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Pars and polarity: taking control of Rac

In this issue, two groups have examined the role of the Par proteins in the regulation of small G proteins, in two different models of cell polarity — mammalian epithelia and neuronal axon specification. They concurrently report the intriguing finding that the Par-3/Par-6/aPKC complex can regulate the activation of Rac by interaction with the guanine nucleotide exchanger, Tiam1/STEF. Furthermore, they also demonstrate a hitherto under-appreciated role for the Par-3/Par-6/aPKC complex in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton.

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Figure 1: Polarity-dependent regulation of Rac activity in epithelial polarization and axon specification.

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Hurd, T., Margolis, B. Pars and polarity: taking control of Rac. Nat Cell Biol 7, 205–207 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb0305-205

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