Distinct roles of Rac GTPases and the UNC-73/Trio and PIX-1 Rac GTP exchange factors in neuroblast protrusion and migration inC. elegans

• DOI: 10.4161/sgtp.1.1.12991
• Publication Date: 2010-10-14T14:57:40Z
• Authors: Jamie O. Dyer; Rafael S. Demarco; Erik A Lundquist
• Keywords: Neuroblast; CDC42; Rac GTP-Binding Proteins

The Rac and Cdc42 GTPases as well the multiple GTP exchange factors that regulate their activity have been implicated in pathways drive actin cytoskeleton reorganization, but individual contributions of these molecules to cell migration remain unknown. Studies shown here examine roles CED-10/Rac, MIG-2/RhoG CDC-42 QL QR neuroblasts C. elegans. CED-10/Rac was found normally limit protrusion migration, whereas required for migration. also had redundant Q Surprisingly, only weak effects on We a mutation unc-73/Trio, which encodes GEF MIG-2/RhoG, caused protrusions were thin filopodia-like, suggesting UNC-73/Trio is robust lamellipodia-like protrusion. A screen 19 elegans Dbl homology Rho genes revealed PIX-1 proper neuroblast Genetic analysis indicated might act pathway parallel has function with These results indicate GEFs both unique overlapping neuronal