RasGEF1A and RasGEF1B are guanine nucleotide exchange factors that discriminate between Rap GTP-binding proteins and mediate Rap2-specific nucleotide exchange

Date
2009
Authors
Yaman, E.
Gasper, R.
Koerner, C.
Wittinghofer, A.
Tazebay, U. H.
Advisor
Instructor
Source Title
FEBS Journal
Print ISSN
1742-464X
Electronic ISSN
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Volume
276
Issue
16
Pages
4607 - 4616
Language
English
Type
Article
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract

The highly conserved RasGEF1 family of proteins contain a C-terminal CDC25-Ras exchange motif domain and an N-terminal RasGEF-N domain, and are of unknown function and specificity. Using purified RasGEF1A and RasGEF1B proteins, as well as Ras family proteins, we established that RasGEF1A and RasGEF1B function as very specific exchange factors for Rap2, a member of the Rap subfamily of Ras-like G-proteins. They do not act on Rap1 or other members of the Ras subfamily. Although Rap2 was implicated in the regulation of cell adhesion, the establishment of cell morphology, and the modulation of synapses in neurons, no specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rap2 was previously identified. Using reciprocal site-directed mutagenesis, we analyzed residues that allow RasGEF1 proteins to discriminate between Rap1 and Rap2, and we were able to identify Phe39 in the switch I region of Rap2 as a specificity residue. Mutation of the corresponding Ser39 in Rap1 changed the specificity and allowed the nucleotide exchange of Rap1(S39F) to be stimulated by RasGEF1B. © 2009 FEBS.

Course
Other identifiers
Book Title
Keywords
G-proteins, Guanine nucleotide exchange, Rap2, Ras family, RasGEF1, Guanine nucleotide exchange factor
Citation
Published Version (Please cite this version)