RECENT PUBLICATIONS

The RhoGEF GEF-H1 Is Required for Oncogenic RAS Signaling via KSR-1.

Cullis J, Meiri D, Sandi MJ, Radulovich N, Kent OA, Medrano M, Mokady D, Normand J, Larose J, Marcotte R, Marshall CB, Ikura M, Ketela T, Moffat J, Neel BG, Gingras AC, Tsao MS, Rottapel R.

Cancer Cell. 2014 Feb 10;25(2):181-95. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2014.01.025.

Cellular transformation by oncogenic RAS engages the MAPK pathway under strict regulation by the scaffold protein KSR-1. Here, we report that the guanine nucleotide exchange factor GEF-H1 plays a critical role in a positive feedback loop for the RAS/MAPK pathway independent of its RhoGEF activity. GEF-H1 acts as an adaptor protein linking the PP2A B' subunits to KSR-1, thereby mediating the dephosphorylation of KSR-1 S392 and activation of MAPK signaling. GEF-H1 is important for the growth and survival of HRAS(V12)-transformed cells and pancreatic tumor xenografts. GEF-H1 expression is induced by oncogenic RAS and is correlated with pancreatic neoplastic progression. Our results, therefore, identify GEF-H1 as an amplifier of MAPK signaling and provide mechanistic insight into the progression of RAS mutant tumors.