Rabbit Anti-Human DOCK1 monoclonal antibody, clone I.409.0

Atypical Rho-guanine nucleotide exchange factors (Rho-GEFs) that contain Dock homology regions (DHR-1 and DHR-2) are expressed in a variety of tissues; however, their functions and mechanisms of action remain unclear. We identify key conserved amino acids in the DHR-2 domain that are critical for the catalytic activity of Dock-GEFs (Dock1-4). We further demonstrate that Dock-GEFs directly associate with WASP family verprolin-homologous (WAVE) proteins through the DHR-1 domain. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-TrkB signaling recruits the Dock3/WAVE1 complex to the plasma membrane, whereupon Dock3 activates Rac and dissociates from the WAVE complex in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. BDNF induces axonal sprouting through Dock-dependent Rac activation, and adult transgenic mice overexpressing Dock3 exhibit enhanced optic nerve regeneration after injury without affecting WAVE expression levels. Our results highlight a unique mechanism through which Dock-GEFs achieve spatial and temporal restriction of WAVE signaling, and identify Dock-GEF activity as a potential therapeutic target for axonal regeneration.

AimsThis research aimed to examine the relationship between Dock1 and miR-31 and to determine the effect of miR-31 on the mesenchymal transition and invasiveness of glioma. MethodsReal-time PCR was used to measure the expression of miR-31 and other RNAs. The transfection was used to manipulate the expression levels of Dock1 and miR-31 in cancer cells. Western blot was used to detect the expression of Dock1 and other related proteins. Wound healing, Matrigel invasion and chemotaxis assays were performed to detect the invasion and migration of glioma cell lines. The actual binding site of miR-31 to the 3-untranslated region of Dock1 was confirmed through luciferase assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. Methylation-specific PCR was performed to detect the methylation level of miR-31 in both glioma cell lines and tissues. ResultsDock1 can promote the IL8-induced chemotaxis and mesenchymal transition of glioma cells through the NF-B/Snail signalling pathway. The protein levels of Dock1 in glioma cell lines and clinical specimens were negatively correlated with miR-31 expression, and Dock1 was directly targeted by miR-31. Animal experiments showed that Dock1 downregulation and miR-31 overexpression reduced glioma cell invasion. Investigation of the underlying molecular mechanism revealed that miR-31 downregulation was attributable to the hypermethylation of the promoter region of miR-31 in glioma cells. ConclusionDock1 modulation by miR-31 plays an important function in glioma invasion both in vitro and in vivo. This study provides new insights into the invasion of glioma cells and might therefore contribute to the development of new antiglioma strategies.