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A palmitoylation switch mechanism regulates Rac1 function and membrane organization
Author(s) -
NavarroLérida Inmaculada,
SánchezPerales Sara,
Calvo María,
Rentero Carles,
Zheng Yi,
Enrich Carlos,
Del Pozo Miguel A
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1038/emboj.2011.446
Subject(s) - palmitoylation , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , rac1 , prenylation , cytoskeleton , gtpase , guanosine , gtp' , actin cytoskeleton , biochemistry , signal transduction , cell , cysteine , enzyme
The small GTPase Rac1 plays important roles in many processes, including cytoskeletal reorganization, cell migration, cell‐cycle progression and gene expression. The initiation of Rac1 signalling requires at least two mechanisms: GTP loading via the guanosine triphosphate (GTP)/guanosine diphosphate (GDP) cycle, and targeting to cholesterol‐rich liquid‐ordered plasma membrane microdomains. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms governing this specific compartmentalization. We show that Rac1 can incorporate palmitate at cysteine 178 and that this post‐translational modification targets Rac1 for stabilization at actin cytoskeleton‐linked ordered membrane regions. Palmitoylation of Rac1 requires its prior prenylation and the intact C‐terminal polybasic region and is regulated by the triproline‐rich motif. Non‐palmitoylated Rac1 shows decreased GTP loading and lower association with detergent‐resistant (liquid‐ordered) membranes (DRMs). Cells expressing no Rac1 or a palmitoylation‐deficient mutant have an increased content of disordered membrane domains, and markers of ordered membranes isolated from Rac1‐deficient cells do not correctly partition in DRMs. Importantly, cells lacking Rac1 palmitoylation show spreading and migration defects. These data identify palmitoylation as a mechanism for Rac1 function in actin cytoskeleton remodelling by controlling its membrane partitioning, which in turn regulates membrane organization.