Transformation-specific tyrosine phosphorylation of a novel cellular protein in chicken cells expressing oncogenic variants of the avian cellular src gene

Not so simple: the complexity of phosphotyrosine signaling at cadherin adhesive contacts

Cadherin cell-cell adhesion critically determines tissue organization and integrity in many organs of the body. Cadherin function influences patterning and morphogenesis while cadherin dysfunction contributes to disease, notably tumor invasion and metastasis. Cell signaling events are intimately linked with cadherin function; it is increasingly apparent that not only do cellular signals regulate cadherin function, but cadherins can also, in turn, modulate cell signaling itself. In this review, we discuss the complex interrelationship between phosphotyrosine-based cell signaling and cadherin adhesion. We focus on the interplay of events that occur at the cell surface and address three issues: the diverse mechanisms that activate phosphotyrosine signaling at cadherin cell-cell contacts, the functional impact of such signaling for cadherin adhesion, and the emerging capacity for cadherins to regulate growth factor signaling.

Src kinase promotes adhesion-independent activation of FAK and enhances cellular migration in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells

Src kinase is intimately involved in the control of matrix adhesion and cell migration through its ability to modulate the activity of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). In light of our previous observations that acquisition of tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer cells is accompanied by elevated Src kinase activity, we wish to investigate whether FAK function is also altered in these cells and if this leads to an enhanced migratory phenotype. In in vitro adhesion assays, tamoxifen-resistant (TamR) MCF7 cells had a greater affinity for the matrix proteins fibronectin, laminin, vitronectin and collagen and subsequently demonstrated a much greater migratory capacity across these substrates compared to their weakly-migratory, endocrine-sensitive counterparts. Additionally, elevated levels of activated Src in TamR cells promoted an increase in FAK phosphorylation at Y861 and Y925 and uncoupled FAK activation from an adhesion-dependent process. Inhibition of Src activity using the Src/Abl inhibitor AZD0530 reduced FAK activity, suppressed cell spreading on matrix-coated surfaces and significantly inhibited cell migration. Our data thus suggest that Src kinase plays a central role in the enhanced migratory phenotype that accompanies endocrine resistance through its modulation of FAK signalling and demonstrates the potential use of Src inhibitors as potent suppressors of tumour cell migration.

Catenins: keeping cells from getting their signals crossed

Adherens junctions have been traditionally viewed as building blocks of tissue architecture. The foundations for this view began to change with the discovery that a central component of AJs, beta-catenin, can also function as a transcriptional cofactor in Wnt signaling. In recent years, conventional views have similarly been shaken about the other two major AJ catenins, alpha-catenin and p120-catenin. Catenins have emerged as molecular sensors that integrate cell-cell junctions and cytoskeletal dynamics with signaling pathways that govern morphogenesis, tissue homeostasis, and even intercellular communication between different cell types within a tissue. These findings reveal novel aspects of AJ function in normal tissues and offer insights into how changes in AJs and their associated proteins and cytoskeletal dynamics impact wound-repair and cancer.

p120-catenin: Past and present

p120-catenin was first described in 1989 as a Src substrate whose phosphorylation correlated with transformation. It was identified by cDNA cloning in 1992, and shown to interact with cadherins in 1994. Though enigmatic for some time, p120 has emerged as a master regulator of cadherin stability, and an important modulator of RhoGTPase activities. With the discovery of p120 family members and evidence for fundamental roles in cell biology and cancer, the field has expanded dramatically in recent years. As an introduction to this collection of reviews on p120 and its relatives, the editors have requested a personal commentary and historical perspective on the discovery of p120. The anecdotal parts have no particular purpose, but are mostly unpublished and perhaps of interest to some.

p130Cas mediates the transforming properties of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase

Translocations of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene have been described in anaplastic large-cell lymphomas (ALCLs) and in stromal tumors. The most frequent translocation, t(2;5), generates the fusion protein nucleophosmin (NPM)-ALK with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. Along with transformation, NPM-ALK induces morphologic changes in fibroblasts and lymphoid cells, suggesting a direct role of ALK in cell shaping. In this study, we used a mass-spectrometry-based proteomic approach to search for proteins involved in cytoskeleton remodeling and identified p130Cas (p130 Crk-associated substrate) as a novel interactor of NPM-ALK. In 293 cells and in fibroblasts as well as in human ALK-positive lymphoma cell lines, NPM-ALK was able to bind p130Cas and to induce its phosphorylation. Both of the effects were dependent on ALK kinase activity and on the adaptor protein growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2), since no binding or phosphorylation was found with the kinase-dead mutant NPM-ALK(K210R) or in the presence of a Grb2 dominant-negative protein. Phosphorylation of p130Cas by NPM-ALK was partially independent from Src (tyrosine kinase pp60c-src) kinase activity, as it was still detectable in Syf-/- cells. Finally, p130Cas-/- (also known as Bcar1-/-) fibroblasts expressing NPM-ALK showed impaired actin filament depolymerization and were no longer transformed compared with wild-type cells, indicating an essential role of p130Cas activation in ALK-mediated transformation.

IGF-I receptor, cell-cell adhesion, tumour development and progression

The insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) has been implicated in the development and progression of many common cancers and other neoplastic diseases. The tumorigenic potential of IGF-IR relies on its antiapoptotic and transforming activities. The molecular mechanisms by which IGF-IR controls the proliferation and survival of tumour cells have been extensively studied and many pathways have been delineated. However, the role of IGF-IR in the regulation of non-mitogenic cell functions is less well understood. Here we focus on IGF-IR-dependent cell-cell adhesion. Limited studies suggested that IGF-IR can regulate cell aggregation and intercellular adhesion mediated by cadherins and cadherin-associated proteins. We review the mechanisms of this process and discuss the impact of IGF-IR-dependent cell-cell adhesion on the phenotype of tumour cells.

Emerging roles for p120-catenin in cell adhesion and cancer

Although originally identified as a Src substrate, p120-catenin (p120) is now known to regulate cell-cell adhesion through its interaction with the cytoplasmic tail of classical and type II cadherins. New evidence indicates that p120 regulates cadherin turnover at the cell surface, thereby controlling the amount of cadherin available for cell-cell adhesion. This function is necessary but not sufficient to promote strong adhesion, which is further controlled by signals acting on the amino-terminal p120 regulatory domain. p120 also modulates the activities of RhoA, Rac, and Cdc42, suggesting that along with other Src substrates, p120 regulates actin dynamics. Thus, p120 is a master regulator of cadherin abundance and activity, and likely participates in regulating the balance between adhesive and motile cellular phenotypes. This review summarizes recent progress in understanding mechanisms of p120 action, and discusses new implications with respect to roles for p120 in disease and cancer.

Protein kinase Calpha activates c-Src and induces podosome formation via AFAP-110

We report that the actin filament-associated protein AFAP-110 is required to mediate protein kinase Calpha (PKCalpha) activation of the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase c-Src and the subsequent formation of podosomes. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that activation of PKCalpha by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), or ectopic expression of constitutively activated PKCalpha, directs AFAP-110 to colocalize with and bind to the c-Src SH3 domain, resulting in activation of the tyrosine kinase. Activation of c-Src then directs the formation of podosomes, which contain cortactin, AFAP-110, actin, and c-Src. In a cell line (CaOV3) that has very little or no detectable AFAP-110, PMA treatment was unable to activate c-Src or effect podosome formation. Ectopic expression of AFAP-110 in CaOV3 cells rescued PKCalpha-mediated activation of c-Src and elevated tyrosine phosphorylation levels and subsequent formation of podosomes. Neither expression of activated PKCalpha nor treatment with PMA was able to induce these changes in CAOV3 cells expressing mutant forms of AFAP-110 that are unable to bind to, or colocalize with, c-Src. We hypothesize that one major function of AFAP-110 is to relay signals from PKCalpha that direct the activation of c-Src and the formation of podosomes.

Autocrine CSF-1R activation promotes Src-dependent disruption of mammary epithelial architecture

Elevated coexpression of colony-stimulating factor receptor (CSF-1R) and its ligand, CSF-1, correlates with invasiveness and poor prognosis of a variety of epithelial tumors (Kacinski, B.M. 1995. Ann. Med. 27:79–85). Apart from recruitment of macrophages to the tumor site, the mechanisms by which CSF-1 may potentiate invasion are poorly understood. We show that autocrine CSF-1R activation induces hyperproliferation and a profound, progressive disruption of junctional integrity in acinar structures formed by human mammary epithelial cells in three-dimensional culture. Acini coexpressing receptor and ligand exhibit a dramatic relocalization of E-cadherin from the plasma membrane to punctate intracellular vesicles, accompanied by its loss from the Triton-insoluble fraction. Interfering with Src kinase activity, either by pharmacological inhibition or mutation of the Y561 docking site on CSF-1R, prevents E-cadherin translocation, suggesting that CSF-1R disrupts cell adhesion by uncoupling adherens junction complexes from the cytoskeleton and promoting cadherin internalization through a Src-dependent mechanism. These findings provide a mechanistic basis whereby CSF-1R could contribute to invasive progression in epithelial cancers.

A role for Galpha12/Galpha13 in p120ctn regulation

The catenin p120 (p120ctn) is an armadillo repeat domain protein that binds to cadherins and has been shown to facilitate strong cell-cell adhesion. We have investigated a possible link between heterotrimeric G proteins and p120ctn, and found that both Galpha12 and Galpha13 can completely and selectively abrogate the p120ctn-induced branching phenotype in different cell types. Consistent with these observations, the expression of Galpha12 or Galpha13 compensates for the reduction of Rho activity induced by p120ctn. On the other hand, p120ctn can be selectively coimmunoprecipitated with Galpha12, and the coimmunoprecipitation was favored by activation of the G protein. A specific interaction between p120ctn and Galpha12Q231L was also observed in in vitro binding experiments. In addition, p120ctn can be immunoprecipitated along with Galpha12Q231L in L cells in absence of E-cadherin. Interestingly, the expression of Galpha12Q231L increases the amount of p120ctn associated with E-cadherin. These findings demonstrate that Galpha12 and p120ctn are binding partners, and they also suggest a role for Galpha12 in regulating p120ctn activity and its interaction with cadherins. We propose that the Galpha12-p120ctn interaction acts as a molecular switch, which regulates cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion.

FERM domain interaction promotes FAK signaling

From the results of deletion analyses, the FERM domain of FAK has been proposed to inhibit enzymatic activity and repress FAK signaling. We have identified a sequence in the FERM domain that is important for FAK signaling in vivo. Point mutations in this sequence had little effect upon catalytic activity in vitro. However, the mutant exhibits reduced tyrosine phosphorylation and dramatically reduced Src family kinase binding. Further, the abilities of the mutant to transduce biochemical signals and to promote cell migration were severely impaired. The results implicate a FERM domain interaction in cell adhesion-dependent activation of FAK and downstream signaling. We also show that the purified FERM domain of FAK interacts with full-length FAK in vitro, and mutation of this sequence disrupts the interaction. These findings are discussed in the context of models of FAK regulation by its FERM domain.

Activated Src increases adhesion, survival and alpha2-integrin expression in human breast cancer cells

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is an intracellular kinase that localizes to focal adhesions. FAK is overexpressed in human tumours, and FAK regulates both cellular adhesion and anti-apoptotic survival signalling. Disruption of FAK function by overexpression of the FAK C-terminal domain [FAK-CD, analogous to the FRNK (FAK-related non-kinase) protein] leads to loss of adhesion and apoptosis in tumour cells. We have shown that overexpression of an activated form of the Src tyrosine kinase suppressed the loss of adhesion induced by dominant-negative; adenoviral FAK-CD and decreased the apoptotic response in BT474 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. This adhesion-dependent apoptosis was increased by the Src-family kinase inhibitor PP2 [4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine]. We have also shown that expression of activated Src in breast cancer cells increased the expression of alpha2-integrin and that overexpression of alpha2-integrin suppressed FAK-CD-mediated loss of adhesion. Our results suggest a model in which Src regulates adhesion and survival through enhanced expression of the alpha2-integrin. This provides a mechanism through which Src promotes cellular adhesion and alters the adhesive function of FAK.

A core function for p120-catenin in cadherin turnover

p120-catenin stabilizes epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) in SW48 cells, but the mechanism has not been established. Here, we show that p120 acts at the cell surface to control cadherin turnover, thereby regulating cadherin levels. p120 knockdown by siRNA expression resulted in dose-dependent elimination of epithelial, placental, neuronal, and vascular endothelial cadherins, and complete loss of cell–cell adhesion. ARVCF and δ-catenin were functionally redundant, suggesting that proper cadherin-dependent adhesion requires the presence of at least one p120 family member. The data reveal a core function of p120 in cadherin complexes, and strongly predict a dose-dependent loss of E-cadherin in tumors that partially or completely down-regulate p120.

A novel role for p120 catenin in E-cadherin function

Indirect evidence suggests that p120-catenin (p120) can both positively and negatively affect cadherin adhesiveness. Here we show that the p120 gene is mutated in SW48 cells, and that the cadherin adhesion system is impaired as a direct consequence of p120 insufficiency. Restoring normal levels of p120 caused a striking reversion from poorly differentiated to cobblestone-like epithelial morphology, indicating a crucial role for p120 in reactivation of E-cadherin function. The rescue efficiency was enhanced by increased levels of p120, and reduced by the presence of the phosphorylation domain, a region previously postulated to confer negative regulation. Surprisingly, the rescue was associated with substantially increased levels of E-cadherin. E-cadherin mRNA levels were unaffected by p120 expression, but E-cadherin half-life was more than doubled. Direct p120-E-cadherin interaction was crucial, as p120 deletion analysis revealed a perfect correlation between E-cadherin binding and rescue of epithelial morphology. Interestingly, the epithelial morphology could also be rescued by forced expression of either WT E-cadherin or a p120-uncoupled mutant. Thus, the effects of uncoupling p120 from E-cadherin can be at least partially overcome by artificially maintaining high levels of cadherin expression. These data reveal a cooperative interaction between p120 and E-cadherin and a novel role for p120 that is likely indispensable in normal cells.

The transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase DEP1 interacts with p120(ctn)

The receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase DEP1, also known as CD148, is expressed predominantly in epithelial cells, in a variety of tumor cell lines, and in lymphocytes. Expression of DEP1 is enhanced at high cell density, and this observation suggests that DEP1 may function in the regulation of cell adhesion and possibly contact inhibition of cell growth. In order to investigate the function of DEP1, substrate-trapping mutants of the phosphatase were used to identify potential substrates. GST-fusion proteins containing the DEP1 catalytic domain with a substrate-trapping D/A mutation were found to interact with p120(ctn), a component of adherens junctions. DEP1 also interacted with other members of the catenin gene family including beta-catenin and gamma-catenin. The interaction with p120(ctn) is likely to be direct, as the interaction occurs in K562 cells lacking functional adherens junctions and E-cadherin expression. Catalytic domains of the tyrosine phosphatases PTP-PEST, CD45, and PTPbeta did not interact with proteins of the catenin family to detectable levels, suggesting that the interaction of DEP1 with these proteins is specific. DEP1 expression was concentrated at sites of cell-cell contact in A549 cells. p120(ctn) was found to colocalize with these structures. Together these data suggest an important role for DEP-1 in the function of cell-cell contacts and adherens junctions.

Characterization of an activated mutant of focal adhesion kinase: 'SuperFAK'

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that plays an important role in normal cellular processes such as adhesion, spreading, migration, proliferation and survival. In addition, FAK is overexpressed in a variety of cancer cells and tumours and may play a role in the development of human cancer. As a prelude to modelling the role of aberrant FAK signalling in the initiation of cancer, the goal of the present study was to engineer point mutations in FAK that would enhance enzymic activity. A number of substitutions that were reported as activating mutations in other tyrosine kinases were introduced into FAK. Glutamic acid substitutions for two lysine residues in the activation loop of FAK, based upon the K650E (Lys(650-->)Glu) mutant of fibroblast-growth-factor receptor 3, were made to create 'SuperFAK'. Two brain-specific exons were engineered into avian FAK to create FAK6.7. SuperFAK and, to a lesser extent, FAK6.7, exhibited increased catalytic activity in vitro compared with wild-type FAK. The expression of SuperFAK and FAK6.7 in fibroblasts led to hyperphosphorylation of FAK substrates. Although the catalytic activity of SuperFAK and FAK6.7 was largely independent of cell adhesion, tyrosine phosphorylation of downstream substrates was adhesion-dependent. Further, since SuperFAK exhibited the same ability as wild-type FAK to recruit Src family kinases, tyrosine phosphorylation of substrates was likely due to direct phosphorylation by FAK. In addition to enhanced biochemical signalling, SuperFAK also increased the motility of epithelial cells. SuperFAK and FAK6.7 may be valuable molecular tools to investigate the potential role of aberrant FAK signalling in human disease.

Phosphorylated tyrosine-containing proteins in primary lung cancer correlates with proliferation and prognosis

To determine the usefulness of tyrosine phosphorylation in evaluating biological characteristics, we attempted to evaluate the relationship between the amount of phosphorylated tyrosine-containing proteins and clinicopathological factors, cell proliferation and outcome in non-small cell lung cancer. To evaluate phosphorylated tyrosine-containing proteins we used 96 surgically resected materials of non-small cell lung cancer and normal peripheral lung, while immunohistochemical evaluation was performed. Cell proliferating ability was evaluated using the labelling index of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive nuclear staining cells. There were statistically significant differences between the expression levels of phosphorylated tyrosine-containing proteins of normal and cancerous tissues (P<0.0001). Evaluations based on clinicopathological factors apart from histopathological differentiation, showed no statistically significant differences of phosphorylated tyrosine-containing proteins expression. However, phosphorylated tyrosine-containing proteins correlated with cell proliferation activity evaluated (P((Low, High))<0.0001; P((Low, Int)) <0.0001; P((Int, High))<0.0001). Furthermore, non-small cell lung cancer cases with high expression and intermediate expression of phosphorylated tyrosine-containing proteins had a significantly shorter disease-free postoperative survival than those with low expression of phosphorylated tyrosine-containing proteins using log-rank analysis (P((Low, Int)) <0.0028; P((Low, High))=0.0002). Furthermore, phosphorylated tyrosine-containing proteins expression level statistically contributed to disease-free survival in Cox's proportional hazard model. Therefore, phosphorylated tyrosine-containing proteins in non-small cell lung cancer tissues seem to reflect its biological malignancy, and this evaluation may be valuable for constructing the most appropriate therapeutic strategy.

SRC catalytic but not scaffolding function is needed for integrin-regulated tyrosine phosphorylation, cell migration, and cell spreading

Src family kinases (SFKs) are crucial for signaling through a variety of cell surface receptors, including integrins. There is evidence that integrin activation induces focal adhesion kinase (FAK) autophosphorylation at Y397 and that Src binds to and is activated by FAK to carry out subsequent phosphorylation events. However, it has also been suggested that Src functions as a scaffolding molecule through its SH2 and SH3 domains and that its kinase activity is not necessary. To examine the role of SFKs in integrin signaling, we have expressed various Src molecules in fibroblasts lacking other SFKs. In cells plated on fibronectin, FAK could indeed autophosphorylate at Y397 independently of Src but with lower efficiency than when Src was present. This step was promoted by kinase-inactive Src, but Src kinase activity was required for full rescue. Src kinase activity was also required for phosphorylation of additional sites on FAK and for other integrin-directed functions, including cell migration and spreading on fibronectin. In contrast, Src mutations in the SH2 or SH3 domain greatly reduced binding to FAK, Cas, and paxillin but had little effect on tyrosine phosphorylation or biological assays. Furthermore, our indirect evidence indicates that Src kinase activity does not need to be regulated to promote cell migration and FAK phosphorylation. Although Src clearly plays important roles in integrin signaling, it was not concentrated in focal adhesions. These results indicate that the primary role of Src in integrin signaling is as a kinase. Indirect models for Src function are proposed.

Multiple stimuli induce tyrosine phosphorylation of the Crk-binding sites of paxillin

Paxillin is a focal-adhesion-associated, tyrosine-phosphorylated protein. In cells transformed by the src, crk or BCR-Abl oncogenes, the phosphotyrosine content of paxillin is elevated. In normal cells paxillin functions in signalling following integrin-dependent cell adhesion or exposure to a number of stimuli, including growth factors and neuropeptides. These stimuli induce tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin, regulating the association of Src homology 2 domain-containing signalling molecules with paxillin. There are multiple sites of tyrosine phosphorylation on paxillin. To elucidate the role of paxillin in transducing signals in response to various stimuli, it is essential to identify all of the sites of phosphorylation on paxillin and to define which residues are phosphorylated in response to distinct stimuli. We describe two new sites of tyrosine phosphorylation on paxillin, residues at positions 40 and 88. Using paxillin variants with phenylalanine substitutions at phosphorylation sites and phospho-specific paxillin antibodies, tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin in response to distinct stimuli was examined. The results demonstrate that Tyr(31) and Tyr(118), which are binding sites for Crk, are major sites of tyrosine phosphorylation following cell adhesion or stimulation with platelet-derived growth factor or angiotensin II. Thus multiple stimuli may elicit similar signalling events downstream of paxillin.

The actin filament-associated protein AFAP-110 is an adaptor protein that modulates changes in actin filament integrity

The actin filament-associated protein of 110 kDa (AFAP-110) was first identified as an SH3/SH2 binding partner for the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, Src. Subsequent data have demonstrated that AFAP-110 can interact with other Src family members. AFAP-110 contains additional protein binding modules including two pleckstrin homology domains, a leucine zipper motif and a target sequence for serine/threonine phosphorylation. AFAP-110 interacts with actin filaments directly via a carboxy terminal actin-binding domain. Thus AFAP-110 may function as an adaptor protein by linking Src family members and/or other signaling proteins to actin filaments. AFAP-110 also has an intrinsic capability to alter actin filament integrity that can be revealed upon conformational changes associated with phosphorylation or mutagenesis. Recent data has indicated that AFAP-110 may also serve to activate cSrc in response to this conformational change as well. Thus, AFAP-110 may function in several ways by (1) acting as an adaptor protein that links signaling molecules to actin filaments, (2) serving as a platform for the construction of larger signaling complexes, (3) serving as an activator of Src family kinases in response to cellular signals that alter its conformation and (4) directly effecting actin filament organization as an actin filament cross-linking protein. Here, we will review the structure and function of AFAP-110 as well as potential binding partners and effectors of AFAP-110's ability to alter actin filament integrity.

Protein phosphatase 2A interacts with the Src kinase substrate p130(CAS)

In this study, we report that the Src substrate Cas (p130 Crk-associated substrate) associates with protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a serine/threonine phosphatase. We investigated this interaction in cells expressing a temperature-sensitive mutant form of v-Src. v-Src activation (by shifting cells from the nonpermissive to the permissive temperature) led to an increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of v-Src and Cas, as well as in the association between v-Src and Cas. v-Src has previously been shown to bind to PP2A and to phosphorylate the catalytic subunit of PP2A, resulting in inhibition of phosphatase activity. We found that the association between v-Src and PP2A decreased as cells were shifted to the permissive temperature. In contrast, the levels of PP2A that co-immunoprecipitated with Cas increased when v-Src was activated. We obtained similar results in pull-down experiments with immobilized Microcystin, a PP2A inhibitor. Serine/threonine phosphorylation of Cas has previously been shown to occur in a cell cycle regulated matter. Treatment of NIH3T3 cells with okadaic acid, a PP2A inhibitor, augments the serine/threonine phosphorylation of Cas that occurs at mitosis. Furthermore, PP2A dephosphorylates serine residues on Cas in vitro. Taken together, our results suggest that PP2A may be involved in the cell cycle-specific dephosphorylation of Cas.

Serine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase in interphase and mitosis: a possible role in modulating binding to p130(Cas)

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is an important regulator of integrin signaling in adherent cells and accordingly its activity is significantly modulated during mitosis when cells detach from the extracellular matrix. During mitosis, FAK becomes heavily phosphorylated on serine residues concomitant with its inactivation and dephosphorylation on tyrosine. Little is known about the regulation of FAK activity by serine phosphorylation. In this report, we characterize two novel sites of serine phosphorylation within the C-terminal domain of FAK. Phosphorylation-specific antibodies directed to these sites and against two previously characterized sites of serine phosphorylation were used to study the regulated phosphorylation of FAK in unsynchronized and mitotic cells. Among the four major phosphorylation sites, designated pS1-pS4, phosphorylation of pS1 (Ser722) is unchanged in unsynchronized and mitotic cells. In contrast, pS3 and pS4 (Ser843 and Ser910) exhibit increased phosphorylation during mitosis. In vitro peptide binding experiments provide evidence that phosphorylation of pS1 (Ser722) may play a role in modulating FAK binding to the SH3 domain of the adapter protein p130(Cas).

Focal adhesion kinases: interest in immunoendocrinology, developmental biology, and cancer

The research field on focal adhesion-related kinases started a decade ago, but the term focal adhesion was introduced for the first time nearly 20 yr before. Since its identification, many studies have enlightened the role of the first intermediate of focal adhesion-related signals in a large number of biologic and physiologic processes. In this review, we try to integrate the most recent data about the known focal adhesion-related kinases, and we focus on three topics in which they deserve great interest: neuroendocrine-immune interactions, developmental biology, and proliferative diseases.

Adenovirus E4 open reading frame 4-induced apoptosis involves dysregulation of Src family kinases

The adenoviral early region 4 open reading frame 4 (E4orf4) death factor induces p53-independent apoptosis in many cell types and appears to kill selectively transformed cells. Here we show that expression of E4orf4 in transformed epithelial cells results in early caspase-independent membrane blebbing, associated with changes in the organization of focal adhesions and actin cytoskeleton. Evidence that E4orf4 can associate with and modulate Src family kinase activity, inhibiting Src-dependent phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin while increasing phosphorylation of cortactin and some other cellular proteins, is presented. Furthermore, E4orf4 dramatically inhibited the ability of FAK and c-src to cooperate in induction of tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular substrates, suggesting that E4orf4 can interfere with the formation of a signaling complex at focal adhesion sites. Consistent with a functional role for E4orf4-Src interaction, overexpression of activated c-src dramatically potentiated E4orf4-induced membrane blebbing and apoptosis, whereas kinase dead c-src constructs inhibited E4orf4 effects on cell morphology and death. Moreover treatment of E4orf4-expressing cells with PP2, a selective Src kinase inhibitor, led to inhibition of E4orf4-dependent membrane blebbing and later to a marked decrease in E4orf4-induced nuclear condensation. Taken together, these observations indicate that expression of adenovirus 2 E4orf4 can initiate caspase-independent extranuclear manifestations of apoptosis through a modulation of Src family kinases and that these are involved in signaling E4orf4-dependent apoptosis. This study also suggests that Src family kinases are likely to play a role in the cytoplasmic execution of apoptotic programs.

Paxillin binding is not the sole determinant of focal adhesion localization or dominant-negative activity of focal adhesion kinase/focal adhesion kinase-related nonkinase

The carboxy-terminal 150 residues of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) comprise the focal adhesion-targeting sequence, which is responsible for its subcellular localization. The mechanism of focal adhesion targeting has not been fully elucidated. We describe a mutational analysis of the focal adhesion-targeting sequence of FAK to further examine the mechanism of focal adhesion targeting and explore additional functions encoded by the carboxy-terminus of FAK. The results demonstrate that paxillin binding is dispensable for focal adhesion targeting of FAK. Cell adhesion-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation strictly correlated with the ability of mutants to target to focal adhesions. Focal adhesion targeting was also a requirement for maximal FAK-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin and FAK-related nonkinase (FRNK)-dependent inhibition of endogenous FAK function. However, there were additional requirements for these latter functions because we identified mutants that target to focal adhesions, yet are defective for the induction of paxillin phosphorylation or the dominant-negative function of FRNK. Furthermore, the paxillin-binding activity of FRNK mutants did not correlate with their ability to inhibit FAK, suggesting that FRNK has other targets in addition to paxillin.

p120 catenin regulates the actin cytoskeleton via Rho family GTPases

Cadherins are calcium-dependent adhesion molecules responsible for the establishment of tight cell-cell contacts. p120 catenin (p120ctn) binds to the cytoplasmic domain of cadherins in the juxtamembrane region, which has been implicated in regulating cell motility. It has previously been shown that overexpression of p120ctn induces a dendritic morphology in fibroblasts (Reynolds, A.B. , J. Daniel, Y. Mo, J. Wu, and Z. Zhang. 1996. Exp. Cell Res. 225:328-337.). We show here that this phenotype is suppressed by coexpression of cadherin constructs that contain the juxtamembrane region, but not by constructs lacking this domain. Overexpression of p120ctn disrupts stress fibers and focal adhesions and results in a decrease in RhoA activity. The p120ctn-induced phenotype is blocked by dominant negative Cdc42 and Rac1 and by constitutively active Rho-kinase, but is enhanced by dominant negative RhoA. p120ctn overexpression increased the activity of endogenous Cdc42 and Rac1. Exploring how p120ctn may regulate Rho family GTPases, we find that p120ctn binds the Rho family exchange factor Vav2. The behavior of p120ctn suggests that it is a vehicle for cross-talk between cell-cell junctions and the motile machinery of cells. We propose a model in which p120ctn can shuttle between a cadherin-bound state and a cytoplasmic pool in which it can interact with regulators of Rho family GTPases. Factors that perturb cell-cell junctions, such that the cytoplasmic pool of p120ctn is increased, are predicted to decrease RhoA activity but to elevate active Rac1 and Cdc42, thereby promoting cell migration.

Regulation of c-SRC activity and function by the adapter protein CAS

SRC family kinases play essential roles in a variety of cellular functions, including proliferation, survival, differentiation, and apoptosis. The activities of these kinases are regulated by intramolecular interactions and by heterologous binding partners that modulate the transition between active and inactive structural conformations. p130(CAS) (CAS) binds directly to both the SH2 and SH3 domains of c-SRC and therefore has the potential to structurally alter and activate this kinase. In this report, we demonstrate that overexpression of full-length CAS in COS-1 cells induces c-SRC-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple endogenous cellular proteins. A carboxy-terminal fragment of CAS (CAS-CT), which contains the c-SRC binding site, was sufficient to induce c-SRC-dependent protein tyrosine kinase activity, as measured by tyrosine phosphorylation of cortactin, paxillin, and, to a lesser extent, focal adhesion kinase. A single amino acid substitution located in the binding site for the SRC SH3 domain of CAS-CT disrupted CAS-CT's interaction with c-SRC and inhibited its ability to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of cortactin and paxillin. Murine C3H10T1/2 fibroblasts that expressed elevated levels of tyrosine phosphorylated CAS and c-SRC-CAS complexes exhibited an enhanced ability to form colonies in soft agar and to proliferate in the absence of serum or growth factors. CAS-CT fully substituted for CAS in mediating growth in soft agar but was less effective in promoting serum-independent growth. These data suggest that CAS plays an important role in regulating specific signaling pathways governing cell growth and/or survival, in part through its ability to interact with and modulate the activity of c-SRC.

Selective uncoupling of p120(ctn) from E-cadherin disrupts strong adhesion

p120(ctn) is a catenin whose direct binding to the juxtamembrane domain of classical cadherins suggests a role in regulating cell-cell adhesion. The juxtamembrane domain has been implicated in a variety of roles including cadherin clustering, cell motility, and neuronal outgrowth, raising the possibility that p120 mediates these activities. We have generated minimal mutations in this region that uncouple the E-cadherin-p120 interaction, but do not affect interactions with other catenins. By stable transfection into E-cadherin-deficient cell lines, we show that cadherins are both necessary and sufficient for recruitment of p120 to junctions. Detergent-free subcellular fractionation studies indicated that, in contrast to previous reports, the stoichiometry of the interaction is extremely high. Unlike alpha- and beta-catenins, p120 was metabolically stable in cadherin-deficient cells, and was present at high levels in the cytoplasm. Analysis of cells expressing E-cadherin mutant constructs indicated that p120 is required for the E-cadherin-mediated transition from weak to strong adhesion. In aggregation assays, cells expressing p120-uncoupled E-cadherin formed only weak cell aggregates, which immediately dispersed into single cells upon pipetting. As an apparent consequence, the actin cytoskeleton failed to insert properly into peripheral E-cadherin plaques, resulting in the inability to form a continuous circumferential ring around cell colonies. Our data suggest that p120 directly or indirectly regulates the E-cadherin-mediated transition to tight cell-cell adhesion, possibly blocking subsequent events necessary for reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and compaction.

The catalytic activity of the Src family kinases is required to disrupt cadherin-dependent cell-cell contacts

Despite the importance of epithelial cell contacts in determining cell behavior, we still lack a detailed understanding of the assembly and disassembly of intercellular contacts. Here we examined the role of the catalytic activity of the Src family kinases at epithelial cell contacts in vitro. Like E- and P-cadherin, Ca(2+) treatment of normal and tumor-derived human keratinocytes resulted in c-Yes (and c-Src and Fyn), as well as their putative substrate p120(CTN), being recruited to cell-cell contacts. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor with selectivity against the Src family kinases, PD162531, and a dominant-inhibitory c-Src protein that interferes with the catalytic function of the endogenous Src kinases induced cell-cell contact and E-cadherin redistribution, even in low Ca(2+), which does not normally support stable cell-cell adhesion. Time-lapse microscopy demonstrated that Src kinase inhibition induced stabilization of transiently formed intercellular contacts in low Ca(2+). Furthermore, a combination of E- and P-cadherin-specific antibodies suppressed cell-cell contact, indicating cadherin involvement. As a consequence of contact stabilization, normal cells were unable to dissociate from an epithelial sheet formed at high density and repair a wound in vitro, although individual cells were still motile. Thus, cadherin-dependent contacts can be stabilized both by high Ca(2+) and by inhibiting Src activity in low (0.03 mM) Ca(2+) in vitro.

Complex formation with focal adhesion kinase: A mechanism to regulate activity and subcellular localization of Src kinases

Tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) creates a high-affinity binding site for the src homology 2 domain of the Src family of tyrosine kinases. Assembly of a complex between FAK and Src kinases may serve to regulate the subcellular localization and the enzymatic activity of members of the Src family of kinases. We show that simultaneous overexpression of FAK and pp60(c-src) or p59(fyn) results in the enhancement of the tyrosine phosphorylation of a limited number of cellular substrates, including paxillin. Under these conditions, tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin is largely cell adhesion dependent. FAK mutants defective for Src binding or focal adhesion targeting fail to cooperate with pp60(c-src) or p59(fyn) to induce paxillin phosphorylation, whereas catalytically defective FAK mutants can direct paxillin phosphorylation. The negative regulatory site of pp60(c-src) is hypophosphorylated when in complex with FAK, and coexpression with FAK leads to a redistribution of pp60(c-src) from a diffuse cellular location to focal adhesions. A FAK mutant defective for Src binding does not effectively induce the translocation of pp60(c-src) to focal adhesions. These results suggest that association with FAK can alter the localization of Src kinases and that FAK functions to direct phosphorylation of cellular substrates by recruitment of Src kinases.

Focal adhesion targeting: the critical determinant of FAK regulation and substrate phosphorylation

The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is discretely localized to focal adhesions via its C-terminal focal adhesion-targeting (FAT) sequence. FAK is regulated by integrin-dependent cell adhesion and can regulate tyrosine phosphorylation of downstream substrates, like paxillin. By the use of a mutational strategy, the regions of FAK that are required for cell adhesion-dependent regulation and for inducing tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin were determined. The results show that the FAT sequence was the single region of FAK that was required for each function. Furthermore, the FAT sequence of FAK was replaced with a focal adhesion-targeting sequence from vinculin, and the resulting chimera exhibited cell adhesion-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation and could induce paxillin phosphorylation like wild-type FAK. These results suggest that subcellular localization is the major determinant of FAK function.

Nuclear localization of the p120(ctn) Armadillo-like catenin is counteracted by a nuclear export signal and by E-cadherin expression

The Armadillo protein p120(ctn) associates with the cytoplasmic domain of cadherins and accumulates at cell-cell junctions. Particular Armadillo proteins such as beta-catenin and plakophilins show a partly nuclear location, suggesting gene-regulatory activities. For different human E-cadherin-negative carcinoma cancer cell lines we found expression of endogenous p120(ctn) in the nucleus. Expression of E-cadherin directed p120(ctn) out of the nucleus. Previously, we reported that the human p120(ctn) gene might encode up to 32 protein isoforms as products of alternative splicing. Overexpression of p120(ctn) isoforms B in various cell lines resulted in cytoplasmic immunopositivity but never in nuclear staining. In contrast, upon expression of p120(ctn) cDNAs lacking exon B, the isoforms were detectable within both nuclei and cytoplasm. A putative nuclear export signal (NES) with a characteristic leucine-rich motif is encoded by exon B. This sequence element was shown to be required for nuclear export and to function autonomously when fused to a carrier protein and microinjected into cell nuclei. Moreover, the NES function of endogenously or exogenously expressed p120(ctn) isoforms B was sensitive to the nuclear export inhibitor leptomycin B. Expression of exogenous E-cadherin down-regulated nuclear p120(ctn) whereas activation of protein kinase C increased the level of nuclear p120(ctn). These results reveal molecular mechanisms controlling the subcellular distribution of p120(ctn).

p120(ctn) acts as an inhibitory regulator of cadherin function in colon carcinoma cells

p120(ctn) binds to the cytoplasmic domain of cadherins but its role is poorly understood. Colo 205 cells grow as dispersed cells despite their normal expression of E-cadherin and catenins. However, in these cells we can induce typical E-cadherin-dependent aggregation by treatment with staurosporine or trypsin. These treatments concomitantly induce an electrophoretic mobility shift of p120(ctn) to a faster position. To investigate whether p120(ctn) plays a role in this cadherin reactivation process, we transfected Colo 205 cells with a series of p120(ctn) deletion constructs. Notably, expression of NH2-terminally deleted p120(ctn) induced aggregation. Similar effects were observed when these constructs were introduced into HT-29 cells. When a mutant N-cadherin lacking the p120(ctn)-binding site was introduced into Colo 205 cells, this molecule also induced cell aggregation, indicating that cadherins can function normally if they do not bind to p120(ctn). These findings suggest that in Colo 205 cells, a signaling mechanism exists to modify a biochemical state of p120(ctn) and the modified p120(ctn) blocks the cadherin system. The NH2 terminus-deleted p120(ctn) appears to compete with the endogenous p120(ctn) to abolish the adhesion-blocking action.

Involvement of the tyrosine kinase fer in cell adhesion

The Fer protein belongs to the fes/fps family of nontransmembrane receptor tyrosine kinases. Lack of success in attempts to establish a permanent cell line overexpressing it at significant levels suggested a strong negative selection against too much Fer protein and pointed to a critical cellular function for Fer. Using a tetracycline-regulatable expression system, overexpression of Fer in embryonic fibroblasts was shown to evoke a massive rounding up, and the subsequent detachment of the cells from the substratum, which eventually led to cell death. Induction of Fer expression coincided with increased complex formation between Fer and the cadherin/src-associated substrate p120(cas) and elevated tyrosine phosphorylation of p120(cas). beta-Catenin also exhibited clearly increased phosphotyrosine levels, and Fer and beta-catenin were found to be in complex. Significantly, although the levels of alpha-catenin, beta-catenin, and E-cadherin were unaffected by Fer overexpression, decreased amounts of alpha-catenin and beta-catenin were coimmunoprecipitated with E-cadherin, demonstrating a dissolution of adherens junction complexes. A concomitant decrease in levels of phosphotyrosine in the focal adhesion-associated protein p130 was also observed. Together, these results provide a mechanism for explaining the phenotype of cells overexpressing Fer and indicate that the Fer tyrosine kinase has a function in the regulation of cell-cell adhesion.

Inhibition of cell spreading by expression of the C-terminal domain of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is rescued by coexpression of Src or catalytically inactive FAK: a role for paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation

pp125FAK is a tyrosine kinase that appears to regulate the assembly of focal adhesions and thereby promotes cell spreading on the extracellular matrix. In some cells, the C terminus of pp125FAK is expressed as a separate protein, pp41/43FRNK. We have previously shown that overexpression of pp41/43FRNK inhibits tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125FAK and paxillin and, in addition, delays cell spreading and focal adhesion assembly. Thus, pp41/43FRNK functions as a negative inhibitor of adhesion signaling and provides a tool to dissect the mechanism by which pp125FAK promotes cell spreading. We report here that the inhibitory effects of pp41/43FRNK expression can be rescued by the co-overexpression of wild-type pp125FAK and partially rescued by catalytically inactive variants of pp125FAK. However, coexpression of an autophosphorylation site mutant of pp125FAK, which fails to bind the SH2 domain of pp60c-Src, or a mutant that fails to bind paxillin did not promote cell spreading. In contrast, expression of pp41/43FRNK and pp60c-Src reconstituted cell spreading and tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin but did so without inducing tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125FAK. These data provide additional support for a model whereby pp125FAK acts as a "switchable adaptor" that recruits pp60c-Src to phosphorylate paxillin, promoting cell spreading. In addition, these data point to tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin as being a critical step in focal adhesion assembly.

A transformation-associated complex involving tyrosine kinase signal adapter proteins and caldesmon links v-erbB signaling to actin stress fiber disassembly

The avian erythroblastosis viral oncogene (v-erbB) encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase that possesses sarcomagenic and leukemogenic potential. We have expressed transforming and nontransforming mutants of v-erbB in fibroblasts to detect transformation-associated signal transduction events. Coimmunoprecipitation and affinity chromatography have been used to identify a transformation-associated, tyrosine phosphorylated, multiprotein complex. This complex consists of Src homologous collagen protein (Shc), growth factor receptor binding protein 2 (Grb2), son of sevenless (Sos), and a novel tyrosine phosphorylated form of the cytoskeletal regulatory protein caldesmon. Immunofluorescence localization studies further reveal that, in contrast to the distribution of caldesmon along actin stress fibers in normal fibroblasts, caldesmon colocalizes with Shc in plasma membrane blebs in transformed fibroblasts. This colocalization of caldesmon and Shc correlates with actin stress fiber disassembly and v-erbB-mediated transformation. The tyrosine phosphorylation of caldesmon, and its association with the Shc-Grb2-Sos signaling complex directly links tyrosine kinase oncogenic signaling events with cytoskeletal regulatory processes, and may define one mechanism regulating actin stress fiber disassembly in transformed cells.

The integrity of the SH3 binding motif of AFAP-110 is required to facilitate tyrosine phosphorylation by, and stable complex formation with, Src

The actin filament-associated protein AFAP-110 forms a stable complex with activated variants of Src in chick embryo fibroblast cells. Stable complex formation requires the integrity of the Src SH2 and SH3 domains. In addition, AFAP-110 encodes two adjacent SH3 binding motifs and six candidate SH2 binding motifs. These data indicate that both SH2 and SH3 domains may work cooperatively to facilitate Src/AFAP-110 stable complex formation. As a test for this hypothesis, we sought to understand whether one or both SH3 binding motifs in AFAP-110 modulate interactions with the Src SH3 domain and if this interaction was required to present AFAP-110 for tyrosine phosphorylation by, and stable complex formation with, Src. A proline to alanine site-directed mutation in the amino terminal SH3 binding motif (SH3bm I) was sufficient to abrogate absorption of AFAP-110 with GST-SH3STC. Co-expression of activated Src (pp60(527F)) with AFAP-110 in Cos-1 cells permit tyrosine phosphorylation of AFAP-110 and stable complex formation with pp60(527F). However, co-expression of the SH3 null-binding mutant (AFAP71A) with pp60(527F) revealed a 2.7 fold decrease in steady-state levels of tyrosine phosphorylation, compared to AFAP-110. Although a lower but detectable level of AFAP71A was phosphorylated on tyrosine, AFAP71A could not be detected in stable complex with pp60(527F), unlike AFAP-110. These data indicate that SH3 interactions facilitate presentation of AFAP-110 for tyrosine phosphorylation and are also required for stable complex formation with pp60(527F).

Phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity associated with c-Src in large multimeric complexes isolated from adrenal medullary chromaffin cells

Chromaffin cells, which secrete catecholamines in response to acetylcholine, express high levels of the Src-family tyrosine kinases. These kinases contain protein-protein interaction domains which bind signal transduction proteins that participate in a variety of cellular processes. To determine if signalling proteins bind c-Src in chromaffin cells, we examined c-Src immunocomplexes for co-precipitating proteins. We discovered a phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase; EC 3.1.3.48) activity which associates with specific subcellular pools of c-Src in vivo and which preferentially binds the SH2 (Src homology 2) domain of c-Src in vitro. Known PTPases were not identified by blotting of c-Src immunocomplexes with a panel of anti-PTPase antibodies, suggesting that the PTPase may be a novel family member. The c-Src-PTPase complex is enriched in the plasma membrane fraction and exists in several large complexes, as revealed by gel-filtration analysis. This PTPase activity is altered rapidly following stimulation by secretagogues, decreasing within 30 s and returning to basal levels by 60 s of stimulation. Both the subcellular localization and rapid activity changes suggest that the c-Src-associated PTPase may function in early signalling events emanating from the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. In support of this is the co-precipitation of a PTPase activity with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and co-chromatography of this receptor with one or the c-Src-PTPase complexes.

Identification of integrin-stimulated sites of serine phosphorylation in FRNK, the separately expressed C-terminal domain of focal adhesion kinase: a potential role for protein kinase A

Focal adhesion kinase (pp125(FAK)) is a protein tyrosine kinase that is localized to focal adhesions in many cell types and which undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation after integrin binding to extracellular matrix. In some cells the C-terminal non-catalytic domain of pp125(FAK) is expressed as a separate protein referred to as FRNK (FAK-related, non-kinase). We have previously shown that overexpression of FRNK inhibits tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125(FAK) and its substrates as well as inhibiting cell spreading on fibronectin. In this report we identify Ser148 and Ser151 as residues in FRNK that are phosphorylated after tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125(FAK) and in response to integrin binding to fibronectin. Tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125(FAK) appears to be an early event after integrin occupancy, and serine phosphorylation of FRNK occurs significantly later. Treatment of fibroblasts with a series of protein kinase A inhibitors delayed serine phosphorylation of FRNK as well as cell spreading on fibronectin and tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125(FAK). However, these PKA inhibitors are unlikely to delay cell spreading simply by preventing serine phosphorylation of FRNK, as overexpression of FRNK containing mutations of Ser148 and Ser151 either singly or jointly to either alanine or glutamate residues did not significantly alter the ability of FRNK to act as an inhibitor of pp125(FAK).

Integrin-mediated activation of MAP kinase is independent of FAK: evidence for dual integrin signaling pathways in fibroblasts

Integrin-mediated cell adhesion causes activation of MAP kinases and increased tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Autophosphorylation of FAK leads to the binding of SH2-domain proteins including Src-family kinases and the Grb2-Sos complex. Since Grb2-Sos is a key regulator of the Ras signal transduction pathway, one plausible hypothesis has been that integrin-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK leads to activation of the Ras cascade and ultimately to mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase activation. Thus, in this scenario FAK would serve as an upstream regulator of MAP kinase activity. However, in this report we present several lines of evidence showing that integrin-mediated MAP kinase activity in fibroblasts is independent of FAK. First, a beta1 integrin subunit deletion mutant affecting the putative FAK binding site supports activation of MAP kinase in adhering fibroblasts but not tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK. Second, fibroblast adhesion to bacterially expressed fragments of fibronectin demonstrates that robust activation of MAP kinase can precede tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK. Finally, we have used FRNK, the noncatalytic COOH-terminal domain of FAK, as a dominant negative inhibitor of FAK autophosphorylation and of tyrosine phosphorylation of focal contacts. Using retroviral infection, we demonstrate that levels of FRNK expression sufficient to completely block FAK tyrosine phosphorylation were without effect on integrin-mediated activation of MAP kinase. These results strongly suggest that integrin-mediated activation of MAP kinase is independent of FAK and indicate the probable existence of at least two distinct integrin signaling pathways in fibroblasts.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of 100-130 kDa proteins in lung cancer correlates with poor prognosis

To search for the signalling pathways in lung cancer relevant to its aggressive behaviour, we studied tyrosine phosphorylated proteins in lung cancer cell lines and surgical specimens. We found that the profiles of protein phosphorylation were closely matched among these cell lines and cancer tissues of different histological origins, and 100-130 kDa proteins were the major components of phosphorylated proteins. In surgical specimens, approximately half of the cases showed tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins in a tumour-specific manner, and phosphorylation of these proteins showed good correlation with the survival length of patients after operation. By immunoprecipitation with specific antibodies, we found that p125FAK, p120 and beta-catenin were the major components of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in the surgical specimens. These results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins may play a role in tumour relapse and is available as a clinical marker.

Intestinal HT-29 cells with dysfunction of E-cadherin show increased pp60src activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of p120-catenin

1. HT-29 M6 cells are a subpopulation of HT-29 cells that, contrarily to the parental cells, establish tight cell contacts and differentiate. Cell-to-cell contacts in HT-29 M6 cells are also regulated by protein kinase C; addition of the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) decreases the homotypic contacts of these cells. We show here that HT-29 cells or HT-29 M6 cells treated with PMA contain lower levels of functional E-cadherin, determined by analysing the association of this protein with the cytoskeleton. No significant differences in the localization of alpha-, beta-, or p120-catenins were detected under the three different conditions. 2. Dysfunction of E-cadherin can be reversed by incubation of HT-29 cells with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A. On the other hand an augmentation of c-src activity in HT-29 cells or HT-29 M6 cells treated with PMA was observed with respect to control HT-29 M6 cells. The phosphorylation status of catenins was also investigated; in HT-29 or in HT-29 M6 cells treated with PMA, dysfunction of E-cadherin was accompanied by an increased phosphorylation of p120-catenin and by an elevated association of this protein to E-cadherin. These results suggest a role for pp60src and the pp60src substrate p120-catenin in the control of E-cadherin function in HT-29 cells.

An SH3 domain-containing GTPase-activating protein for Rho and Cdc42 associates with focal adhesion kinase

The integrin family of cell surface receptors mediates cell adhesion to components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Integrin engagement with the ECM initiates signaling cascades that regulate the organization of the actin-cytoskeleton and changes in gene expression. The Rho subfamily of Ras-related low-molecular-weight GTP-binding proteins and several protein tyrosine kinases have been implicated in mediating various aspects of integrin-dependent alterations in cell homeostasis. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK or pp125FAK) is one of the tyrosine kinases predicted to be a critical component of integrin signaling. To elucidate the mechanisms by which FAK participates in integrin-mediated signaling, we have used expression cloning to identify cDNAs that encode potential FAK-binding proteins. We report here the identification of a cDNA that encodes a new member of the GTPase-activating protein (GAP) family of GTPase regulators. This GAP, termed Graf (for GTPase regulator associated with FAK), binds to the C-terminal domain of FAK in an SH3 domain-dependent manner and preferentially stimulates the GTPase activity of the GTP-binding proteins RhoA and Cdc42. Subcellular localization studies using Graf-transfected chicken embryo cells indicates that Graf colocalizes with actin stress fibers, cortical actin structures, and focal adhesions. Graf mRNA is expressed in a variety of avian tissues and is particularly abundant in embryonic brain and liver. Graf represents the first example of a regulator of the Rho family of small GTP-binding proteins that exhibits binding to a protein tyrosine kinase. We suggest that Graf may function to mediate cross talk between the tyrosine kinases such as FAK and the Rho family GTPase that control steps in integrin-initiated signaling events.

Activation and association of Stat3 with Src in v-Src-transformed cell lines

STAT proteins are a group of latent cytoplasmic transcription factors which function as signal transducers and activators of transcription. Stat1 and -2 were originally identified to function in interferon signaling, and Stat1 was also found to be activated by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and other cytokines. New members of the STAT gene family are identified. Among them, Stat3 has 52.5% amino acid sequence homology with Stat1 and is activated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1), EGF, interleukin-6, and other cytokines. Treatment of cells with EGF activates Stat1 and Stat3, which become phosphorylated on tyrosine residues to form homo - or heterodimers and translocate into the nucleus, binding to the sis-inducible element (SIE) in the c-fos promoter. Somatic cell genetic analyses demonstrated that Jaks, a family of nontransmembrane protein tyrosine kinases, are required for the activation of Stat1 and Stat2 in interferon-treated cells. However, little is known about the activation of Stat3 by growth factors. Here we report that in all v-Src-transformed cell lines examined, Stat3 is constitutively activated to bind to DNA and the phosphorylation of tyrosine on Stat3 is enhanced by the induction of v-Src expression. We also report that Src is shown to be associated with Stat3 in vivo, as well as in vitro, and phosphorylates Stat3 in vitro. Stat3 is also activated by CSF-1, possibly through CSF-1 receptor-c Src association in NIH 3T3 cells overexpressing CSF-1 receptors. Together, the data suggest that Src is involved in activation of Stat3 in growth factor signal transduction.

Ornithine decarboxylase- and ras-induced cell transformations: reversal by protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors and role of pp130CAS

We have found that overexpression of human ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) induces cell transformation in NIH 3T3 and Rat-1 cells (M. Auvinen, A. Paasinen, L. C. Andersson, and E. Hölttä, Nature (London) 360:355-358, 1992). The ODC-transformed cells display increased levels of tyrosine phosphorylation, in particular of a cluster of 130-kDa proteins. Here we show that one of the proteins with enhanced levels of tyrosine phosphorylation in ODC-overexpressing cells is the previously described p130 substrate of pp60v-src, known to associate also with v-Crk and designated p130CAS. We also studied the role of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the ODC-induced cell transformation by exposing the cells to herbimycin A, a potent inhibitor of Src-family kinases, and to other inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinases. Treatment with the inhibitors reversed the phenotype of ODC-transformed cells to normal, with an organized, filamentous actin cytoskeleton. Coincidentally, the tyrosine hyperphosphorylation of p130 was markedly reduced, while the level of activity of ODC remained highly elevated. A similar reduction in pp130 phosphorylation and reversion of morphology by herbimycin A were observed in v-src- and c-Ha-ras-transformed cells. In addition, we show that expression of antisense mRNA for p130CAS resulted in reversion of the transformed phenotype of all these cell lines. An increased level of tyrosine kinase activity, not caused by c-Src or c-Abl, was further detected in the cytoplasmic fraction of ODC-transformed cells. Preliminary characteristics of this kinase are shown. These data indicate that p130CAS is involved in cell transformation by ODC, c-ras, and v-src oncogenes, raise the intriguing possibility that p130CAS may be generally required for transformation, and imply that there is at least one protein tyrosine kinase downstream of ODC that is instrumental for cell transformation.

Palmitoylation of either Cys-3 or Cys-5 is required for the biological activity of the Lck tyrosine protein kinase

Palmitoylation can regulate both the affinity for membranes and the biological activity of proteins. To study the importance of the palmitoylation of the Src-like tyrosine protein kinase p56lck in the function of the protein, Cys-3, Cys-5, or both were mutated to serine, and the mutant proteins were expressed stably in fibroblasts and T cells. Both Cys-3 and Cys-5 were apparent sites of palmitoylation in Lck expressed in fibroblasts, as only the simultaneous mutation of both Cys-3 and Cys-5 caused a large reduction in the incorporation of [3H]palmitic acid. The double mutant S3/5Lck was no longer membrane bound when examined by either immunofluorescence or cell fractionation. This indicated that palmitoylation was required for association of Lck with the plasma membrane. Since the S3/5Lck protein was myristoylated, myristoylation of Lck is not sufficient for membrane binding. When Cys-3, Cys-5, or both Cys-3 and Cys-5 were changed to serine in activated F505Lck, palmitoylation of either Cys-3 or Cys-5 was found to be necessary and sufficient for the transformation of fibroblasts and for the induction of spontaneous, antigen-independent interleukin-2 production in the T-helper cell line DO-11.10. Nonpalmitoylated F505Lck exhibited little activity in vivo, where it did not induce elevated levels of tyrosine phosphorylation, and in vitro, where it was unable to phosphorylate angiotensin in an in vitro kinase assay. These findings suggest that F505Lck must be anchored stably to membranes to become activated. Because palmitoylation is dynamic, it may be involved in regulating the cellular localization of p56(lck), and consequently its activity, by altering the proximity of p56(lck) to its activators and/or targets.

The tyrosine kinase substrate p120cas binds directly to E-cadherin but not to the adenomatous polyposis coli protein or alpha-catenin

The tyrosine kinase substrate p120cas (CAS), which is structurally similar to the cell adhesion proteins beta-catenin and plakoglobin, was recently shown to associate with the E-cadherin-catenin cell adhesion complex. beta-catenin, plakoglobin, and CAS all have an Arm domain that consists of 10 to 13 repeats of a 42-amino-acid motif originally described in the Drosophila Armadillo protein. To determine if the association of CAS with the cadherin cell adhesion machinery is similar to that of beta-catenin and plakoglobin, we examined the CAS-cadherin-catenin interactions in a number of cell lines and in the yeast two-hybrid system. In the prostate carcinoma cell line PC3, CAS associated normally with cadherin complexes despite the specific absence of alpha-catenin in these cells. However, in the colon carcinoma cell line SW480, which has negligible E-cadherin expression, CAS did not associate with beta-catenin, plakoglobin, or alpha-catenin, suggesting that E-cadherin is the protein which bridges CAS to the rest of the complex. In addition, CAS did not associate with the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor protein in any of the cell lines analyzed. Interestingly, expression of the various CAS isoforms was quite heterogeneous in these tumor cell lines, and in the colon carcinoma cell line HCT116, which expresses normal levels of E-cadherin and the catenins, the CAS1 isoforms were completely absent. By using the yeast two-hybrid system, we confirmed the direct interaction between CAS and E-cadherin and determined that CAS Arm repeats 1 to 10 are necessary and sufficient for this interaction. Hence, like beta-catenin and plakoglobin, CAS interacts directly with E-cadherin in vivo; however, unlike beta-catenin and plakoglobin, CAS does not interact with APC or alpha-catenin.

Tyrosine phosphorylation regulates the adhesions of ras-transformed breast epithelia

Transformed epithelial cells often are characterized by a fibroblastic or mesenchymal morphology. These cells exhibit altered cell-cell and cell-substrate interactions. Here we have identified changes in the adhesions and cytoskeletal interactions of transformed epithelial cells that contribute to their altered morphology. Using MCF-10A human breast epithelial cells as a model system, we have found that transformation by an activated form of ras is characterized by less developed adherens-type junctions between cells but increased focal adhesions. Contributing to the modified adherens junctions of the transformed cells are decreased interactions among beta-catenin, E-cadherin, and the actin cytoskeleton. The ras-transformed cells reveal elevated phosphotyrosine in many proteins, including beta-catenin and p120 Cas. Whereas in the normal cells beta-catenin is found in association with E-cadherin, p120 Cas is not. In the ras-transformed cells, the situation is reversed; tyrosine-phosphorylated p120 Cas, but not tyrosine-phosphorylated beta-catenin, now is detected in E-cadherin complexes. The tyrosine-phosphorylated beta-catenin also shows increased detergent solubility, suggesting a decreased association with the actin cytoskeleton. p120 Cas, whether tyrosine phosphorylated or not, partitions into the detergent soluble fraction, suggesting that it is not tightly bound to the actin cytoskeleton in either the normal or ras-transformed cells. Inhibitors of tyrosine kinases decrease the level of tyrosine phosphorylation and restore a normal epithelial morphology to the ras-transformed cells. In particular, decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of beta-catenin is accompanied by increased interaction with both E-cadherin and the detergent insoluble cytoskeletal fraction. These results suggest that elevated tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins such as beta-catenin and p120 Cas contribute to the altered adherens junctions of ras-transformed epithelia.

p120, a p120-related protein (p100), and the cadherin/catenin complex

Cadherins and catenins play an important role in cell-cell adhesion. Two of the catenins, beta and gamma, are members of a group of proteins that contains a repeating amino acid motif originally described for the Drosophila segment polarity gene armadillo. Another member of this group is a 120-kD protein termed p120, originally identified as a substrate of the tyrosine kinase pp60src. In this paper, we show that endothelial and epithelial cells express p120 and p100, a 100-kD, p120-related protein. Peptide sequencing of p100 establishes it as highly related to p120. p120 and p100 both appear associated with the cadherin/catenin complex, but independent p120/catenin and p100/catenin complexes can be isolated. This association is shown by coimmunoprecipitation of cadherins and catenins with an anti-p120/p100 antibody, and of p120/p100 with cadherin or catenin antibodies. Immunocytochemical analysis with a p120-specific antibody reveals junctional colocalization of p120 and beta-catenin in epithelial cells. Catenins and p120/p100 also colocalize in endothelial and epithelial cells in culture and in tissue sections. The cellular content of p120/p100 and beta-catenin is similar in MDCK cells, but only approximately 20% of the p120/p100 pool associates with the cadherin/catenin complex. Our data provide further evidence for interactions among the different arm proteins and suggest that p120/p100 may participate in regulating the function of cadherins and, thereby, other processes influenced by cell-cell adhesion.

The GTPase-activating protein of Ras suppresses platelet-derived growth factor beta receptor signaling by silencing phospholipase C-gamma 1

The beta receptor for platelet-derived growth factor (beta PDGFR) is activated by binding of PDGF and undergoes phosphorylation at multiple tyrosine residues. The tyrosine-phosphorylated receptor associates with numerous SH2-domain-containing proteins which include phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC gamma), the GTPase-activating protein of Ras (GAP), the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), the phosphotyrosine phosphatase Syp, and several other proteins. Our previous studies indicated that PI3K and PLC gamma were required for relay of the mitogenic signal of beta PDGFR, whereas GAP and Syp did not appear to be required for this response. In this study, we further investigated the role of GAP and Syp in mitogenic signaling by beta PDGFR. Focusing on the PLC gamma-dependent branch of beta PDGFR signaling, we constructed a series of mutant beta PDGFRs that contained the binding sites for pairs of the receptor-associated proteins: PLC gamma and PI3K, PLC gamma and GAP, or PLC gamma and Syp. Characterization of these mutants showed that while all receptors were catalytically active and bound similar amounts of PLC gamma, they differed dramatically in their ability to initiate DNA synthesis. This signaling deficiency related to an inability to efficiently tyrosine phosphorylate and activate PLC gamma. Surprisingly, the crippled receptor was the one that recruited PLC gamma and GAP. Thus, GAP functions to suppress signal relay by the beta PDGFR, and it does so by silencing PLC gamma. These findings demonstrate that the biological response to PDGF depends not only on the ability of the beta PDGFR to recruit signal relay enzymes but also on the blend of these receptor-associated proteins.