Stimulation of human platelets with von Willebrand factor (vWF) induced the translocation of the small GTPases Rap1B and Rap2B to the cytoskeleton. This effect was specifically prevented by an anti-glycoprotein Ib monoclonal antibody or by the omission of stirring, but was not affected by the peptide RGDS, which antagonizes binding of adhesive proteins to platelet integrins. Association of Rap2B with the cytoskeleton was very rapid, while translocation of Rap1B occurred in a later phase of platelet activation and was totally inhibited by cytochalasin D. vWF also induced the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins that was prevented by the tyrosine kinases inhibitor genistein and by cAMP-increasing agents. Under these conditions, also the association of Rap1B and Rap2B with the cytoskeleton was prevented. Translocation of Rap proteins to the cytoskeleton induced by vWF, but not by thrombin, was inhibited by a monoclonal antibody against the Fc␥II receptor. The same antibody inhibited vWF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of selected substrates with molecular masses of about 75, 95, and 150 kDa. Three of these substrates were identified as the tyrosine kinase pp72 syk , the phospholipase C␥2, and the inositol 5-phosphatase SHIP. Our results indicate that translocation of Rap1B and Rap2B to the cytoskeleton is regulated by tyrosine kinases and suggest a novel role for the Fc␥II receptor in the mechanism of platelet activation by vWF.Rap proteins are low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins that share about 50% sequence homology with the product of the ras protooncogene. Human platelets express two members of the Rap family of proteins, Rap1B and Rap2B, which are located at the membrane as a consequence of post-translational modifications, including isoprenylation, proteolysis, and carboxylmethylation (1). The role of Rap1B and Rap2B in platelet function is still poorly understood. Rap1B is phosphorylated by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) 1 (2) and is rapidly activated upon platelet stimulation with extracellular agonists (3, 4). By contrast, Rap2B is not a substrate for PKA (5), and its activation upon cell stimulation has not been reported. In thrombin-treated platelets both Rap1B and Rap2B translocate to the cytoskeleton (6, 7). This actin-based structure is not only responsible for the morphological changes of activated platelets, but also represents a network connecting several molecules involved in signal transduction processes, including protein-tyrosine kinases, lipid metabolizing enzymes, and membrane glycoproteins (8). Translocation of Rap2B to the cytoskeleton in thrombin-stimulated platelets requires cell aggregation and is promoted by secondary signals generated by binding of fibrinogen to the membrane glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (GP IIb-IIIa) (9). Similarly, fibrinogen binding to GP IIb-IIIa strongly supports Rap1B translocation to the cytoskeleton, although a small amount of this protein associates with the actin-based structures, even in activated cells in the absence of aggregation a...