Gab1 contributes to cytoskeletal reorganization and chemotaxis in response to platelet-derived growth factor

Gab1 is a scaffolding/docking protein that has been suggested to play a role in signal transduction downstream of certain plasma membrane receptors, including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors. We found that PDGF induced a rapid Gab1 phosphorylation, which depended on the recruitment of Grb2, indicating that Grb2 acts as a bridge between Gab1 and the PDGF beta-receptor. PDGF also enhanced the binding of Gab1 to the phosphatase SHP-2, but not to p85. To further study the role of Gab1 in PDGF signaling, we transfected porcine aortic endothelial cells with a doxycycline-inducible Gab1 construct. Increased Gab1 expression enhanced the recruitment and activation of SHP-2, as well as the phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases Erk and p38 by PDGF. Gab1 expression also enhanced the formation of lamellipodia and cellular protrusions. In Gab1-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts, the same phenotype was induced by restoring the expression of wild-type Gab1, but not a mutant Gab1 that was unable to associate with SHP-2. These effects of PDGF on the actin cytoskeleton were not altered by the inhibition of p38 or Erk, but could be blocked by a dominant-negative form of Rac (Asn(17)). Finally, Gab1-deficient fibroblasts showed a decreased chemotactic response toward gradients of PDGF as compared with wild-type cells. In conclusion, Gab1 plays a selective role in the regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases Erk and p38 downstream of the PDGF beta-receptor, and contributes to cytoskeletal reorganization and chemotaxis in response to PDGF.