This entry represents engulfment and cell motility protein 2 (ELMO2) from vertebrates. ELMO2 is a scaffolding component of the Elmo-DOCK complex. Elmo2 and DOCK1 are essential for the rapid recruitment and spreading of E-cadherin, actin reorganisation, localised Rac and Rho GTPase activities, and the development of strong cell-cell adhesion []. ELMO2 interacts with Axl, a receptor tyrosine kinase, and this interaction contributes to cancer cell invasion and proliferation [].ELMO 1-3 are orthologues of the Caenorhabditis elegans ced-12, which is required for the engulfment of dying cells and cell migration []. They are cytoplasmic adaptor proteins that interact with DOCK family guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) to promote activation of the small GTPase Rac []. ELMO proteins interact with the SH3-domain of DOCKs via an SH3-binding site to enhance the GEF activity of DOCKs. Regulatory GTPases in the Ras superfamily employ a cycle of alternating GTP binding and hydrolysis, controlled by GEFs and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs), as essential features of their actions in cells [, ].
