Abstract
The rgsRhoGEFs comprise a subfamily of three guanine nucleotide exchange factors, which function in linking heterotrimeric G-proteins to the monomeric RhoGTPase. Here, we reveal the novel finding that oligomerization of leukemia-associated RhoGEF (LARG) functions to prevent nucleocytoplasmic shuttling and to retain LARG in the cytoplasm. We establish that oligomerization is mediated by a predicted coiled-coil sequence (amino acids 1507–1520) in the extreme C terminus of LARG and that substitution of isoleucines 1507/1510 with alanines disrupts homo-oligomerization and leads to nucleocytoplasmic shuttling via the CRM1 nuclear transport pathway. In addition, we demonstrate that induced dimerization of an otherwise nuclear monomeric LARG mutant promotes cytoplasmic localization. Furthermore, we establish that nuclear import of monomeric LARG is mediated by the nuclear localization sequence 29PTDKKQK35 in the extreme N terminus. We propose that nucleocytoplasmic shuttling provides a mechanism for spatially regulating the activity of LARG toward its cytoplasmic targets and potentially new nuclear targets.
Footnotes
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This work was supported by grant GM62884 (to P.W.) from the National Institutes of Health.
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Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org.
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doi:10.1124/mol.107.035162.
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ABBREVIATIONS: GEF, guanine-nucleotide exchange factor; ChFP, cherry fluorescent protein; RGS, regulator of G protein signaling; LARG, leukemia-associated Rho-guanine-nucleotide exchange factor; MLL, mixed lineage leukemia; PM, plasma membrane; NES, nuclear export sequence; NLS, nuclear localization sequence; PRG, postsynaptic density 95/disc-large/zona occludens Rho guanine-nucleotide exchange factor; SRE, serum response element; DMEM, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; EGFP, enhanced green fluorescent protein; HA, hemagglutinin; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; GFP, green fluorescent protein; LMB, Leptomycin B; DAPI, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; FL, full length; FKBP, FK506 binding protein; FRB, FKBP-rapamycin binding.
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The online version of this article (available at http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org) contains supplemental material.
- Received February 13, 2007.
- Accepted July 3, 2007.
- The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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