Post‐translational modification and subcellular compartmentalization: Emerging concepts on the regulation and physiopathological relevance of rhogtpases

Cells and tissues are continuously exposed to both chemical and physical stimuli and dy-namically adapt and respond to this variety of external cues to ensure cellular homeostasis, regulated development and tissue‐specific differentiation. Alterations of these pathways promote disease progression—a prominent example being cancer. Rho GTPases are key regulators of the remodeling of cytoskeleton and cell membranes and their coordination and integration with different biological processes, including cell polarization and motility, as well as other signaling networks such as growth signaling and proliferation. Apart from the control of GTP–GDP cycling, Rho GTPase activity is spatially and temporally regulated by post‐translation modifications (PTMs) and their assembly onto specific protein complexes, which determine their controlled activity at distinct cellular compartments. Although Rho GTPases were traditionally conceived as targeted from the cytosol to the plasma membrane to exert their activity, recent research demonstrates that active pools of different Rho GTPases also localize to endomembranes and the nucleus. In this review, we discuss how PTM‐driven modulation of Rho GTPases provides a versatile mechanism for their com-partmentalization and functional regulation. Understanding how the subcellular sorting of active small GTPase pools occurs and what its functional significance is could reveal novel therapeutic opportunities. Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (CSD2009-0016, SAF2014-51876-R, SAF2017-83130-R, BFU2016-81912-REDC, and IGP-SO-MINSEV1512-07-2016); Fundació La Marató de TV3 (674/C/2013 and 201936-30-31); Worldwide Cancer Research Foundation (# 15-0404); Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (PROYE20089DELP), Fundación Obra social La Caixa (AtheroConvergence, HR20-00075) and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional and Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III is supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and the Pro CNIC