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mDia mediates Rho-regulated formation and orientation of stable microtubules

Nature Cell Biology volume 3, pages 723–729 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Rho-GTPase stabilizes microtubules that are oriented towards the leading edge in serum-starved 3T3 fibroblasts through an unknown mechanism. We used a Rho-effector domain screen to identify mDia as a downstream Rho effector involved in microtubule stabilization. Constitutively active mDia or activation of endogenous mDia with the mDia-autoinhibitory domain stimulated the formation of stable microtubules that were capped and oriented towards the wound edge. mDia co-localized with stable microtubules when overexpressed and associated with microtubules in vitro. Rho kinase was not necessary for the formation of stable microtubules. Our results show that mDia is sufficient to generate and orient stable microtubules, and indicate that Dia-related formins are part of a conserved pathway that regulates the dynamics of microtubule ends.

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Figure 1: Induction of Glu microtubules in serum-starved 3T3 cells by Rho-effector domain mutants.
Figure 2: Active mDia induces the formation of Glu microtubules.
Figure 3: Glu microtubules induced by LPA and DAD are resistant to growth and nocodazole depolymerization.
Figure 4: mDia2 associates with microtubules in vivo and in vitro.
Figure 5: tRokα expression generates perinuclear Glu microtubules, whereas tRokα/DAD co-expression generates extended and oriented Glu microtubules.
Figure 6: Rho-kinase activity is not required for Glu-microtubule induction.
Figure 7

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Acknowledgements

We thank R. Liem and J. Lessard for providing antibodies, and R. Treisman, L. Lim and K. Kaibuchi for providing DNA constructs. We thank F. Chang for helpful suggestions about mDia. This work was supported by grants from the A.C.S. and the N.I.H. (to G.G.G.). A.F.P. was supported by a fellowship from the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, 10032, USA

    Alexander F. Palazzo, Tiffani A. Cook & Gregg G. Gundersen

  2. Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503, USA

    Arthur S. Alberts

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Correspondence to Gregg G. Gundersen.

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Palazzo, A., Cook, T., Alberts, A. et al. mDia mediates Rho-regulated formation and orientation of stable microtubules. Nat Cell Biol 3, 723–729 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35087035

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