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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:
Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins01:22

Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins

Heterotrimeric G proteins are guanine nucleotide-binding proteins. As the name suggests, heterotrimeric G proteins are composed of three subunits: alpha, beta, and gamma. They remain GDP-bound or GTP-bound inside the cells and switch between inactive/active states. The Gα subunit possesses the nucleotide-binding pocket that binds guanine nucleotides and switches between GDP or GTP-bound states. In contrast, the Gꞵ and Gγ subunits are always bound together with high affinity and are together...
Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration01:21

Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration

Cells can detect chemical cues in their environment and reorganize the cytoskeleton to migrate toward them or away from them. This directional migration, called chemotaxis, is essential during embryogenesis and development, immune response, tissue repair and regeneration, and reproduction. These chemical cues can either attract or repel the cell's movement. For example, axon development is determined by a combination of chemoattractants and chemorepellents that direct the growing axon towards...
G Protein-coupled Receptors01:15

G Protein-coupled Receptors

G Protein-Coupled Receptors or GPCRs are membrane-bound receptors that transiently associate with heterotrimeric G proteins and induce an appropriate response to sensory stimuli such as light, odors, hormones, cytokines, or neurotransmitters.
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or serpentine receptors, and consist of seven (H1-H7) transmembrane alpha-helices that span the bilayer to form a cylindrical core. The transmembrane helices are connected by three extracellular loops and three...
G Protein-coupled Receptors01:15

G Protein-coupled Receptors

G Protein-Coupled Receptors or GPCRs are membrane-bound receptors that transiently associate with heterotrimeric G proteins and induce an appropriate response to sensory stimuli such as light, odors, hormones, cytokines, or neurotransmitters.
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or serpentine receptors, and consist of seven (H1-H7) transmembrane alpha-helices that span the bilayer to form a cylindrical core. The transmembrane helices are connected by three extracellular loops and three...
G-protein Coupled Receptors01:21

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Imaging G-protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR)-mediated Signaling Events that Control Chemotaxis of Dictyostelium Discoideum
09:40

Imaging G-protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR)-mediated Signaling Events that Control Chemotaxis of Dictyostelium Discoideum

Published on: September 20, 2011

Heterotrimeric G Protein-RasGAP Coupling Drives Adaptation During Chemotaxis.

Xuehua Xu1, Riley D Kim1, Haneul Hyun1

  • 1Chemotaxis Signaling Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 5625 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.

Cells
|May 13, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Cellular gradient sensing relies on adaptation. We found C2GAP1, a Ras GTPase-activating protein, acts independently of actin to control this adaptation, enabling cells to sense chemoattractant gradients.

Keywords:
G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)Ras GTPase activating protein (RasGAP)adaptationchemotaxisheterotrimeric G protein

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Assessment of Dictyostelium discoideum Response to Acute Mechanical Stimulation
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Imaging G Protein-coupled Receptor-mediated Chemotaxis and its Signaling Events in Neutrophil-like HL60 Cells
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Imaging G Protein-coupled Receptor-mediated Chemotaxis and its Signaling Events in Neutrophil-like HL60 Cells

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 14, 2026

Imaging G-protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR)-mediated Signaling Events that Control Chemotaxis of Dictyostelium Discoideum
09:40

Imaging G-protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR)-mediated Signaling Events that Control Chemotaxis of Dictyostelium Discoideum

Published on: September 20, 2011

Assessment of Dictyostelium discoideum Response to Acute Mechanical Stimulation
10:40

Assessment of Dictyostelium discoideum Response to Acute Mechanical Stimulation

Published on: November 9, 2017

Imaging G Protein-coupled Receptor-mediated Chemotaxis and its Signaling Events in Neutrophil-like HL60 Cells
08:24

Imaging G Protein-coupled Receptor-mediated Chemotaxis and its Signaling Events in Neutrophil-like HL60 Cells

Published on: September 14, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Chemotaxis allows cells to navigate chemical gradients, crucial for biological processes.
  • Adaptation is key for maintaining sensitivity to changing chemoattractant concentrations.
  • The molecular mechanisms of actin-independent adaptation in gradient sensing are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize novel components of the actin-independent gradient sensing machinery.
  • To elucidate the role of C2GAP1 in adaptation during chemotaxis.
  • To understand how G-protein signaling is regulated during gradient sensing.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized cytoskeleton-free gradient-sensing cells for isolated signaling analysis.
  • Employed quantitative imaging, biochemical assays, and FRET-based G-protein activation measurements.
  • Performed structural modeling to understand protein interactions.

Main Results:

  • Identified C2GAP1 as an F-actin-independent effector of the Gα2 protein in Dictyostelium discoideum.
  • Demonstrated C2GAP1's role in concentration-dependent adaptation during gradient sensing.
  • Showed C2GAP1 directly binds Gα2, attenuating Ras signaling and sustaining membrane recruitment.

Conclusions:

  • C2GAP1 acts as a core adaptive module by directly coupling heterotrimeric G proteins to Ras GTPase-activating protein signaling.
  • This mechanism enables gradient sensing across a wide range of chemoattractant concentrations.
  • Loss of C2GAP1 impairs cellular reorientation in dynamic gradients.