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Characterization of Cell Membrane Extensions and Studying Their Roles in Cancer Cell Adhesion Dynamics
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Characterization of Cell Membrane Extensions and Studying Their Roles in Cancer Cell Adhesion Dynamics

Published on: March 26, 2018

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Endomembrane control of cell polarity: Relevance to cancer

Francesco Baschieri1, Hesso Farhan

  • 1a Department of Biology ; University of Konstanz ; Konstanz , Germany.

Small Gtpases
|July 10, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Loss of cell polarity is key in cancer. Researchers found that the Golgi matrix protein GM130 regulates the Cdc42 protein at the Golgi, impacting cell polarity and potentially contributing to colorectal cancer development.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Loss of cell polarity is a hallmark of cancer.
  • The small GTPase Cdc42 regulates cell polarity, but its endomembrane regulation was unclear.
  • The role of endomembrane-localized Cdc42 in polarity and cancer was unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the regulation of the Golgi pool of Cdc42.
  • To determine the functional relevance of the Golgi-associated Cdc42.
  • To explore the link between Golgi Cdc42 regulation and colorectal cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Identified a complex between Golgi matrix protein GM130 and RasGRF.
  • Assessed the effect of GM130 depletion on Cdc42 localization and cell polarity.
  • Examined GM130 expression in colorectal cancer tissues.

Main Results:

  • GM130 forms a complex with RasGRF, regulating the Golgi pool of Cdc42.
  • GM130 depletion disrupted both apico-basal and front-rear cell polarity.
  • GM130 is progressively lost in colorectal cancer, indicating biomedical relevance.

Conclusions:

  • The endomembrane pool of Cdc42, regulated by GM130 at the Golgi, is functionally important for cell polarity.
  • Alterations in this endomembrane Cdc42 pool may play a role in colorectal cancer progression.
Keywords:
Cdc42GM130RasGRFcancergolgi apparatus

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