Nuclear RhoA Activation Regulates Nucleus Size and DNA Content via Nuclear Activation of ROCK and pErk.

ABSTRACT: RhoA is a major regulator of the actin cytoskeleton. Its function in the nucleus, however, is unclear. Fusing wildtype, fast cycling, constitutively active, and dominant negative forms of RhoA with tags promoting nuclear or cytoplasmic location and allowing specific detection, we established a platform to distinguish the functions of nuclear and cytoplasmic RhoA. Our data show that nuclear but not cytoplasmic activation of RhoA regulates DNA amount and nuclear size. This is mediated by sequential nuclear activation of the RhoA effector ROCK and Erk, a major cell cycle regulating kinase. The inhibition of ROCK or Erk activation in untransfected cells reduced DNA amounts to a similar extent, suggesting that endogenous activation levels of nuclear RhoA-ROCK-Erk signaling are sufficient for re

SUBMITTER: Nguyen LP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11941300 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature