# C3G deregulation uncovers a dual role in B-cell lymphoma: tumor suppression and enhanced metastasis via Rap1 and Rac2 signaling

## TL;DR

C3G has a dual role in B-cell lymphoma: it can suppress tumors but also promote cancer spread through specific signaling pathways.

## Contribution

This study reveals a dual function of C3G in B-cell lymphoma through its regulation of Rap1 and Rac2 signaling.

## Key findings

- C3G Y564H mutation increases Rap1 activation, reduces proliferation, and promotes apoptosis in B-cell lymphoma cells.
- C3G dysregulation enhances cell migration and metastasis to the liver via altered Rac2 signaling.
- RNA-seq analysis shows transcriptional changes linked to adhesion and metastatic pathways in mutated C3G cells.

## Abstract

C3G (RapGEF1) is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that activates Rap1, a small GTPase implicated in hematologic malignancies. We previously showed that C3G GEF activity is self-repressed via its AIR (autoinhibitory region). A lymphoma-associated missense mutation (Y554H) disrupts this inhibition, resulting in constitutive activation. This study aims to investigate the consequences of C3G dysregulation in B-cell lymphoma.

Murine C3G mutation Y564H (equivalent to human Y554H) was introduced into the A20 B-cell lymphoma line using CRISPR/Cas9. Rap1 activation, proliferation, apoptosis, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, Rac2 activity, adhesion, migration, invasion, tumorigenicity, and transcriptomic changes were assessed through biochemical assays, in vitro functional studies, in vivo mouse models, and RNA-seq analysis.

A20-C3G-Y564H cells exhibited increased Rap1 activation under both basal and stimulated conditions. Hyperactivation of the C3G-Rap1 pathway impaired proliferation, promoted apoptosis, and was associated with reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Furthermore, Rac2 activity was diminished, correlating with altered adhesion properties. Consistently, cell migration and invasion were enhanced, in correspondence with an increased number of metastatic foci in the liver following tail vein injection into syngeneic BALB/c mice. Notably, reduced C3G expression further augmented the metastatic potential of A20 cells. RNA-seq analysis revealed widespread transcriptional changes involving Rac2 signaling, adhesion, and metastatic pathways.

C3G plays a dual role in B-cell lymphoma: it acts as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting growth and promoting apoptosis, but may also facilitate metastasis via enhanced motility. This dual effect likely reflects a functional balance between Rap1 and Rac2 signaling. These findings underscore the complexity of C3G-regulated pathways in B cells and suggest that C3G may serve as a potential novel marker in hematologic malignancies.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-025-02551-y.

Understanding a key player in B-cell lymphoma: the surprising role of C3G

Scientists are uncovering how a protein called C3G, which helps control cell behavior, may play a complex role in a type of blood cancer known as B-cell lymphoma. Normally, C3G helps activate another protein called Rap1, but it keeps itself in check through a built-in “off switch.” However, a mutation found in some lymphoma patients disables this off switch, causing Rap1 to be constantly active. To better understand what this mutation does, researchers recreated it in mouse lymphoma cells using advanced gene-editing tools. They then studied how the mutated cells behaved in the lab and in mice. The results were surprising. The mutated cells showed more active Rap1, which led to slower growth and more cell death—typically signs of a weakened cancer. But at the same time, these cells became more mobile and invasive, spreading more easily to the liver when introduced into mice. This was linked to changes in another protein, Rac2, which helps cells stick together and move. By analyzing which genes were turned on or off in these cells, the team found major shifts in networks controlling cell movement and metastasis.

In short, C3G seems to have a double-edged role in lymphoma: it can help suppress tumor growth, but also make the cancer more likely to spread. These insights could open the door to new treatment strategies that target this delicate balance.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-025-02551-y.