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Method Article
Here we describe a protocol to investigate the prenylation and guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP)-loading of Rho GTPase. This protocol consists of two detailed methods, namely membrane fractionation and a GTPase-linked immunosorbent assay. The protocol can be used for measuring the prenylation and GTP loading of different other small GTPases.
The Rho GTPase family belongs to the Ras superfamily and includes approximately 20 members in humans. Rho GTPases are important in the regulation of diverse cellular functions, including cytoskeletal dynamics, cell motility, cell polarity, axonal guidance, vesicular trafficking, and cell cycle control. Changes in Rho GTPase signaling play an essential regulatory role in many pathological conditions, such as cancer, central nervous system diseases, and immune system-dependent diseases. The posttranslational modification of Rho GTPases (i.e., prenylation by mevalonate pathway intermediates) and GTP binding are key factors which affect the activation of this protein. In this paper, two essential and simple methods are provided to detect a broad range of Rho GTPase prenylation and GTP binding activities. Details of the technical procedures that have been used are explained step by step in this manuscript.
Rho GTPases are a group of small proteins (21 - 25 kDa), which are well conserved throughout evolution, and form a unique subfamily in the Ras superfamily of small GTPases. In each subfamily within this superfamily, there is a shared G domain core that is involved in the GTPase activity and nucleotide exchange1. The difference between the Rho family and the other Ras subfamilies is the presence of a "Rho insert domain" within the 5th β strand and the 4th α helix in the small GTPase domain2.
Based on the recent classification, Rho GTPases are considered a family of signaling proteins that fit into the Ras GTPase superfamily3. Mammalian Rho GTPases have 22 members based on their specific function and general characterization4 in which RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 are among the most-studied members in this group. Rho GTPases are linked to intracellular signaling pathways via a tightly regulated mechanism which is dependent on molecular switches via protein posttranslational modifications5.
GTP loading and hydrolysis are essential mechanisms in the activation/deactivation cycle of small Rho GTPases and are regulated via GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). GAPs are responsible for the GTP hydrolysis and work in concert with guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) which are responsible for the GTP-loading reaction. Rho GDP dissociation inhibitors (GDIs) provide further regulation of small Rho GTPases via binding to the GDP-bound Rho GTPases. This inhibits GDP dissociation and facilitates sequestering of small Rho GTPases away from the active intracellular membrane sites. There is also further regulation of Rho GTPase proteins involving the prenylation of GDIs which regulates both nucleotide hydrolysis and exchange and controls GDP/GTP cycling1,6,7,8.
Both GTP-loading and Rho GTPase prenylation are involved in the movement of Rho GTPase between cytosol and cell membranes by changing the lipophilic properties of these proteins1,9. The abovementioned regulators interact with phospholipids of the cell membrane and other modulating proteins of the GDP/GTP exchange activity10. Moreover, GDIs, dissociation inhibitors, block both the GTP hydrolysis and the GDP/GTP exchange. GDIs inhibit the dissociation of the inactive Rho proteins from GDP and, therefore, their interaction with downstream effectors. GDIs also regulate the cycling of GTPases between the cytosol and membrane in the cell. The activity of Rho GTPases depends to a great extent on their movement to the cell membrane; thus, GDIs are regarded as critical regulators that can sequester GTPases in the cytoplasm through hiding their hydrophobic region/domains11,12.
For Rho GTPase to have an optimum signaling and function in all stages of its activation cycle, the dynamic cycle of GTP-loading/GTP hydrolysis is crucial. Any kind of alterations in this process may result in subsequent changes in cell functions regulated by Rho GTPase, such as cell polarity, proliferation, morphogenesis, cytokinesis, migration, adhesion, and survival13,14.
The current protocol provides readers with a detailed method to monitor small RhoA GTPase activation via the investigation of their prenylation and GDP/GTP loading. This method can also be used to detect the prenylation and GTP binding of a wide range of small GTPases. The GTPase-linked immunosorbent assay can be used to measure the level of activation of other kinds of GTPases, such as Rac1, Rac2, Rac3,H-, K-, or N-Ras, Arf, and Rho15. The pharmacological agent simvastatin is used as an example, as it was recently reported to be involved in the regulation of small Rho GTPase prenylation and activity8,9,14,16.
1. Determination of RhoA Localization Using Membrane/Cytosol Fractionation
2. Measurement of the RhoA GTP Load Using a Small G-protein Activation Assay
Membrane Fractionation:
Ultracentrifugation was used for the fractionation of membrane and cytosol components. As shown in Figure 1, the supernatant contains the cytosolic fraction and the pellet contains the membrane fraction. The abundance of RhoA in cytosolic andmembrane fractions obtained from U251 cells was examined after the treatment with simvastatin using immunoblotting...
Here we describe an accurate method to measure small GTPase prenylation and GTP binding shown as small GTPase subcellular localization (membrane versus cytosol) and Rho GTP loading. Small GTPases are expressed in eukaryotic cells and play essential roles in cellular proliferation, motility, and structure. Both prenylation and GTP binding are involved in the regulation of GTPase activity; therefore, assays to evaluate the prenylation and GTP binding of these proteins are important tools for cell biologists
The authors have nothing to disclose.
Saeid Ghavami was supported by a Health Science Centre Operating Grant, CHRIM operating grant and Research Manitoba New Investigator Operating Grant. Javad Alizadeh was supported by Research Manitoba studentship. Shahla Shojaei was supported by a Health Science Foundation Operating grant and the MITACS Accelerate postdoctoral fellowship. Adel Rezaei Moghadam was supported by an NSERC operating grant which was held by Joseph W. Gordon. Amir A. Zeki was supported by the NIH/NHLBI K08 award (1K08HL114882-01A1). Marek J. Los kindly acknowledges the support from LE STUDIUM Institute for Advanced Studies (region Centre-Val de Loire, France) through its Smart Loire Valley General Program and co-funded by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, grant #665790. Simone da Silva Rosa was supported by UMGF studentship.
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
DMEM high Glucose | VWR (Canada) | VWRL0101-0500 | |
Fetal Bovine Serum | VWR (Canada) | CA45001-106 | |
Penicillin/Streptomycin | VWR (Canada) | 97062-806 | |
EDTA (Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid) | VWR (Canada) | CA71007-118 | |
EGTA (Ethylene glycol bis(2-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid) | VWR (Canada) | CAAAJ60767-AE | |
DTT (DL-Dithiothreitol) | VWR (Canada) | CA97061-340 | |
Ammonium Persulfate | VWR (Canada) | CABDH9214-500G | |
Tris-Hydroxymethylaminomethane | VWR (Canada) | CA71009-186 | |
30% Acrylamide/Bis Solution | Biorad (Canada) | 1610158 | |
TEMED | Biorad (Canada) | 1610801 | |
Protease Inhibitor cocktail | Sigma/Aldrich (Canada) | P8340-5ML | 1:75 dilution |
Rho-GTPase Antibody Sampler Kit | Cell Signaling (Canada) | 9968 | 1:1000 dilution |
Pan-Cadherin antibody | Cell Signaling (Canada) | 4068 | 1:1000 dilution |
GAPDH antibody | Santa Cruz Biotechnology (USA) | sc-69778 | 1:3000 dilution |
RhoA G-LISA Activation Assay (Luminescence format) | Cytoskeleton Inc. (USA) | BK121 | Cytoskeleton I. G-LISA Activation Assays Technical Guide. 2016. |
RhoA Antibody | Cell Signaling | 2117 | |
ECL | Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech | RPN2209 | |
Anti-Rabbit IgG (whole molecule) Peroxidase antibody | Sigma | A6154-1ML | |
SpectraMax iD5 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader | Molecular Devices | 1612071A | Spectrophotometer |
Nonidet P-40 | Sigma | 11332473001 | non-denaturing detergent, octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol |
DMSO | Sigma | D8418-50ML | |
PBS | Sigma | P5493-1L | |
Phophatase Inhibitor cocktail | Sigma | P5726-5ML | 1:75 Dilution |
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