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Mol. Cell. Biol., Jan 1998, 130-140, Vol 18, No. 1
T Leung, XQ Chen, I Tan, E Manser and L Lim
The Rho GTPases play distinctive roles in cytoskeletal reorganization
associated with growth and differentiation. The Cdc42/Rac-binding p21-
activated kinase (PAK) and Rho-binding kinase (ROK) act as morphological
effectors for these GTPases. We have isolated two related novel brain
kinases whose p21-binding domains resemble that of PAK whereas the kinase
domains resemble that of myotonic dystrophy kinase- related ROK. These
approximately 190-kDa myotonic dystrophy kinase- related Cdc42-binding
kinases (MRCKs) preferentially phosphorylate nonmuscle myosin light chain
at serine 19, which is known to be crucial for activating actin-myosin
contractility. The p21-binding domain binds GTP-Cdc42 but not GDP-Cdc42.
The multidomain structure includes a cysteine-rich motif resembling those
of protein kinase C and n- chimaerin and a putative pleckstrin homology
domain. MRCK alpha and Cdc42V12 colocalize, particularly at the cell
periphery in transfected HeLa cells. Microinjection of plasmid encoding
MRCK alpha resulted in actin and myosin reorganization. Expression of
kinase-dead MRCK alpha blocked Cdc42V12-dependent formation of focal
complexes and peripheral microspikes. This was not due to possible
sequestration of the p21, as a kinase-dead MRCK alpha mutant defective in
Cdc42 binding was an equally effective blocker. Coinjection of MRCK alpha
plasmid with Cdc42 plasmid, at concentrations where Cdc42 plasmid by itself
elicited no effect, led to the formation of the peripheral structures
associated with a Cdc42-induced morphological phenotype. These Cdc42-type
effects were not promoted upon coinjection with plasmids of kinase-dead or
Cdc42-binding-deficient MRCK alpha mutants. These results suggest that MRCK
alpha may act as a downstream effector of Cdc42 in cytoskeletal
reorganization.
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology
Myotonic dystrophy kinase-related Cdc42-binding kinase acts as a Cdc42 effector in promoting cytoskeletal reorganization
Glaxo-IMCB Group, Institute of Molecular & Cell Biology, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore.
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