Translocation of activated Rho from the cytoplasm to membrane ruffling area, cell-cell adhesion sites and cleavage furrows

Rho small GTP-binding protein regulates various cell functions, such as formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions, cell motility, membrane ruffling, cytokinesis and smooth muscle contraction in mammalian cells and bud formation in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. As to the functioning sites of Rho in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we have recently shown that RHO1 protein, a homologue of mammalian RhoA, is concentrated to the growth region of the cells where cortical actin patches are clustered. However, in mammalian cells, the functioning sites of Rho have not yet been studied. In the present study, MDCK cell lines stably expressing myc-tagged RhoA (myc-RhoA) were prepared and localization of myc-RhoA was first immunohistochemically examined using an anti-myc antibody. In the resting cells, almost all of myc-RhoA was observed in the cytosol. When the cells were stimulated with phorbol ester or hepatocyte growth factor, membrane rufflings were induced and myc-RhoA was translocated to the membrane ruffling area. Moreover, myc-RhoA was translocated from the cytosol to the cell-cell adhesion sites when the cells were transferred from a low to normal Ca2+ medium. RhoA was also concentrated to the cleavage furrows during cytokinesis in Swiss 3T3 cells. Translocation of myc-RhoA to the membrane ruffling area was inhibited by prior microinjection into the cells of Rho GDI, a negative regulator of Rho which inhibits activation of Rho, or of C3, an exoenzyme of Clostridium botulinum which ADP-ribosylates Rho and inhibits its functions, indicating that both activation and functioning of Rho are essential for the translocation of Rho. The ERM (Ezrin, Radixin, Moesin) family members were colocalized with RhoA at all of these sites. However, RhoA was not apparently observed at the focal adhesion plaque where vinculin was localized. These results suggest that at least one of the functioning sites of Rho is the ERM family-controlled actin filament/plasma membrane association sites.