The role of Rho family proteins in controlling the migration of crawling cells].

Wanda Kłopocka, Jolanta Barańska

Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, 3 Pasteur St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland. w.klopocka@nencki.gov.pl

Postepy biochemii 2005

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Migration of crawling cells (amoebae and some kinds of the tissue cells) is a process related to the dynamic reorganization of actomyosin cytoskeleton. That reorganization engages actin polymerization and de-polymerization, branching of actin network and interaction of myosin II with actin filaments. All those cytoskeleton changes lead to the cell progression, contraction and shifting of the uropod and the cell adhesion. Numerous external stimuli, which activate various surface receptors and signal transduction pathways, can promote migration. Rho family proteins play an important role in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton organization. The most known members of this family are Rho, Rac and Cdc42 proteins, present in all mammalian tissue cells. These proteins control three different stages of cell migration: progression of the frontal edge, adhesion which stabilizes the frontal area, and de-adhesion and shifting of the uropod. Cdc42 and Rac control cell polarization, lamellipodium formation and expansion, organization of focal complexes. Rho protein regulates contractile activity of actomyosin cytoskeleton outside the frontal area, and thus contraction and de-adhesion of the uropod.

Citation

Wanda Kłopocka, Jolanta Barańska. The role of Rho family proteins in controlling the migration of crawling cells]. Postepy biochemii. 2005;51(1):36-43