RHOC Gene - Rho-Related GTP-Binding Protein RhoC
Comprehensive genomic and functional analysis of RHOC, a key regulator of cell motility and cancer metastasis.
Gene Information Card
| Symbol | RHOC |
|---|---|
| Full Name | ras homolog family member C |
| Gene Type | protein-coding |
| Chromosomal Location | 1p13.2 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 389 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/389 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000154133 |
| UniProt ID | P08134 |
| OMIM ID | 165380 |
| HGNC ID | 10000 |
| Aliases | ARHC, H9, RHOC, RhoC, rho-related GTP-binding protein RhoC |
Description
RHOC (ras homolog family member C) encodes a member of the Rho family of small GTPases, which cycle between an active GTP-bound and inactive GDP-bound state. RhoC regulates cytoskeletal dynamics, cell adhesion, cell migration, and invasion. Overexpression and hyperactivation of RhoC are strongly associated with tumor progression and metastasis in multiple cancer types.
Disease Associations
| Disease category | Pathophysiological mechanism | Genomic evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Breast Cancer | RhoC overexpression promotes invasion and metastasis via actin cytoskeleton remodeling and increased cell motility. | PMID: 12058033; NCBI Gene |
| Melanoma | RhoC activation enhances metastatic potential through regulation of actomyosin contractility and focal adhesion turnover. | PMID: 16951151; COSMIC |
| Pancreatic Cancer | RhoC upregulation correlates with poor prognosis and facilitates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). | PMID: 19584269; OMIM |
| Ovarian Cancer | RhoC overexpression drives peritoneal dissemination and chemoresistance. | PMID: 21804533; ClinVar |
| Gastric Cancer | RhoC amplification and overexpression are linked to lymph node metastasis and advanced stage. | PMID: 19177455; COSMIC |
Expression Profile
Tissue Expression
| Tissue | nTPM | level |
|---|---|---|
| Adipose tissue | 5.2 | Low |
| Breast | 8.1 | Medium |
| Colon | 6.4 | Low |
| Lung | 7.9 | Medium |
| Ovary | 9.3 | Medium |
| Pancreas | 6.8 | Low |
| Skin | 10.5 | Medium |
| Stomach | 7.1 | Medium |
Cell Line Expression
| Cell Line | nTPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MCF7 (breast cancer) | 12.3 | High expression; associated with invasive phenotype |
| A549 (lung cancer) | 9.8 | Moderate expression; promotes migration |
| HeLa (cervical cancer) | 11.1 | High expression; supports cytoskeletal dynamics |
| SKOV3 (ovarian cancer) | 10.7 | High expression; linked to metastasis |
| BxPC-3 (pancreatic cancer) | 8.5 | Moderate expression; contributes to EMT |
Data source：Human Protein Atlas（proteinatlas.org）
Mutations & Variants
Hotspot Mutations
| Variant | Type | Frequency | Functional Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| c.83G>A (p.Gly28Glu) | Missense | <0.1% | Gain-of-function; increased GTP binding and cell invasion |
| c.184C>T (p.Arg62Trp) | Missense | <0.1% | Unknown functional effect; reported in COSMIC |
| c.370G>A (p.Glu124Lys) | Missense | <0.1% | Likely loss-of-function; reduced GTPase activity |
| Amplification | Copy number gain | Variable | Overexpression; frequent in breast and ovarian cancers |
Mutation functional classification
Loss of Function (LOF)
Rare missense mutations (e.g., p.Glu124Lys) that impair GTP hydrolysis or protein stability, leading to reduced RhoC activity.
Gain of Function (GOF)
Activating mutations (e.g., p.Gly28Glu) that enhance GTP binding and downstream signaling, promoting cell motility and invasion.
Dominant Negative (DN)
Not well characterized for RHOC; dominant-negative mutants typically involve substitutions that lock the protein in GDP-bound state (e.g., T19N), but these are not commonly reported in natural tumors.
View complete mutation data：
Gene Ontology (GO)
Pathways
• Rho GTPase cycle (Reactome: R-HSA-194840)
• Signaling by Rho family GTPases (Reactome: R-HSA-194315)
• RhoA/RhoC signaling pathway (KEGG: hsa04810)
• Regulation of actin cytoskeleton (KEGG: hsa04810)
• Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (WikiPathways: WP496)
Protein Summary
RhoC is a 21 kDa small GTPase that cycles between active GTP-bound and inactive GDP-bound states. It localizes to the plasma membrane and cytoplasm, where it regulates actin dynamics, cell polarity, and migration. RhoC is highly homologous to RhoA but exhibits distinct roles in cancer metastasis. Overexpression of RhoC is a hallmark of aggressive tumors and correlates with poor patient survival. RhoC activates downstream effectors such as ROCK, mDia, and PAK to promote actomyosin contractility and focal adhesion turnover.
Related Services
Related Products
| Product name | Cat.No. | Species | Gene ID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHOC Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ50131 | Human | 389 | Details Get a Quote |
| RHOC Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ52655 | Human | 389 | Details Get a Quote |
| RHOC Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ61129 | Human | 389 | Details Get a Quote |
| RHOC Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ69616 | Human | 389 | Details Get a Quote |
