Abstract
Small GTPases act as molecular switches in intracellular signal-transduction pathways1. In the case of the Ras family of GTPases, one of their most important roles is as regulators of cell proliferation, and the mitogenic response to a variety of growth factors and oncogenes can be blocked by inhibiting Ras function2,3. But in certain situations, activation of Ras signalling pathways arrests the cell cycle rather than causing cell proliferation4,5,6. Extracellular signals may trigger different cellular responses by activating Ras-dependent signalling pathways to varying degrees7,8,9. Other signalling pathways could also influence the consequences of Ras signalling. Here we show that when signalling through the Ras-related GTPase Rho is inhibited, constitutively active Ras induces the cyclin-dependent-kinase inhibitor p21Waf1/Cip1 and entry into the DNA-synthesis phase of the cell cycle is blocked. When Rho is active, induction of p21Waf1/Cip1 by Ras is suppressed and Ras induces DNA synthesis. Cells that lack p21Waf1/Cip1 do not require Rho signalling for the induction of DNA synthesis by activated Ras, indicating that, once Ras has become activated, the primary requirement for Rho signalling is the suppression of p21Waf1/Cip1 induction.
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Acknowledgements
We thank X. Lu for the SX-118 anti-p21Waf1/Cip1 monoclonal antibody and the p21Waf1/Cip1 promoter/luciferase construct; P. Boquet for purified CNF1; S. Hooper for recombinant active MEK1; T. Jacks and G. D'Abaco for mouse embryo fibroblasts; A. Hall for the pGEX-2T L63RhoA plasmid; and L. Feig for the pGEX-2T C3 toxin plasmid. M.F.O. is an Institute of Cancer Research Fellow, and C.J.M. is a Gibb Fellow of the Cancer Research Campaign.
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Olson, M., Paterson, H. & Marshall, C. Signals from Ras and Rho GTPases interact to regulate expression of p21Waf1/Cip1. Nature 394, 295–299 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/28425
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/28425
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