Rho GTPases in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell migration

Methods Mol Biol. 2011:750:307-19. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-145-1_21.

Abstract

Rho GTPases including RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 are a class of intracellular signaling proteins critical for the regulation of cytoskeleton organization, adhesion, and migration. Molecular mechanisms of mammalian cell migration were first revealed in fibroblasts where RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 facilitate in the multistep process including establishment and maintenance of polarity, formation of actin-rich protrusions, remodeling of adhesive contacts, and generation of force. In hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, Rho GTPases relay signals from chemokines and cytokines such as SDF-1α and SCF to the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton through effector kinases and/or adaptor molecules that affect adhesion or transcription. Comprehensive use of murine conditional gene knockout technology combined with biochemical approaches in recent studies allows for physiologically relevant investigations of the involvement of Rho GTPases in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell migration, providing important mechanisms for the stem/progenitor maintenance.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / physiology
  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion / physiology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Migration Assays
  • Cell Movement
  • Cytoskeleton / physiology*
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / physiology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells* / cytology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells* / physiology
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neuropeptides / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction* / physiology
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / physiology*
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein

Substances

  • Actins
  • Neuropeptides
  • Rac1 protein, mouse
  • RhoA protein, mouse
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein