Structural highlights
Function
[CDC42_HUMAN] Plasma membrane-associated small GTPase which cycles between an active GTP-bound and an inactive GDP-bound state. In active state binds to a variety of effector proteins to regulate cellular responses. Involved in epithelial cell polarization processes. Regulates the bipolar attachment of spindle microtubules to kinetochores before chromosome congression in metaphase. Plays a role in the extension and maintenance of the formation of thin, actin-rich surface projections called filopodia. Mediates CDC42-dependent cell migration.[1] [2] [3]
Evolutionary Conservation
Check, as determined by ConSurfDB. You may read the explanation of the method and the full data available from ConSurf.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
GTP-binding (G) proteins regulate the flow of information in cellular signaling pathways by alternating between a GTP-bound "active" state and a GDP-bound "inactive" state. Cdc42, a member of the Rho family of Ras-related small G-proteins, plays key roles in the regulation of cell shape, motility, and growth. Here we describe the high resolution x-ray crystal structure for Cdc42 bound to the GTP analog guanylyl beta,gamma-methylene-diphosphonate (GMP-PCP) (i.e. the presumed signaling-active state) and show that it is virtually identical to the structures for the signaling-inactive, GDP-bound form of the protein, contrary to what has been reported for Ras and other G-proteins. Especially surprising was that the GMP-PCP- and GDP-bound forms of Cdc42 did not show detectable differences in their Switch I and Switch II loops. Fluorescence studies using a Cdc42 mutant in which a tryptophan residue was introduced at position 32 of Switch I also showed that there was little difference in the Switch I conformation between the GDP- and GMP-PCP-bound states (i.e. <10%), which again differed from Ras where much larger changes in Trp-32 fluorescence were observed when comparing these two nucleotide-bound states (>30%). However, the binding of an effector protein induced significant changes in the Trp-32 emission specifically from GMP-PCP-bound Cdc42, as well as in the phosphate resonances for GTP bound to this G-protein as indicated in NMR studies. An examination of the available structures for Cdc42 complexed to different effector proteins, versus the x-ray crystal structure for GMP-PCP-bound Cdc42, provides a possible explanation for how effectors can distinguish between the GTP- and GDP-bound forms of this G-protein and ensure that the necessary conformational changes for signal propagation occur.
Effector proteins exert an important influence on the signaling-active state of the small GTPase Cdc42.,Phillips MJ, Calero G, Chan B, Ramachandran S, Cerione RA J Biol Chem. 2008 May 16;283(20):14153-64. Epub 2008 Mar 18. PMID:18348980[4]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
See Also
References
- ↑ Gauthier-Campbell C, Bredt DS, Murphy TH, El-Husseini Ael-D. Regulation of dendritic branching and filopodia formation in hippocampal neurons by specific acylated protein motifs. Mol Biol Cell. 2004 May;15(5):2205-17. Epub 2004 Feb 20. PMID:14978216 doi:10.1091/mbc.E03-07-0493
- ↑ Oceguera-Yanez F, Kimura K, Yasuda S, Higashida C, Kitamura T, Hiraoka Y, Haraguchi T, Narumiya S. Ect2 and MgcRacGAP regulate the activation and function of Cdc42 in mitosis. J Cell Biol. 2005 Jan 17;168(2):221-32. Epub 2005 Jan 10. PMID:15642749 doi:10.1083/jcb.200408085
- ↑ Modzelewska K, Newman LP, Desai R, Keely PJ. Ack1 mediates Cdc42-dependent cell migration and signaling to p130Cas. J Biol Chem. 2006 Dec 8;281(49):37527-35. Epub 2006 Oct 12. PMID:17038317 doi:10.1074/jbc.M604342200
- ↑ Phillips MJ, Calero G, Chan B, Ramachandran S, Cerione RA. Effector proteins exert an important influence on the signaling-active state of the small GTPase Cdc42. J Biol Chem. 2008 May 16;283(20):14153-64. Epub 2008 Mar 18. PMID:18348980 doi:10.1074/jbc.M706271200
