Abstract

The evolutionarily conserved DOCK180 protein has an indispensable role in cell migration by functioning as an exchange factor for Rac GTPase via its DOCK homology region (DHR)-2 domain. We report here that the conserved DHR-1 domain also has an important signalling role. A form of DOCK180 that lacks DHR-1 fails to promote cell migration, although it is capable of inducing Rac GTP-loading. The DHR-1 domain interacts with PtdIns(3,4,5)P₃in vitro and in vivo, and mediates the DOCK180 signalling complex localization at sites of PtdIns(3,4,5)P₃ accumulation in the cell's leading edge. A form of DOCK180 in which the DHR-1 domain has been replaced by a canonical PtdIns(3,4,5)P₃-binding pleckstrin homology domain is fully functional at inducing cell elongation and migration, suggesting that the main function of DHR-1 is to bind PtdIns(3,4,5)P₃. These results demonstrate that DOCK180, via its DHR-1 and DHR-2 domains, couples PtdIns(3,4,5)P₃ signalling to Rac GTP-loading, which is essential for directional cell movement.

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