WGEF is a novel RhoGEF expressed in intestine, liver, heart, and kidney

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004 Nov 19;324(3):1053-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.09.153.

Abstract

Rho family GTPases regulate multiple cellular processes through their downstream effectors, where their activities are stimulated by the guanine nucleotide exchange factors. Here, we report a new member of RhoGEF, WGEF, which has the classical structure of DH-PH domain and a C-terminal SH3 domain. WGEF was shown to activate RhoA, Cdc42, and Rac1 by pulldown assay, and forced expression of WGEF resulted in marked rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton, which is typically seen by the activation of RhoA, Cdc42, and Rac1. WGEF was highly expressed in intestine and also in liver, heart and kidney, which may suggest the involvement of WGEF in the development and functions of these organs. The expression pattern may also suggest the possible importance of WGEF in the understanding of diseases based on metabolic disorder.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / chemistry
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Cell Line
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • DNA, Complementary / metabolism
  • Gene Library
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / physiology*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism*
  • Kidney / metabolism*
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Myocardium / metabolism*
  • Phenotype
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Transfection
  • src Homology Domains

Substances

  • Actins
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • WGEF protein, mouse