, directly or indirectly, of almost all cellular activities. While most of the functional information on Rho GTPases has come from studies of Rho, Rac and Cdc42 subfamilies, there are still many aspects of their role in chemotaxis and cell polarity that remain to be established. In addition, much less is known about members of other subfamilies, in particular the recently discovered atypical GTPases RhoBTB and Miro. Three novel aspects of signaling through Rho GTPases will be investigated. First, their role on cGMP signaling, as Rho GTPases appear to be part of the signaling pathways that lead to cGMP production and subsequent myosin II assembly in response to chemoattractants and to osmotic stress. Second, the role of the RhoBTB protein RacA as a link between signaling pathways and the proteasomal degradation machinery, as BTB domains function as adaptors of cullin-dependent ubiquitin ligase complexes. Third, the role of proteins of the Miro subfamily as links between signaling events in the cytosol and mitochondrial homeostasis.

• DFG-Verfahren: Sachbeihilfen