Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Real-Time Monitoring of Human Glioma Cell Migration on Dorsal Root Ganglion Axon-Oligodendrocyte Co-Cultures
06:51

Real-Time Monitoring of Human Glioma Cell Migration on Dorsal Root Ganglion Axon-Oligodendrocyte Co-Cultures

Published on: December 13, 2019

6.7K

RasGRP3 regulates the migration of glioma cells via interaction with Arp3

Hae Kyung Lee1,2, Susan Finniss1,2, Simona Cazacu1,2

  • 1Davidson Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Tumorigenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Hermelin Brain Tumor Center, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA.

Oncotarget
|February 16, 2015
PubMed

Insights

RasGRP3 protein is upregulated in glioblastoma (GBM) and promotes tumor cell migration and invasion. It interacts with Arp3, suggesting a novel therapeutic target for aggressive brain tumors.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor characterized by high Ras activity, yet Ras-activating mutations are uncommon.
  • RasGRP3, a diacylglycerol (DAG)-responsive protein, enhances Ras activation and is a potential factor in gliomagenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and function of RasGRP3 in GBM and glioma cells.
  • To identify novel interacting proteins of RasGRP3 and elucidate its role in GBM pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative analysis of RasGRP3 and Arp3 expression in GBM and normal brain tissues.
  • In vitro assays to assess RasGRP3's effect on Ras/Rap1 activation, cell migration, and invasion.
  • Pull-down assays, mass spectrometry, immunofluorescence, and co-immunoprecipitation to identify and validate RasGRP3-Arp3 interaction.

Main Results:

  • RasGRP3 expression is elevated in GBM and glioma stem cells.
  • RasGRP3 activates Ras and Rap1, enhancing glioma cell migration and invasion.
  • Arp3 is identified as a novel interacting partner of RasGRP3, with their association enhanced by PMA.
  • Arp3 upregulation in GBM correlates with cell spreading and migration, and its silencing partially reduces RasGRP3-mediated effects.

Conclusions:

  • RasGRP3 integrates DAG and Ras signaling pathways with actin polymerization, promoting GBM cell aggressiveness.
  • RasGRP3 and its interaction with Arp3 represent a promising therapeutic target for glioblastoma.

More Related Videos

Methods to Study Mrp4-containing Macromolecular Complexes in the Regulation of Fibroblast Migration10:43

Methods to Study Mrp4-containing Macromolecular Complexes in the Regulation of Fibroblast Migration

Published on: May 19, 2016

7.1K
Real-Time Quantitative Measurement of Tumor Cell Migration and Invasion Following Synthetic mRNA Transfection11:00

Real-Time Quantitative Measurement of Tumor Cell Migration and Invasion Following Synthetic mRNA Transfection

Published on: June 23, 2023

2.4K

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:
5.8K
Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins01:21

Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins

Cell polarity is the asymmetric distribution of cellular and membrane components, making one side of the cell different from the other. This polarity is essential to many processes such as embryogenesis, axon migration, glucose transport across epithelial cells, and directional cell migration. A migrating cell responds to intracellular or extracellular signals via molecular cascades that reorganize the actin cytoskeleton to establish this polarity. In these cells, the Rho family proteins Cdc42,...
4.2K
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...
7.6K
Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia01:35

Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia

Invadosome is a broad category of cell surface structures with proteolytic activity that  degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM). Invadosomes are present in normal cell types, including macrophages, endothelial cells, and neurons, as well as tumor cells. Although the macrophage podosomes and tumor cell invadopodia are classified as invadosomes, they have different structures, molecular pathways, and functions. Podosomes are short structures that last for a few minutes. However,...
3.5K
Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments01:14

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments

The straight or branched structure formation of actin filaments is controlled by nucleating proteins such as the formins and Arp2/3 complex. Formin-mediated assembly results in straight filaments, whereas Arp2/3 protein complex-mediated assembly results in branched actin filaments.
Arp2/3 Complex
Arp2/3 complex is a seven-subunit complex consisting of two proteins similar to actin- Arp2 and Arp3, and five other subunits that help keep Arp2 and Arp3 inactive. When required, the complex is...
4.0K
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,...
10.3K