The Ras homolog (Rho) family of small GTPases comprise several proteins with prominent roles in regulation cell cycle transition, migration, and remodeling actin cytoskeleton. Expression these is regulated by factors among them are long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). impact lncRNAs on Rho signaling can be exerted through direct modulation expression or influencing miRNAs that negatively regulate GT...

The highly conserved Rho-family GTPase Cdc42 is an essential regulator of polarity in many different cell types. During polarity establishment, Cdc42 becomes concentrated at a cortical site, where it interacts with downstream effectors to orient the cytoskeleton along the front-back axis. To concentrate Cdc42, loss of Cdc42 by diffusion must be balanced by recycling to the front. In Saccharomyc...

BACKGROUND Cdc42 and Rac1, members of the Rho family of small GTPases, play critical roles in actin cytoskeleton regulation. We have shown previously that Rac1 is involved in regulation of platelet secretion and aggregation. However, the role of Cdc42 in platelet activation remains controversial. This study was undertaken to better understand the role of Cdc42 in platelet activation. METHODOL...

Signaling by the small GTPase Cdc42 governs a diverse set of cellular processes that contribute to tissue morphogenesis. Since these processes often require highly localized signaling, Cdc42 activity must be clustered in order to prevent ectopic signaling. During cell polarization, apical Cdc42 signaling directs the positioning of the nascent apical membrane. However, the molecular mechanisms t...

The ability of the small GTPase Cdc42 to regulate diverse cellular processes depends on tight spatial control of its activity. Cdc42 function is best understood at the plasma membrane (PM), where it regulates cytoskeletal organization and cell polarization. Active Cdc42 has also been detected at the Golgi, but its role and regulation at this organelle are only partially understood. Here we anal...

Cdc42 (cell division cycle 42) is a member of the Rho GTPase family which regulates a variety of cellular activities by controlling actin cytoskeleton and gene expression. Cdc42 is expressed in the form of two splice variants. The canonical Cdc42 isoform is prenylated (Cdc42-prenyl), whereas the brainspecific isoform can be palmitoylated (Cdc42-palm). In the present study we have demonstrated p...

BACKGROUND Cdc42 and other Rho GTPases are conserved from yeast to humans and are thought to regulate multiple cellular functions by inducing coordinated changes in actin reorganization and by activating signaling pathways leading to specific gene expression. Direct evidence implicating upstream signals and components that regulate Cdc42 activity or for required roles of Cdc42 in activation of ...

Endochondral ossification consists of successive steps of chondrocyte differentiation, including mesenchymal condensation, differentiation of chondrocytes, and hypertrophy followed by mineralization and ossification. Loss-of-function studies have revealed that abnormal growth plate cartilage of the Cdc42 mutant contributes to the defects in endochondral bone formation. Here, we have investigate...

CDC42 is an oncogenic Rho GTPase overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC). Although CDC42 has been shown to regulate gene transcription, the specific molecular mechanisms regulating the oncogenic ability of CDC42 remain unknown. Here, we have characterized the transcriptional networks governed by CDC42 in the CRC SW620 cell line using gene expression analysis. Our results establish that several...