Biochemical characterization of Alsin, a Rab5 and Rac1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor

Methods Enzymol. 2005:403:261-76. doi: 10.1016/S0076-6879(05)03022-3.

Abstract

Alsin is the gene product mutated in three juvenile-onset neurodegenerative disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 2 (ALS2). Sequence motif searches within Alsin predict the presence of Vps9, DH, and PH domains, implying that Alsin may function as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Rab5 and a member of the Rho GTPase family. Procedures are presented in this chapter for the expression, purification, and biochemical characterization of the individual GEF domains of Alsin. A fractionation method is also described for the determination of Alsin's subcellular distribution. The presence of both Rac1 and Rab5 GEF activities makes Alsin a unique dual exchange factor that may couple endocytosis (via Rab5 activation) to cytoskeletal modulation (via Rac1 activation).

MeSH terms

  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / metabolism
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / chemistry
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / isolation & purification
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • ALS2 protein, human
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases