Activity of plasma membrane-recruited Raf-1 is regulated by Ras via the Raf zinc finger.

Ras recruits Raf to the plasma membrane for activation by a combination of tyrosine phosphorylation and other as yet undefined mechanism(s). We show here that the Raf zinc finger is not required for plasma membrane recruitment of Raf by Ras but is essential for full activation of Raf at the plasma membrane. Membrane targeting cannot compensate for the absence of the zinc finger. One facet of the zinc finger activation defect is revealed using a constitutively activated Raf mutant. Targeting Raf Y340D,Y341D to the plasma membrane increments activity, but full activation requires coexpression with activated Ras. This sensitivity to regulation by Ras at the plasma membrane is abrogated by mutations in the Raf zinc finger but is unaffected by mutation of the minimal Ras binding domain. These data show for the first time that Ras has two separate roles in Raf activation: recruitment of Raf to the plasma membrane through an interaction with the minimal Ras binding domain and activation of membrane-localized Raf via a mechanism that requires the Raf zinc finger.