Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Vollum Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA.
Guanine nucleotide exchange factors of the Dbl family relay signals from membrane receptors to Rho family GTPases. We now demonstrate that a longer transcript of the Lbc gene encodes a chimeric molecule, which we have called AKAP-Lbc, that functions as an A-kinase-anchoring protein (AKAP) and a Rho-selective guanine nucleotide exchange factor. Expression of AKAP-Lbc in fibroblasts favors the formation of stress fibers in a Rho-dependent manner. Application of lysophosphatidic acid or selective expression of Galpha(12) enhances cellular AKAP-Lbc activation. Furthermore, biochemical studies indicate that AKAP-Lbc functions as an adaptor protein to selectively couple Galpha(12) to Rho. Thus, AKAP-Lbc anchors PKA and nucleates the assembly of a Rho-mediated signaling pathway.