Control of cell adhesion and migration by podocalyxin. Implication of Rac1 and Cdc42

► PODXL enhances adhesion/migration of CHO cells and activates of Rac1/Cdc42 GTPases. ► Activation of small GTPases parallels the effects of PODXL deletion mutants. ► Suppression of rac1 abolishes the effects of PODXL. ► Extracellular and DTHL domains are required for enhancing adhesion but not migration. ► Integrity of the cytosolic domain is essential for enhancing adhesion and migration.