This entry represents engulfment and cell motility protein 3 (ELMO3) from vertebrates. The expression of ELMO3 may be regulated by transcription factors, such as CDX2 and SP1 []. ELMO3 has been linked to lung cancer development and metastases formation [].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 [, ].
