PDK1 mediates growth factor-induced Ral-GEF activation by a kinase-independent mechanism

EMBO J. 2002 Mar 15;21(6):1327-38. doi: 10.1093/emboj/21.6.1327.

Abstract

Ras proteins transduce extracellular signals to intracellular signaling pathways by binding to and promoting the activation of at least three classes of downstream signaling molecules: Raf kinases, phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3-K) and Ral guanine nucleotide exchange factors (Ral-GEFs). Previous work has demonstrated that epidermal growth factor (EGF) activates Ral-GEFs, at least in part, by a Ras-mediated redistribution of the GEFs to their target, Ral-GTPases, in the plasma membrane. Here we show that Ral-GEF stimulation by EGF involves an additional mechanism, PI3-K-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1)-induced enhancement of Ral-GEF catalytic activity. Remarkably, this PDK1 function is not dependent upon its kinase activity. Instead, the non-catalytic N-terminus of PDK1 mediates the formation of an EGF-induced complex with the N-terminus of the Ral-GEF, Ral-GDS, thereby relieving its auto-inhibitory effect on the catalytic domain of Ral-GDS. These results elucidate a novel function for PDK1 and demonstrate that two Ras effector pathways cooperate to promote Ral-GTPase activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / metabolism*
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / pharmacology
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Peptides
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • ral GTP-Binding Proteins*
  • ral Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor / genetics
  • ral Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor / metabolism*

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • ral Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • 3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • PDPK1 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases
  • RALA protein, human
  • ral GTP-Binding Proteins