Nuclear localization of the DOCK180/ELMO complex

DOCK180 protein plays a key role during development, cell motility, and phagocytosis. It forms a complex with another protein ELMO, and this complex acts as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Rac. However, DOCK180-containing complexes have not been purified by unbiased biochemical approaches, and the nature and subcellular localization of these complexes remain unclear. Here, we show that a large fraction of endogenous DOCK180 is present as a 700 kDa nuclear complex with ELMO proteins. In addition, this nuclear DOCK180/ELMO complex has functional Rac-GEF activity. Furthermore, endogenous DOCK180 could be found in complexes with different ELMO isoforms (ELMO1, 2 or 3) in different cell lines, depending on the ELMO isoforms expressed. These studies suggest that DOCK180 may associate with different ELMO proteins to form cell-type specific complexes and may have functions in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm.