Computational analysis of Rho GTPase cycling.

The Rho family of GTPases control actin organization during diverse cellular responses (migration, cytokinesis and endocytosis). Although the primary members of this family (RhoA, Rac and Cdc42) have different downstream effects on actin remodeling, the basic mechanism involves targeting to the plas...

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Main Authors: Cibele Vieira Falkenberg, Leslie M Loew
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013-01-01
Series:PLoS Computational Biology
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002831&type=printable
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author Cibele Vieira Falkenberg
Leslie M Loew
author_facet Cibele Vieira Falkenberg
Leslie M Loew
author_sort Cibele Vieira Falkenberg
collection DOAJ
description The Rho family of GTPases control actin organization during diverse cellular responses (migration, cytokinesis and endocytosis). Although the primary members of this family (RhoA, Rac and Cdc42) have different downstream effects on actin remodeling, the basic mechanism involves targeting to the plasma membrane and activation by GTP binding. Our hypothesis is that the details of GTPase cycling between membrane and cytosol are key to the differential upstream regulation of these biochemical switches. Accordingly, we developed a modeling framework to analyze experimental data for these systems. This analysis can reveal details of GDI-mediated cycling and help distinguish between GDI-dependent and -independent mechanisms, including vesicle trafficking and direct association-dissociation of GTPase with membrane molecules. Analysis of experimental data for Rac membrane cycling reveals that the lower apparent affinity of GDI for RacGTP compared to RacGDP can be fully explained by the faster dissociation of the latter from the membrane. Non-dimensional steady-state solutions for membrane fraction of GTPase are presented in multidimensional charts. This methodology is then used to analyze glucose stimulated Rac cycling in pancreatic β-cells. The charts are used to illustrate the effects of GEFs/GAPs and regulated affinities between GTPases and membrane and/or GDI on the amount of membrane bound GTPase. In a similar fashion, the charts can be used as a guide in assessing how targeted modifications may compensate for altered GTPase-GDI balance in disease scenarios.
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spelling doaj-art-a8bcaf0516e84d85ba833496adb5909d2025-08-20T02:15:29ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Computational Biology1553-734X1553-73582013-01-0191e100283110.1371/journal.pcbi.1002831Computational analysis of Rho GTPase cycling.Cibele Vieira FalkenbergLeslie M LoewThe Rho family of GTPases control actin organization during diverse cellular responses (migration, cytokinesis and endocytosis). Although the primary members of this family (RhoA, Rac and Cdc42) have different downstream effects on actin remodeling, the basic mechanism involves targeting to the plasma membrane and activation by GTP binding. Our hypothesis is that the details of GTPase cycling between membrane and cytosol are key to the differential upstream regulation of these biochemical switches. Accordingly, we developed a modeling framework to analyze experimental data for these systems. This analysis can reveal details of GDI-mediated cycling and help distinguish between GDI-dependent and -independent mechanisms, including vesicle trafficking and direct association-dissociation of GTPase with membrane molecules. Analysis of experimental data for Rac membrane cycling reveals that the lower apparent affinity of GDI for RacGTP compared to RacGDP can be fully explained by the faster dissociation of the latter from the membrane. Non-dimensional steady-state solutions for membrane fraction of GTPase are presented in multidimensional charts. This methodology is then used to analyze glucose stimulated Rac cycling in pancreatic β-cells. The charts are used to illustrate the effects of GEFs/GAPs and regulated affinities between GTPases and membrane and/or GDI on the amount of membrane bound GTPase. In a similar fashion, the charts can be used as a guide in assessing how targeted modifications may compensate for altered GTPase-GDI balance in disease scenarios.https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002831&type=printable
spellingShingle Cibele Vieira Falkenberg
Leslie M Loew
Computational analysis of Rho GTPase cycling.
PLoS Computational Biology
title Computational analysis of Rho GTPase cycling.
title_full Computational analysis of Rho GTPase cycling.
title_fullStr Computational analysis of Rho GTPase cycling.
title_full_unstemmed Computational analysis of Rho GTPase cycling.
title_short Computational analysis of Rho GTPase cycling.
title_sort computational analysis of rho gtpase cycling
url https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002831&type=printable
work_keys_str_mv AT cibelevieirafalkenberg computationalanalysisofrhogtpasecycling
AT lesliemloew computationalanalysisofrhogtpasecycling