Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

A Uniform Shear Assay for Human Platelet and Cell Surface Receptors via Cone-plate Viscometry
04:32

A Uniform Shear Assay for Human Platelet and Cell Surface Receptors via Cone-plate Viscometry

Published on: June 5, 2019

Gene targeting implicates Cdc42 GTPase in GPVI and non-GPVI mediated platelet filopodia formation, secretion and

Huzoor Akbar1, Xun Shang, Rehana Perveen

  • 1Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, United States of America. akbar@ohio.edu

Plos One
|July 27, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Cdc42 is essential for platelet function, including filopodia formation, secretion, and aggregation. This study reveals Cdc42

Area of Science:

  • Cellular biology
  • Hematology
  • Molecular signaling

Background:

  • Rho GTPases, including Cdc42 and Rac1, regulate the actin cytoskeleton.
  • Rac1's role in platelet secretion and aggregation is known, but Cdc42's role is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Cdc42 in platelet activation and function.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized inducible Cdc42-deficient mice (Mx-cre;Cdc42(lox/lox)).
  • Analyzed platelet count, PAK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation, filopodia formation, ATP secretion, P-selectin release, and platelet aggregation.
  • Assessed bleeding times in Cdc42-deficient and wild-type mice.

Main Results:

  • Cdc42-deficient mice had reduced platelet counts and prolonged bleeding times.
  • Cdc42 deficiency inhibited PAK1/2 phosphorylation, filopodia formation, ATP secretion, P-selectin release, and platelet aggregation.
  • Akt phosphorylation was minimal in Cdc42-deficient platelets upon stimulation.

Conclusions:

  • Cdc42 is crucial for platelet filopodia formation, secretion, and aggregation.
  • Cdc42 plays a critical role in platelet-mediated hemostasis and thrombosis.

More Related Videos

Detection of Small GTPase Prenylation and GTP Binding Using Membrane Fractionation and GTPase-linked Immunosorbent Assay13:51

Detection of Small GTPase Prenylation and GTP Binding Using Membrane Fractionation and GTPase-linked Immunosorbent Assay

Published on: November 11, 2018

An In Vitro Assay to Study Platelet Migration Using RGD-Functionalized Avidin-Biotin Tethers05:43

An In Vitro Assay to Study Platelet Migration Using RGD-Functionalized Avidin-Biotin Tethers

Published on: November 8, 2024

Related Concept Videos

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...
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:
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
Coat Assembly and GTPases01:33

Coat Assembly and GTPases

Vesicles incorporate different coat protein subunits in different cell locations, which changes the properties of the coat, such as the shape and geometry of the transport vesicles. Thus, vesicle coat proteins also play a significant role in cargo selection.
Coat assembly depends on the local availability of phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs and GTP-binding proteins. Adaptor proteins, which link the coat proteins to the membrane, bind to these PIPs and play a crucial role in controlling...
GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity01:09

GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity

Some GPCRs transmit signals through adenylyl cyclase (AC), a transmembrane enzyme. AC helps synthesize second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). AC catalyzes cyclization reaction and converts ATP to cAMP by releasing a pyrophosphate. The pyrophosphate is further hydrolyzed to phosphate by the enzyme pyrophosphatase, which drives cAMP synthesis to completion. However, cAMP is rapidly degraded to 5′ AMP by the enzymes phosphodiesterase (PDE), preventing overstimulation of cells.
Two...