Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

RhoC GTPase Activation Assay
09:58

RhoC GTPase Activation Assay

Published on: August 22, 2010

Individual rac GTPases mediate aspects of prostate cancer cell and bone marrow endothelial cell interactions

Moumita Chatterjee1, Linda Sequeira, Mashariki Jenkins-Kabaila

  • 1The Laboratory for Cytoskeletal Physiology, Department of Biological Science, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.

Journal of Signal Transduction
|July 22, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Rac1 GTPase is crucial for prostate cancer cells to interact with bone marrow endothelial cells, mediating tight binding and promoting diapedesis. This research highlights Rac1

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Rho GTPases regulate the actin cytoskeleton and are implicated in cancer metastasis.
  • Previous studies identified RhoC GTPase's role in prostate cancer cell invasion and Rac1 GTPase's role in PC-3 cell diapedesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the roles of Rac3 and RhoG GTPases in prostate tumor cell diapedesis.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which Rac1 GTPase mediates prostate cancer cell interactions with bone marrow endothelial cells.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to target specific GTPases in PC-3 and C4-2 prostate cancer cell lines.
  • Assessed cell adhesion and diapedesis across bone marrow endothelial cell layers.
  • Investigated the involvement of chemokine CCL2 and β1 integrin activation.

Main Results:

  • Rac3 and RhoG GTPases play roles in prostate cancer cell adhesion and diapedesis.
  • RhoG partially contributes to CCL2-induced tumor cell diapedesis.
  • Rac1 GTPase is essential for tight binding between prostate cancer cells and bone marrow endothelial cells, induces endothelial cell retraction, and activates β1 integrin.

Conclusions:

  • Rac1 GTPase is a key mediator of prostate cancer cell interactions with bone marrow endothelial cells.
  • Rac1's mechanism involves promoting tight cell-cell binding and activating β1 integrin.
  • The findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of prostate cancer metastasis.

More Related Videos

Comparing the Affinity of GTPase-binding Proteins using Competition Assays10:37

Comparing the Affinity of GTPase-binding Proteins using Competition Assays

Published on: October 8, 2015

In vitro Method to Observe E-selectin-mediated Interactions Between Prostate Circulating Tumor Cells Derived From Patients and Human Endothelial Cells11:56

In vitro Method to Observe E-selectin-mediated Interactions Between Prostate Circulating Tumor Cells Derived From Patients and Human Endothelial Cells

Published on: May 15, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Small GTPases - Ras and Rho01:24

Small GTPases - Ras and Rho

Ras and Rho are small monomeric GTPases that act downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and regulate various cellular processes. These GTPases switch between active and inactive states by binding to guanine nucleotides.
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
GTPases and their Regulation02:14

GTPases and their Regulation

Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins), also known as GTPases, are a superfamily of proteins that regulate many cellular processes, such as cell signaling, vesicular transport, and the regulation of cell shape and motility. Mutation or dysfunction of these proteins can lead to disease. There are around 40,000 known G-proteins that can broadly be classified into two groups ‒  small G-proteins consisting of a single domain and large multi-domain G-proteins.
Large G-proteins, also known...
GTPases and their Regulation02:14

GTPases and their Regulation

Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins), also known as GTPases, are a superfamily of proteins that regulate many cellular processes, such as cell signaling, vesicular transport, and the regulation of cell shape and motility. Mutation or dysfunction of these proteins can lead to disease. There are around 40,000 known G-proteins that can broadly be classified into two groups ‒  small G-proteins consisting of a single domain and large multi-domain G-proteins.
Large G-proteins, also known...
The Ras Gene02:38

The Ras Gene

The Ras-gene-encoded proteins are regulators of signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, or cell survival. The Ras-gene family in humans constitutes three primary members—the HRas, NRas, and KRas. These genes code for four functionally distinct yet closely related proteins—the HRas, NRas, KRas4A, and KRas4B. The involvement of mutant Ras genes in human cancer was first discovered in 1982 and is among the most common causes of human tumorigenesis.
Ras is a superfamily...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins01:22

Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins

Heterotrimeric G proteins are guanine nucleotide-binding proteins. As the name suggests, heterotrimeric G proteins are composed of three subunits: alpha, beta, and gamma. They remain GDP-bound or GTP-bound inside the cells and switch between inactive/active states. The Gα subunit possesses the nucleotide-binding pocket that binds guanine nucleotides and switches between GDP or GTP-bound states. In contrast, the Gꞵ and Gγ subunits are always bound together with high affinity and are together...