The lipid phosphatase-like protein PLPPR1 increases cell adhesion by modulating RhoA/Rac1 activity

Abstract

PLPPR1 alters cytoskeletal dynamics to influence cell adhesion by modulating RhoA and Rac1 activation through its association with RhoGDI, enabling PLPPR1 to impede the inhibitory activity of CSPGs and LPA.\n\nABSTRACTPhospholipid Phosphatase-Related Protein Type 1 (PLPPR1) is a member of a family of lipid phosphatase related proteins, integral membrane proteins characterized by six transmembrane domains. This family of proteins is enriched in the brain and recent data indicate potential pleiotropic functions in several different contexts. An inherent ability of this family of proteins is to induce membrane protrusions, and we have previously reported that members of this family may act in concert. However, the function of PLPPR1 is not yet understood. Here, we report that exogenous expression of PLPPR1 increases cell adhesion to the ECM substrate by altering cytoskeletal dynamics and modulating RhoA and Rac1 activity through association with RhoGDI, enabling PLPPR1 to overcome the inhibitory activity of CSPGs and LPA. Together, these results establish a novel signaling pathway for PLPPR1 protein.