Aberrant apoptosis contributes to various neurodegenerative disorders. Elaborating the signal transduction mechanisms that regulate neuronal survival is thus important for understanding both basic biology and for therapeutic intervention. Neurotrophins potently stimulate neuronal survival in part by activating the small GTP-binding protein Ras, which functions by translating and directing neurotrophin-initiated signals into multiple signaling pathways. Recent data indicate that the Ras-dependent signaling pathways, PI-3 kinase/Akt and MEK/ERK, and the Ras-independent MEK5/ERK5 signaling cascade, are the primary mediators of neurotrophin-dependent survival. We have discovered a novel, evolutionarily conserved group of Ras-related proteins. There are at least two highly related human genes (Rit and Rin), while Drosophila express only one family member (Ric). These proteins represent a gene family that functions to regulate signaling networks that have been conserved from flies to man. Overexpression of a constitutively active mutant of Rit in pheochromocytoma cells induces neurite outgrowth and survival by activating a MEK-dependent, but PI-3 kinase/Akt-independent, signaling pathway. In addition, activated Rit expression in primary neurons inhibits trophic factor-withdrawal induced apoptosis and promotes axonal outgrowth. Thus, Rit controls survival pathway(s) in a manner distinct from that of Ras, likely functioning to control MEK5/ERK5 signaling, or regulating a novel signaling pathway, which activates ERK kinases. We hypothesize that Rit functions to translate and direct neurotrophin-initiated signals to pro-survival signaling cascades in a manner distinct from Ras.
Three specific aims are described to evaluate this hypothesis.
Specific Aim 1 will determine if activation of Rit signaling pathways promotes the survival of primary cultured neurons and if Rit function is essential for neuronal cell survival.
Specific Aim 2 will examine the extracellular stimuli that regulate Rit function, via neurotrophin-associated or neurotrophin-independent pathways.
Specific Aim 3 will examine the mechanism of Rit-mediated ERK activation and determine if established ERK-dependent pro-survival signaling pathways are important for Rit-mediated neuronal survival. Preliminary studies have demonstrated that Drosophila is sensitive to altered Ric activity, resulting in developmental defects in the wing and eye. We will undertake a genetic screening approach to identify genes that interact with Ric, and vertebrate homologues will be analyzed for their ability to contribute to Rit function in neuronal cells. Through the combined use of biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics, these studies will form the foundation for understanding the function of this unique regulator of neuronal survival. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS045103-04
Application #
7068618
Study Section
Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Neurosciences 2 (MDCN)
Program Officer
Mamounas, Laura
Project Start
2003-07-01
Project End
2008-04-30
Budget Start
2006-05-01
Budget End
2008-04-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$341,617
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Kentucky
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
939017877
City
Lexington
State
KY
Country
United States
Zip Code
40506
Mir, Sajad; Cai, Weikang; Carlson, Shaun W et al. (2017) IGF-1 mediated Neurogenesis Involves a Novel RIT1/Akt/Sox2 Cascade. Sci Rep 7:3283
Mir, Sajad; Cai, Weikang; Andres, Douglas A (2017) RIT1 GTPase Regulates Sox2 Transcriptional Activity and Hippocampal Neurogenesis. J Biol Chem 292:2054-2064
Koenighofer, M; Hung, C Y; McCauley, J L et al. (2016) Mutations in RIT1 cause Noonan syndrome - additional functional evidence and expanding the clinical phenotype. Clin Genet 89:359-66
Cai, Weikang; Andres, Douglas A (2014) mTORC2 is required for rit-mediated oxidative stress resistance. PLoS One 9:e115602
Berger, A H; Imielinski, M; Duke, F et al. (2014) Oncogenic RIT1 mutations in lung adenocarcinoma. Oncogene 33:4418-23
Cai, Weikang; Shi, Geng-Xian; Andres, Douglas A (2013) Putting the Rit in cellular resistance: Rit, p38 MAPK and oxidative stress. Commun Integr Biol 6:e22297
Cai, Weikang; Rudolph, Jennifer L; Sengoku, Tomoko et al. (2012) Rit GTPase regulates a p38 MAPK-dependent neuronal survival pathway. Neurosci Lett 531:125-30
Shi, Geng-Xian; Cai, Weikang; Andres, Douglas A (2012) Rit-mediated stress resistance involves a p38-mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1)-dependent cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) activation cascade. J Biol Chem 287:39859-68
Cai, Weikang; Carlson, Shaun W; Brelsfoard, Jennifer M et al. (2012) Rit GTPase signaling promotes immature hippocampal neuronal survival. J Neurosci 32:9887-97
Cai, Weikang; Rudolph, Jennifer L; Harrison, Susan M W et al. (2011) An evolutionarily conserved Rit GTPase-p38 MAPK signaling pathway mediates oxidative stress resistance. Mol Biol Cell 22:3231-41

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