Role of chimaerins, a group of Rac-specific GTPase activating proteins, in T-cell receptor signaling

Cell Signal. 2008 Apr;20(4):758-70. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2007.12.015. Epub 2007 Dec 28.

Abstract

Chimaerins are GTPase-activating proteins that inactivate the GTP-hydrolase Rac1 in a diacylglycerol-dependent manner. To date, the study of chimaerins has been done mostly in neuronal cells. Here, we show that alpha2- and beta2-chimaerin are expressed at different levels in T-cells and that they participate in T-cell receptor signaling. In agreement with this, we have observed that alpha2- and beta2-chimaerins translocate to the T-cell/B-cell immune synapse and, using both gain- and loss-of-function approaches, demonstrated that their catalytic activity is important for the inhibition of the T-cell receptor- and Vav1-dependent stimulation of the transcriptional factor NF-AT. Mutagenesis-based approaches have revealed the molecular determinants that contribute to the biological program of chimaerins during T-cell responses. Unexpectedly, we have found that the translocation of chimaerins to the T-cell/B-cell immune synapse does not rely on the canonical binding of diacylglycerol to the C1 region of these GTPase-activating proteins. Taken together, these results identify chimaerins as candidates for the downmodulation of Rac1 in T-lymphocytes and, in addition, uncover a novel regulatory mechanism that mediates their activation in T-cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • B-Lymphocytes / enzymology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD3 Complex / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / enzymology
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Chimerin 1 / metabolism
  • Chimerin Proteins / genetics
  • Chimerin Proteins / metabolism*
  • Diglycerides / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Mutation
  • NFATC Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Protein Transport
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-vav / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction* / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / enzymology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Transfection
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • CD3 Complex
  • Chimerin 1
  • Chimerin Proteins
  • Diglycerides
  • NFATC Transcription Factors
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-vav
  • RAC1 protein, human
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • VAV1 protein, human
  • beta-chimaerin
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein