CalDAG-GEFI integrates signaling for platelet aggregation and thrombus formation

JR Crittenden, W Bergmeier, Y Zhang, CL Piffath… - Nature medicine, 2004 - nature.com
JR Crittenden, W Bergmeier, Y Zhang, CL Piffath, Y Liang, DD Wagner, DE Housman…
Nature medicine, 2004nature.com
Signaling through the second messengers calcium and diacylglycerol (DAG) is a critical
element in many biological systems. Integration of calcium and DAG signals has been
suggested to occur primarily through protein kinase C family members, which bind both
calcium and DAG. However, an alternative pathway may involve members of the CalDAG-
GEF/RasGRP protein family, which have structural features (calcium-binding EF hands and
DAG-binding C1 domains) that suggest they can function in calcium and DAG signal …
Abstract
Signaling through the second messengers calcium and diacylglycerol (DAG) is a critical element in many biological systems. Integration of calcium and DAG signals has been suggested to occur primarily through protein kinase C family members, which bind both calcium and DAG. However, an alternative pathway may involve members of the CalDAG-GEF/RasGRP protein family, which have structural features (calcium-binding EF hands and DAG-binding C1 domains) that suggest they can function in calcium and DAG signal integration,. To gain insight into the signaling systems that may be regulated by CalDAG-GEF/RasGRP family members, we have focused on CalDAG-GEFI, which is expressed preferentially in the brain and blood. Through genetic ablation in the mouse, we have found that CalDAG-GEFI is crucial for signal integration in platelets. Mouse platelets that lack CalDAG-GEFI are severely compromised in integrin-dependent aggregation as a consequence of their inability to signal through CalDAG-GEFI to its target, the small GTPase Rap1. These results suggest that analogous signaling defects are likely to occur in the central nervous system when CalDAG-GEFI is absent or compromised in function.
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