Isolation of a novel human gene, ARHGAP9, encoding a Rho-GTPase activatingprotein

Members of the Rho family of small guanosine triphosphatases (Rho-GTPases) have emerged as key coordinators of signaling pathways leading to remodelin g of the actin cytoskeleton, a process that plays a critical role in cell a dhesion and migration. However, the precise regulatory mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Here we report isolation of a novel human gene, ARHGAP9, wh ich encodes a protein containing a Rho-GTPase activating protein (Rho-GAP) domain, a src-homology 3 (SH3) domain, a pleckstrin homology (PH) region, a nd a WW domain. In vitro, the recombinant protein revealed substantial GAP activity toward Cdc42Hs and Rac1, and less toward RhoA. The transcript was predominantly expressed in peripheral blood leukocytes, spleen, and thymus. Exogenous expression of the entire coding region of ARHGAP9 into human leu kemia KG-1 cells repressed adhesion of the cells to fibronectin and collage n IV. Our results indicate that ARHGAP9 is involved in regulating adhesion of hematopoietic cells to extracellular matrix. (C) 2001 Academic Press.