Plexin-B1/RhoGEF-mediated RhoA activation involves the receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB-2

J Cell Biol. 2004 Jun 21;165(6):869-80. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200312094.

Abstract

Plexins are widely expressed transmembrane proteins that mediate the effects of semaphorins. The molecular mechanisms of plexin-mediated signal transduction are still rather unclear. Plexin-B1 has recently been shown to mediate activation of RhoA through a stable interaction with the Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors PDZ-RhoGEF and LARG. However, it is unclear how the activity of plexin-B1 and its downstream effectors is regulated by its ligand Sema4D. Here, we show that plexin-B family members stably associate with the receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB-2. Binding of Sema4D to plexin-B1 stimulates the intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity of ErbB-2, resulting in the phosphorylation of both plexin-B1 and ErbB-2. A dominant-negative form of ErbB-2 blocks Sema4D-induced RhoA activation as well as axonal growth cone collapse in primary hippocampal neurons. Our data indicate that ErbB-2 is an important component of the plexin-B receptor system and that ErbB-2-mediated phosphorylation of plexin-B1 is critically involved in Sema4D-induced RhoA activation, which underlies cellular phenomena downstream of plexin-B1, including axonal growth cone collapse.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaline Phosphatase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Division
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Chromatography, Affinity
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • PLXNB1 protein, human
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Alkaline Phosphatase
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein