Abstract
Cells encounter countless external cues and the specificity of their responses is translated through a myriad of tightly regulated intracellular signals. For this, Rho GTPases play a central role and transduce signals that contribute to fundamental cell dynamic and survival events. Here, we review our knowledge on how zebrafish helped us understand the role of some of these proteins in a multitude of in vivo cellular behaviors. Zebrafish studies offer a unique opportunity to explore the role and more specifically the spatial and temporal dynamic of Rho GTPases activities within a complex environment at a level of details unachievable in any other vertebrate organism.
Highlights
Rho GTPases, a subgroup of the Ras superfamily, are key molecular switches that transduce signals from the cell surface to major intracellular signaling pathways
The GDP-GTP cycle is mediated by guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) while GTP hydrolysis is promoted by GAPs (GTPase activating proteins)
Rac1 activity was found to be required for neuronal migration in zebrafish hindbrain able to rescue axonal guidance and functional defects observed in pathological environment, rhombic lip cells under the control of severe the inhibitors of apoptosis proteins
Summary
Rho GTPases, a subgroup of the Ras superfamily, are key molecular switches that transduce signals from the cell surface to major intracellular signaling pathways. Their first members were discovered in 1985 and since they became the center of intensive studies, showing their implication in a wide range of fundamental cellular processes. The GDP-GTP cycle is mediated by GEFs (guanine nucleotide exchange factors) while GTP hydrolysis is promoted by GAPs (GTPase activating proteins). Once activated, they interact with their downstream effectors to induce diverse cellular responses [1,2]. We will summarize the latest advances in imaging, genetic and pharmacological tools to investigate their function during development and disease in zebrafish
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