article accepted in Journal of Cell Science
The Rho-specific GAP protein DLC3 coordinates endocytic membrane trafficking
Anja C. Braun, Janina Hendrick, Stephan A. Eisler, Simone Schmid, Angelika Hausser, and Monilola A. Olayioye
Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Abstract
Membrane trafficking is known to be coordinated by small GTPases, but the identity of their regulators, the guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) that ensure balanced GTPase activation at different subcellular sites is largely elusive. Here, we show in living cells that Deleted in Liver Cancer 3 (DLC3) is a functional Rho-specific GAP protein, the loss of which enhances perinuclear RhoA activity. DLC3 is recruited to Rab8-positive membrane tubules and required for the integrity of the Rab8 and Golgi compartments. Depletion of DLC3 impairs the transport of internalized transferrin to the endocytic recycling compartment (ERC), which is restored by the simultaneous downregulation of RhoA and RhoB. We further demonstrate that DLC3 loss interferes with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) degradation associated with prolonged receptor signaling. Together, these findings identify DLC3 as a novel component of the endocytic trafficking machinery, wherein it maintains organelle integrity and regulates membrane transport via the control of Rho activity.