Cell shape and migration are controlled by RhoGTPases, a family of small GTPases whose activation is controlled by nucleotide binding.

Rac1 is an important member of this family and
studies from the Cell death Signalling group from IBCII has shed light into ubiquitin dependent inactivation of Rac1 signalling.

New results just published in EMBOJ revealed an evolutionarily conserved role of Inhibitors of Apoptosis (IAPs) in directly regulating the ubiquitylation and degradation of Rac1.

Thus loss of IAPs changes the shape and mode of migration in normal and tumour cells. IAPs also regulate the development of cerebellum during zebrafish development in a Rac1 dependent manner.