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The RhoGEF GEF-H1 is required for oncogenic RAS signaling via KSR-1
Jane Cullis1, David Meiri2, Maria Jose Sandi2
1Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, 101 College Street, Room 8-703, Toronto Medical Discovery Tower, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
Abstract:
Cellular transformation by oncogenic RAS engages the MAPK pathway under strict regulation by the scaffold protein KSR-1. Here, we report that the guanine nucleotide exchange factor GEF-H1 plays a critical role in a positive feedback loop for the RAS/MAPK pathway independent of its RhoGEF activity. GEF-H1 acts as an adaptor protein linking the PP2A B' subunits to KSR-1, thereby mediating the dephosphorylation of KSR-1 S392 and activation of MAPK signaling. GEF-H1 is important for the growth and survival of HRAS(V12)-transformed cells and pancreatic tumor xenografts. GEF-H1 expression is induced by oncogenic RAS and is correlated with pancreatic neoplastic progression. Our results, therefore, identify GEF-H1 as an amplifier of MAPK signaling and provide mechanistic insight into the progression of RAS mutant tumors.
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