Background: Members of the Rho family of small GTP-binding proteins, such as Rho, Rac and Cdc42, have a role in a wide range of cell responses. These proteins function as molecular switches by virtue of a conformational change between the GTP-bound (active) and GDP-bound (inactive) forms. In addition, most members of the Rho and Rac subfamilies cycle between the cytosol and membrane. The cytosolic guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors, RhoGDIs, regulate both the GDP/GTP exchange cycle and the membrane association/dissociation cycle.

Results: We have used NMR spectroscopy and site-directed mutagenesis to identify the regions of human RhoGDI-1 that are involved in binding Rac-1. The results emphasise the importance of the flexible regions of both proteins in the interaction. At least one specific region (residues 46–57) of the flexible N-terminal domain of RhoGDI, which has a tendency to form an amphipathic helix in the free protein, makes a major contribution to the binding energy of the complex. In addition, the primary site of Rac-1 binding on the folded domain of RhoGDI involves the β4–β5 and β6–β7 loops, with a slight movement of the 3₁₀ helix accompanying the interaction. This binding site is on the same face of the protein as the binding site for the isoprenyl group of post-translationally modified Rac-1, but is distinct from this site.

Conclusions: Isoprenylated Rac-1 appears to interact with three distinct sites on RhoGDI. The isoprenyl group attached to the C terminus of Rac-1 binds in a pocket in the folded domain of RhoGDI. This is distinct from the major site on this domain occupied by Rac-1 itself, which involves two loops at the opposite end to the isoprenyl-binding site. It is probable that the flexible C-terminal region of Rac-1 extends from the site at which Rac-1 contacts the folded domain of RhoGDI to allow the isoprenyl group to bind in the pocket at the other end of the RhoGDI molecule. Finally, the flexible N terminus of RhoGDI-1, and particularly residues 48–58, makes a specific interaction with Rac-1 which contributes substantially to the binding affinity.