α2-chimaerin interacts with EphA4 and regulates EphA4-dependent growth cone collapse

L Shi, WY Fu, KW Hung, C Porchetta… - Proceedings of the …, 2007 - National Acad Sciences
L Shi, WY Fu, KW Hung, C Porchetta, C Hall, AKY Fu, NY Ip
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2007National Acad Sciences
EphA4-dependent growth cone collapse requires reorganization of actin cytoskeleton
through coordinated activation of Rho family GTPases. Whereas various guanine exchange
factors have recently been identified to be involved in EphA4-mediated regulation of Rho
GTPases and growth cone collapse, the functional roles of GTPase-activating proteins in the
process are largely unknown. Here we report that EphA4 interacts with α2-chimaerin
through its Src homology 2 domain. Activated EphA4 induces a rapid increase of tyrosine …
EphA4-dependent growth cone collapse requires reorganization of actin cytoskeleton through coordinated activation of Rho family GTPases. Whereas various guanine exchange factors have recently been identified to be involved in EphA4-mediated regulation of Rho GTPases and growth cone collapse, the functional roles of GTPase-activating proteins in the process are largely unknown. Here we report that EphA4 interacts with α2-chimaerin through its Src homology 2 domain. Activated EphA4 induces a rapid increase of tyrosine phosphorylation of α2-chimaerin and enhances its GTPase-activating protein activity toward Rac1. More importantly, α2-chimaerin regulates the action of EphA4 in growth cone collapse through modulation of Rac1 activity. Our findings have therefore identified a new α2-chimaerin-dependent signaling mechanism through which EphA4 transduces its signals to the actin cytoskeleton and modulates growth cone morphology.
National Acad Sciences