Rho GTPase Activating Protein 5 (ARHGAP5)

Wildenberg et al. (2006) found that depletion of delta-catenin (CTNND1) in NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts by small interfering RNA caused constitutive activation of Rho, cell transformation, loss of contact inhibition, and growth in the absence of serum. Moreover, Pdgf receptor and integrin signaling pathways involved in remodeling the actin cytoskeleton were selectively impaired. Wildenberg et al. (2006) traced these effects to obligatory roles of delta-catenin and Arhgap5 in a pathway that connects Rac activation to Rho inhibition. They concluded that delta-catenin and ARHGAP5 use Rho GTPases to mediate crosstalk between a wide variety of receptors to coordinate cadherin function with other activities that direct cell adhesion, motility, and proliferation.