The activity of the GTPase-activating protein CdGAP is regulated by the endocytic protein intersectin

J Biol Chem. 2002 Feb 22;277(8):6366-73. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M105516200. Epub 2001 Dec 13.

Abstract

The Rho GTPases RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 play a major role in regulating the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. We recently identified CdGAP, a novel GTPase-activating protein with activity toward Rac1 and Cdc42. CdGAP consists of a N-terminal GAP domain, a central domain, and a C-terminal proline-rich domain. Here we show that through a subset of its Src homology 3 domains, the endocytic protein intersectin interacts with CdGAP. In platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated Swiss 3T3 cells, intersectin co-localizes with CdGAP and inhibits its GAP activity toward Rac1. Intersectin-Src homology 3 also inhibits CdGAP activity in GAP assays in vitro. Although the C-terminal proline-rich domain of CdGAP is required for the regulation of its GAP activity by intersectin both in vivo and in vitro, it is not necessary for CdGAP-intersectin interaction. Our data suggest that the central domain of CdGAP is required for CdGAP-intersectin interaction. Thus, we propose a model in which intersectin binding results in a change of CdGAP conformation involving the proline-rich domain that leads to the inhibition of its GAP activity. These observations provide the first demonstration of a direct regulation of RhoGAP activity through a protein-protein interaction and suggest a function for intersectin in Rac1 regulation and actin dynamics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport*
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Biotinylation
  • COS Cells
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cricetinae
  • Endocytosis / physiology*
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / chemistry
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / genetics
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / metabolism*
  • Kinetics
  • Mice
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Transfection
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • src Homology Domains

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • Arhgap31 protein, mouse
  • Carrier Proteins
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • intersectin 1
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins