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Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends
Published on: March 15, 2014
The small GTPase RhoG regulates microtubule-mediated focal adhesion disassembly
Ashtyn Zinn1, Silvia M Goicoechea1, Gabriel Kreider-Letterman1
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, 2801 W. Bancroft St., MS601, BO3090, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA.
Abstract:
Focal adhesions (FA) are a complex network of proteins that allow the cell to form physical contacts with the extracellular matrix (ECM). FA assemble and disassemble in a dynamic process, orchestrated by a variety of cellular components. However, the underlying mechanisms that regulate adhesion turnover remain poorly understood. Here we show that RhoG, a Rho GTPase related to Rac, modulates FA dynamics. When RhoG expression is silenced, FA are more stable and live longer, resulting in an increase in the number and size of adhesions, which are also more mature and fibrillar-like. Silencing RhoG also increases the number and thickness of stress fibers, which are sensitive to blebbistatin, suggesting contractility is increased. The molecular mechanism by which RhoG regulates adhesion turnover is yet to be characterized, but our results demonstrate that RhoG plays a role in the regulation of microtubule-mediated FA disassembly.
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