Phosphoinositide 3-kinase regulates plasma membrane targeting of the Ras-specific exchange factor RasGRP1

J Biol Chem. 2011 Apr 8;286(14):12712-23. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.189605. Epub 2011 Feb 1.

Abstract

Receptor-induced targeting of exchange factors to specific cellular membranes is the predominant mechanism for initiating and compartmentalizing signal transduction by Ras GTPases. The exchange factor RasGRP1 has a C1 domain that binds the lipid diacylglycerol and thus can potentially mediate membrane localization in response to receptors that are coupled to diacylglycerol-generating phospholipase Cs. However, the C1 domain is insufficient for targeting RasGRP1 to the plasma membrane. We found that a basic/hydrophobic cluster of amino acids within the plasma membrane-targeting domain of RasGRP1 is instead responsible for plasma membrane targeting. This basic/hydrophobic cluster binds directly to phospholipid vesicles containing phosphoinositides via electrostatic interactions with polyanionic phosphoinositide headgroups and insertion of a tryptophan into the lipid bilayer. B cell antigen receptor ligation and other stimuli induce plasma membrane targeting of RasGRP1 by activating the phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling pathway, which generates phosphoinositides within the plasma membrane. Direct detection of phosphoinositides by the basic/hydrophobic cluster of RasGRP1 provides a novel mechanism for coupling and co-compartmentalizing phosphoinositide 3-kinase and Ras signaling and, in coordination with diacylglycerol detection by the C1 domain, gives RasGRP1 the potential to serve as an integrator of converging signals from the phosphoinositide 3-kinase and phospholipase C pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / genetics
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary

Substances

  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Rasgrp1 protein, mouse
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1