UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Functional Analysis of a Rho GTPase Activating Protein Involved in Epithelial Differentiation and Morphogenesis

Elbediwy, AN; (2013) Functional Analysis of a Rho GTPase Activating Protein Involved in Epithelial Differentiation and Morphogenesis. Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London). Green open access

[thumbnail of 1383054_040113 Final Corrected Thesis formatted Copywrite.pdf]
Preview
PDF
1383054_040113 Final Corrected Thesis formatted Copywrite.pdf
Available under License : See the attached licence file.

Download (10MB)

Abstract

Polarized epithelial cells form selective barriers between tissues and various body compartments that are essential for normal development and organ function. A mature apical junctional complex (AJC), consisting of tight junctions (TJ), adherens junctions (AJ), and desmosomes is crucial for functional polarized epithelia. Rho-GTPases are key regulatory proteins of many cellular processes, including epithelial adhesion and polarization. These small GTPases are in turn controlled spatially and temporally by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that promote GTP-binding, resulting in their activation; and GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) that promote GDP hydrolysis, resulting in their inactivation. In this thesis I studied a novel junction associated GAP protein known as SH3BP1 in a variety of epithelia. SH3BP1 was identified in a functional siRNA screen that was designed to identify actin regulators of epithelial polarisation and differentiation. I will show that SH3BP1 localises to the early AJC when TJ and AJ are not yet properly separated. SH3BP1 regulation is important for tight junction formation and, its depletion affects polarity and junction integrity. I will demonstrate that SH3BP1 is functionally important in epithelial cell lines from different tissues as well as in organotypic three dimensional cultures. A major part of my thesis will focus on the demonstration that SH3BP1 is a crucial EGF receptor signalling effector that guides morphological alterations and actin dynamics. Using the A431 cell line EGF signalling model, I will demonstrate SH3BP1 is required to regulate both Rac1 and Cdc42 signalling, and subsequently its role in the recruitment of junctional proteins first to dorsal ruffles and then to forming tight junctions. I will provide evidence that SH3BP1 forms a heteromeric complex with the scaffold JACOP/paracingulin and the actin capping regulator CD2AP that has a key role in the regulation of actin dynamics.

Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Title: Functional Analysis of a Rho GTPase Activating Protein Involved in Epithelial Differentiation and Morphogenesis
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
Language: English
Additional information: Copyright restricted material has been removed from this digital copy
UCL classification: UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1383054
Downloads since deposit
602Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item