Serine34 phosphorylation of RHO guanine dissociation inhibitor (RHOGDI{alpha}) links signaling from conventional protein kinase C to RHO GTPase in cell adhesion

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Protein kinase Calpha (PKCalpha) is an essential serine/threonine kinase regulating many signaling networks. At cell adhesion sites, PKCalpha can impact the actin cytoskeleton through its influence on RhoGTPases but the intermediate steps are not well known. One important regulator of RhoGTPase function is the multifunctional guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor RhoGDIalpha that sequesters several related RhoGTPases in an inactive form, but may also target them through interactions with actin-associated proteins. Here it is demonstrated that PKCalpha phosphorylates RhoGDIalpha on serine 34, resulting in a specific decrease in affinity for RhoA, but not Rac1 or cdc42. The mechanism of RhoGDIalpha phosphorylation is distinct, requiring PKCalpha and phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate, consistent with recent evidence that the inositide can activate, localize and orient PKCalpha in membranes. Phosphospecific antibodies reveal endogenous phosphorylation in several cell types that is sensitive to adhesion events triggered, for example, by hepatocyte growth factor. Phosphorylation is also sensitive to PKC inhibition. Together with FRET microscopy sensing GTP-RhoA levels, the data reveal a common pathway in cell adhesion linking two essential mediators, PKCalpha and RhoA.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume285
Issue number30
Pages (from-to)23296-308
Number of pages15
ISSN0021-9258
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 May 2010

ID: 19977473