| Description: | G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) kinase interacting proteins 1 and 2 (GIT-1 and GIT-2) are highly conserved, ubiquitous scaffold proteins involved in localized signaling to help regulate focal contact assembly and cytoskeletal dynamics. GIT proteins contain multiple interaction domains that allow interaction with small GTPases (including ARF, Rac and cdc42), kinases (such as PAK and MEK), the Rho family GEF PIX, and the focal adhesion protein paxillin (reviewed in 1). GIT-1 is localized to focal adhesions, cytoplasmic complexes and membrane protrusions, and regulates cell protrusion formation and cell migration (2). GIT-1 has also been implicated in neuronal functions including synapse formation (3) and the pathology of Huntington disease (4). Huntington disease is a genetic neurodegenerative condition involving a mutation in the huntington gene. The huntington gene product (htt) is ubiquitinated and degraded in human Huntington disease brains (5). Htt interacts directly with GIT-1 causing enhanced htt proteolysis, indicating that GIT-1 distribution and function may contribute to Huntington disease pathology (4). |
