PLEKHG1 (also called ARHGEF41), PLEKHG2 (also called ARHGEF42 or CLG/common-site lymphoma/leukemia guanine nucleotide exchange factor2), and PLEKHG3 (also called ARHGEF43) have RhoGEF DH/double-homology domains in tandem with a PH domain which is involved in phospholipid binding. They function as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) and are involved in the regulation of Rho protein signal transduction []. Mutations in PLEKHG1 have been associated panic disorder (PD), an anxiety disorder characterized by panic attacks and anticipatory anxiety [].PH domains have diverse functions, but in general are involved in targeting proteins to the appropriate cellular location or in the interaction with a binding partner. They share little sequence conservation, but all have a common fold, which is electrostatically polarized. Less than 10% of PH domains bind phosphoinositide phosphates (PIPs) with high affinity and specificity. PH domains are distinguished from other PIP-binding domains by their specific high-affinity binding to PIPs with two vicinal phosphate groups: PtdIns(3,4)P2, PtdIns(4,5)P2 or PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 which results in targeting some PH domain proteins to the plasma membrane []. A few display strong specificity in lipid binding. Any specificity is usually determined by loop regions or insertions in the N terminus of the domain, which are not conserved across all PH domains. PH domains are found in cellular signaling proteins such as serine/threonine kinase, tyrosine kinases, regulators of G-proteins, endocytotic GTPases, adaptors, as well as cytoskeletal associated molecules and in lipid associated enzymes.
