IQGAP1 in cellular signaling: bridging the GAP

IQGAP1 was identified in 1994 as a widely expressed IQ domain-containing protein with a region containing sequence similarity to the Ras GTPase-activating proteins. IQGAP1 has roles in many different aspects of cell physiology and interacts with numerous proteins. It modulates the actin cytoskeleton through Rac1 and Cdc42, and cell-cell adhesion through E-cadherin and beta-catenin. It also regulates the mitogen activated protein kinase pathway, which influences cell proliferation and differentiation. Evidence suggests that IQGAP1 is a scaffold protein that links components of signaling cascades. Here, we evaluate recent data that identify the participation of IQGAP1 in signaling networks and we illustrate how this influences diverse cellular functions. These findings suggest that IQGAP1 integrates signaling pathways and coordinates several fundamental cellular activities.