Vav2 Activates Rac1, Cdc42, and RhoA Downstream from Growth Factor Receptors but Not β1 Integrins

Abstract

The Rho family of GTPases plays a major role in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton. These G proteins are activated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors that stimulate the exchange of bound GDP for GTP. In their GTP-bound state, these G proteins interact with downstream effectors. Vav2 is an exchange factor for Rho family GTPases. It is a ubiquitously expressed homologue of Vav1, and like Vav1, it has previously been shown to be activated by tyrosine phosphorylation. Because Vav1 becomes tyrosine phosphorylated and activated following integrin engagement in hematopoietic cells, we investigated the tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav2 in response to integrin-mediated adhesion in fibroblasts and epithelial cells. However, no tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav2 was detected in response to integrin engagement. In contrast, treating cells with either epidermal growth factor or platelet-derived growth factor stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav2. We have examined the effects of overexpressing either wild-type or amino-terminally truncated (constitutively active) forms of Vav2 as fusion proteins with green fluorescent protein. Overexpression of either wild-type or constitutively active Vav2 resulted in prominent membrane ruffles and enhanced stress fibers. These cells revealed elevated rates of cell migration that were inhibited by expression of dominant negative forms of Rac1 and Cdc42. Using a binding assay to measure the activity of Rac1, Cdc42, and RhoA, we found that overexpression of Vav2 resulted in increased activity of each of these G proteins. Expression of a carboxy-terminal fragment of Vav2 decreased the elevation of Rac1 activity induced by epidermal growth factor, consistent with Vav2 mediating activation of Rac1 downstream from growth factor receptors.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are most grateful to Joan Brugge and Sheri Moores for sharing their data with us prior to their publication. David Kwiatkowski kindly provided us with Vav2 cDNA. Many of our laboratory colleagues have contributed advice and encouragement. We especially thank Bill Arthur, Nikki Noren, Leslie Petch, Sarita Sastry, Amy Shaub, and Becky Worthylake. B.L. thanks Simone Schoenwaelder and Magda Chrzanowska-Wodnicka for sustained encouragement. We thank Michele Alexandre for technical assistance.

This work was supported by NIH grant GM29860.