IQGAP1

IQGAP1 was discovered in 1994.[5] Its name stems from the fact that its RasGAP-related domain (GRD) has sequence homology to the Sar1 GTPase.[8] It was hypothesized that IQGAP1 would act as a GTPase activating protein (GAP) protein, promoting the switch of ras GTPases from the active GTP to GDP-bound forms. However, despite the homology of IQGAP’s GAP domain to sar1 and the fact that IQGAP1 binds Rho GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42, IQGAP does not actually have GAP function. Instead, it binds the active (GTP-bound) forms of RAC1 and CDC42 with higher affinity than GDP-bound forms, and stabilizes the active form in vivo.[9]

IQGAP1 is now recognized as a protein scaffold that integrates signals regulating cell adhesion, actin cytoskeleton, the cell cycle,[9] and other cellular functions. IQGAP is particularly interesting as a therapeutic target since it acts as a node for so many signaling pathways implicated in cancer progression.

Analysis of IQGAP1 expression in human tissues has indicated that the scaffold is more or less ubiquitously expressed.[10] It is usually found in the nucleus, plasma membrane, and cytoplasm. In other words it is found throughout the cell as well as throughout tissue types. Expression analysis has also indicated that IQGAP1 is overexpressed in many cancers, and in more aggressive colorectal and ovarian cancers, IQGAP1 is localized at the invasive front of the neoplasm, indicating a role in mobilization of the cells.[8] Importantly, approximately 10% of genes that show increased expression in metastatic cells are IQGAP1 binding partners.[8]

IQGAP1 is a 190 kDa protein with 5 domains.[9] A protein domain is a subsection of a protein that shows up multiple times in biology and can exist independently of the surrounding protein. It is very similar to subsections of other proteins, and could be cut out of the current protein, exist and function by itself, or be pasted in to a new protein strand and still function properly. Since this area of the protein is conserved in amino acid sequence and structure, it can be characterized by function or binding partner. IQGAP1 has 5 well-known domains separated by other amino acids.

IQGAP1 protein

Starting at the N-terminus (or front of the protein), IQGAP1 contains a calponin homology domain (CHD), which mediates actin-binding[11] and binds calponin.

The WW, or poly-proline protein-protein domain, so named because of two functionally conserved tryptophans, W, is a protein-protein interaction domain that associates with proline-rich regions of other proteins.[12][13]

The WW domain is followed by 4 IQ motifs which form an IQ domain. This domain binds calmodulin,[14] a protein known as a calcium sensor that can bind and regulate many target proteins.[15]

A GRD (rasGAP-related domain) follows the IQ domain. This domain is highly similar to the functional subunit of Ras GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) and was thus thought to have GAP function. IQGAP1 does bind Rho GTPases CDC42 and RAC1, however, IQGAP1 is unusual in that it actually has no GAP function, and instead stabilizes the GTP-bound proteins in their active state.[16]

Finally, IQGAP1 has a RasGAP_c carboxy terminal sequence important for binding Beta-catenin and E-cadherin.[9]

Homologues of IQGAP1 are known in species as divergent as yeast, worms, and humans (as well as other mammals), though the domains are not always highly conserved.[9]

IQGAP1 is the most well studied member of the IQGAP family of scaffold proteins. The two other members of the family include IQGAP2 and IQGAP3 which have far more restricted expression patterns in comparison with IQGAP1. IQGAP2 is found in the liver, stomach, and platelets and is 62% identical to IQGAP1,[9] but appears to have a drastically divergent function in terms of pathology.[17]

In the brain, IQGAP3 appears to play an important role in neuronal morphogenesis.[18]

This gene encodes a member of the IQGAP family. The protein contains four IQ domains, one calponin homology domain, one Ras-GAP domain and one WW domain. It interacts with components of the cytoskeleton[19] such as the formin Dia1 (mDia1),[20] with cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), and with several signaling molecules to regulate cell morphology and motility. For example, IQGAP1 expression is necessary for neuronal process outgrowth on the cell adhesion molecule PTPmu (PTPRM).[21] Expression of the protein is upregulated by gene amplification in two gastric cancer cell lines[7] and its over-expression and distinct membrane localisation is also observed in a range of tumours.[22]

IQGAP1 is a node intersected by many signaling pathways. As such it has many binding partners, many of which have essential roles in control of the cell cycle and actin cytoskeleton.

IQGAP1 has been shown to interact with:

Protein binding does not by itself construct an interesting story. Far more important is the outcome of the binding event. Does binding change the target protein’s localization? Does it activate the target, or in some way change the target (or effector molecule’s) conformation? As a scaffolding protein, IQGAP1 binds and regulates many targets—its role is to integrate and mediate signaling from diverse pathways and insulate key pathway members from crosstalk.

IQGAP1 integrates diverse signaling pathways.

Scaffolds organize signaling pathways—help regulate how various extracellular signals can be transduced by the same canonical pathway members into various cellular outputs.[33] Generally, scaffolds regulate output, localization, and selectivity of pathways.[34]

As a scaffold involved in different signaling pathways (actin cytoskeleton, cellular adhesion, cell cycle, transcription), IQGAP1 has a unique ability to potentially couple diverse cellular functions. For example IQGAP1 is associated with actin dynamics through direct binding of actin and indirect regulation via Cdc42/Rac1, but also modulates the MAPK pathway which is associated with cell cycle control. Thus IQGAP1 may couple MAPK signaling (decisions about cell fate) to the cytoskeleton or cellular adhesion (potentially acting out those decisions)—an important implication for cancer.

To simplify, due to its diverse range of binding partners, IQGAP1 may act as a link between logically related but molecularly distinct cellular functions. In the above example, actin cytoskeleton rearrangement is required for proliferation (cytokinesis during mitosis). IQGAP1 helps cells both listen to and act on signals, playing an integral role in connecting the dots between signals for proliferation and the actual cellular response.

IQGAP1 is associated with cytoskeletal dynamics, transcription, cell adhesion, cell cycle, and morphology, all of which are disrupted in cancer. As a modulatory protein intersecting all of these pathways, IQGAP1 can couple many of them, and is also responsible for their proper propagation. Since cancer is a disease characterized by the perturbation of many of these cellular processes, IQGAP1 is a logical oncogene candidate and therapeutic target.

Expression analysis has implicated IQGAP1 in colorectal, squamous cell, breast, gastric, liver, lung, and ovarian cancers,[45] and in some of these cancers, higher IQGAP1 expression levels indicate a poor prognosis.[46]

In order for a cancer to metastasize, cells must gain migratory abilities and invade other tissues. Through Rac1/CDC42, IQGAP1 regulates cellular adhesion and actin dynamics.

In normal cells IQGAP1 localizes to areas of high actin turnover. This characteristic is echoed in invasive tissues, where IQGAP1 localizes to the leading edge of migrating cells.[8] Over-expression of IQGAP1 was associated with increased migration and invasion in a human breast epithelial cancer cell line (MCF-7 cells).[8][47] IQGAP1 may also be involved in the deregulation of proliferation and differentiation through its modulation of the ERK MAPK pathway.

IQGAP1 may be necessary for tumorigenesis. IQGAP1 knockdown in MCF-7 cancer cells reduced the malignant phenotype (serum-dependent proliferation and anchorage independent growth). 100% of mice injected with MCF-7 cells overexpressing IQGAP1 developed tumors and these tumors were highly invasive. Control MCF-7 cells formed tumors in 60% of the mice, and MCF-7 cells with stable knockdown of IQGAP1 only formed tumors 20% of the time.[47] The mechanism for how IQGAP1 may modulate tumorigenesis/invasion through its various binding partners is of great interest.

IQGAP1 null mice appear significantly normal, with the only life history abnormality being an increase in gastric hyperplasia.[48] Thus, IQGAP1 may be an effective therapeutic target, if its knockdown has little effect in homeostatic tissue but its expression is important in cancer.