Rac1 modulates stimulus-evoked Ca(2+) release in neuronal growth cones via parallel effects on microtubule/endoplasmic reticulum dynamics and reactive oxygen species production.

The small G protein Rac regulates cytoskeletal protein dynamics in neuronal growth cones and has been implicated in axon growth, guidance, and branching. Intracellular Ca(2+) is another well known regulator of growth cone function; however, effects of Rac activity on intracellular Ca(2+) metabolism have not been well characterized. Here, we investigate how Rac1 activity affects release of Ca(2+) from intracellular endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stores stimulated by application of serotonin (5-hydroxytriptamine). We also address how Rac1 effects on microtubule assembly dynamics affect distribution of Ca(2+) release sites. Multimode fluorescent microscopy was used to correlate microtubule and ER behavior, and ratiometric imaging was used to assess intracellular Ca(2+) dynamics. We report that Rac1 activity both promotes Ca(2+) release and affects its spatial distribution in neuronal growth cones. The underlying mechanism involves synergistic Rac1 effects on microtubule assembly and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Rac1 activity modulates Ca(2+) by 1) enhancing microtubule assembly which in turn promotes spread of the ER-based Ca(2+) release machinery into the growth cone periphery, and 2) by increasing ROS production which facilitated inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-dependent Ca(2+) release. These results cast Rac1 as a key modulator of intracellular Ca(2+) function in the neuronal growth cone.