Regulating Rho GTPases and their regulators

Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2016 Aug;17(8):496-510. doi: 10.1038/nrm.2016.67. Epub 2016 Jun 15.

Abstract

Rho GTPases regulate cytoskeletal and cell adhesion dynamics and thereby coordinate a wide range of cellular processes, including cell migration, cell polarity and cell cycle progression. Most Rho GTPases cycle between a GTP-bound active conformation and a GDP-bound inactive conformation to regulate their ability to activate effector proteins and to elicit cellular responses. However, it has become apparent that Rho GTPases are regulated by post-translational modifications and the formation of specific protein complexes, in addition to GTP-GDP cycling. The canonical regulators of Rho GTPases - guanine nucleotide exchange factors, GTPase-activating proteins and guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors - are regulated similarly, creating a complex network of interactions to determine the precise spatiotemporal activation of Rho GTPases.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins