Actin cytoskeleton architecture and signaling in osmosensing

Characterization of Single-Cell Osmotic Swelling Dynamics for New Physical Biomarkers

Characterization of cell physical biomarkers is vital to understand cell properties and applicable for disease diagnostics. Current methods used to analyze physical phenotypes involve external forces to deform the cells. Alternatively, internal tension forces via osmotic swelling can also deform the cells. However, an established assumption contends that the forces generated during hypotonic swelling concentrated on the plasma membrane are incapable of assessing the physical properties of nucleated cells. Here, we utilized an osmotic swelling approach to characterize different types of nucleated cells. Using a microfluidic device for cell trapping arrays with truncated hanging micropillars (CellHangars), we isolated single cells and evaluated the swelling dynamics during the hypotonic challenge at 1 s time resolution. We demonstrated that cells with different mechanical phenotypes showed unique swelling dynamics signature. Different types of cells can be classified with an accuracy of up to ∼99%. We also showed that swelling dynamics can detect cellular mechanical property changes due to cytoskeleton disruption. Considering its simplicity, swelling dynamics offers an invaluable label-free physical biomarker for cells with potential applications in both biological studies and clinical practice.

Post-transcriptional air pollution oxidation to the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway promotes pulmonary stress phenotypes

The impact of environmentally-induced chemical changes in RNA has been fairly unexplored. Air pollution induces oxidative modifications such as 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoG) in RNAs of lung cells, which could be associated with premature lung dysfunction. We develop a method for 8-oxoG profiling using immunocapturing and RNA sequencing. We find 42 oxidized transcripts in bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells exposed to two air pollution mixtures that recreate urban atmospheres. We show that the FDFT1 transcript in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway is susceptible to air pollution-induced oxidation. This process leads to decreased transcript and protein expression of FDFT1, and reduced cholesterol synthesis in cells exposed to air pollution. Knockdown of FDFT1 replicates alterations seen in air pollution exposure such as transformed cell size and suppressed cytoskeleton organization. Our results argue of a possible novel biomarker and of an unseen mechanism by which air pollution selectively modifies key metabolic-related transcripts facilitating cell phenotypes in bronchial dysfunction.

Gonzales-Rivera et al. develop a method for 8-oxoG profiling using immunocapturing and RNA sequencing. They show that the FDFT1 transcript is susceptible to air pollution-induced oxidation, after identifying 42 transcripts that are differentially oxidized in bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells under air pollution conditions relative to clean air. FDFT1 oxidation affects cholesterol synthesis pathway, leading to phenotypes associated with several lung diseases.

Combined Dendritic and Axonal Deterioration Are Responsible for Motoneuronopathy in Patient-Derived Neuronal Cell Models of Chorea-Acanthocytosis

Chorea acanthocytosis (ChAc), an ultra-rare devastating neurodegenerative disease, is caused by mutations in the VPS13A gene, which encodes for the protein chorein. Affected patients suffer from chorea, orofacial dyskinesia, epilepsy, parkinsonism as well as peripheral neuropathy. Although medium spinal neurons of the striatum are mainly affected, other regions are impaired as well over the course of the disease. Animal studies as well as studies on human erythrocytes suggest Lyn-kinase inhibition as valuable novel opportunity to treat ChAc. In order to investigate the peripheral neuropathy aspect, we analyzed induced pluripotent stem cell derived midbrain/hindbrain cell cultures from ChAc patients in vitro. We observed dendritic microtubule fragmentation. Furthermore, by using in vitro live cell imaging, we found a reduction in the number of lysosomes and mitochondria, shortened mitochondria, an increase in retrograde transport and hyperpolarization as measured with the fluorescent probe JC-1. Deep phenotyping pointed towards a proximal axonal deterioration as the primary axonal disease phenotype. Interestingly, pharmacological interventions, which proved to be successful in different models of ChAc, were ineffective in treating the observed axonal phenotypes. Our data suggests that treatment of this multifaceted disease might be cell type and/or neuronal subtype specific, and thus necessitates precision medicine in this ultra-rare disease.

Functional characterization and anti-cancer action of the clinical phase II cardiac Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitor istaroxime: in vitro and in vivo properties and cross talk with the membrane androgen receptor

Sodium potassium pump (Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase) is a validated pharmacological target for the treatment of various cardiac conditions. Recent published data with Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase inhibitors suggest a potent anti-cancer action of these agents in multiple indications. In the present study, we focus on istaroxime, a Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase inhibitor that has shown favorable safety and efficacy properties in cardiac phase II clinical trials. Our experiments in 22 cancer cell lines and in prostate tumors in vivo proved the strong anti-cancer action of this compound. Istaroxime induced apoptosis, affected the key proliferative and apoptotic mediators c-Myc and caspase-3 and modified actin cystoskeleton dynamics and RhoA activity in prostate cancer cells. Interestingly, istaroxime was capable of binding to mAR, a membrane receptor mediating rapid, non-genomic actions of steroids in prostate and other cells. These results support a multi-level action of Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase inhibitors in cancer cells and collectively validate istaroxime as a strong re-purposing candidate for further cancer drug development.

Potential biological process of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein in renal cell carcinoma based upon differential protein expression analysis

The X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is the best characterized member of the IAP family and is a potent inhibitor of the caspase/apoptosis pathway. It has also been revealed that XIAP has additional biological functions that rely on its direct inhibition of apoptosis. In the present study, stably transfected Caki-1 cells with XIAP-knockdown were generated, and an isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation-based proteomics approach was employed to investigate the regulatory mechanism of XIAP in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The results demonstrate that the sensitivity of the RCC cell line to apoptotic stimulation increased markedly with XIAP-knockdown. A number of differentially expressed proteins were detected between the original Caki-1 cell line and the XIAP-knockdown Caki-1 cell line; 87 at 0 h (prior to etoposide treatment), 178 at 0.5 h and 169 at 3 h, while no differentially expressed proteins were detected (ratio >1.5 or <0.5; P<0.05) at 12 h after etoposide treatment. Through analysis of the differentially expressed proteins, it was revealed that XIAP may participate in the tumor protein p53 pathway, the Wnt signaling pathway, glucose metabolism, endoplasmic reticulum stress, cytoskeletal regulation and DNA repair. These results indicate that XIAP may have a number of biological functions and may provide an insight into the biomedical significance of XIAP overexpression in RCC.

LeftyA decreases Actin Polymerization and Stiffness in Human Endometrial Cancer Cells

LeftyA, a cytokine regulating stemness and embryonic differentiation, down-regulates cell proliferation and migration. Cell proliferation and motility require actin reorganization, which is under control of ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) and p21 protein-activated kinase 1 (PAK1). The present study explored whether LeftyA modifies actin cytoskeleton, shape and stiffness of Ishikawa cells, a well differentiated endometrial carcinoma cell line. The effect of LeftyA on globular over filamentous actin ratio was determined utilizing Western blotting and flow cytometry. Rac1 and PAK1 transcript levels were measured by qRT-PCR as well as active Rac1 and PAK1 by immunoblotting. Cell stiffness (quantified by the elastic modulus), cell surface area and cell volume were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). As a result, 2 hours treatment with LeftyA (25 ng/ml) significantly decreased Rac1 and PAK1 transcript levels and activity, depolymerized actin, and decreased cell stiffness, surface area and volume. The effect of LeftyA on actin polymerization was mimicked by pharmacological inhibition of Rac1 and PAK1. In the presence of the Rac1 or PAK1 inhibitor LeftyA did not lead to significant further actin depolymerization. In conclusion, LeftyA leads to disruption of Rac1 and Pak1 activity with subsequent actin depolymerization, cell softening and cell shrinkage.

Inhibition of SGK1 enhances mAR-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Functional membrane androgen receptors (mAR) have previously been described in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Their stimulation by specific testosterone albumin conjugates (TAC) activate rapidly non-genomic FAK/PI3K/Rac1/Cdc42 signaling, trigger actin reorganization and inhibit cell motility. PI3K stimulates serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase SGK1, which in turn regulates the function of mAR. In the present study we addressed the role of SGK1 in mAR-induced apoptosis. TAC-stimulated mAR activation elicited apoptosis of MCF-7 cells, an effect significantly potentiated by concomitant incubation of the cells with TAC and the specific SGK1 inhibitors EMD638683 and GSK650394. In line with this, TAC and EMD638683 activated caspase-3. These effects were insensitive to the classical androgen receptor (iAR) antagonist flutamide, pointing to iAR-independent, mAR-induced responses. mAR activation and SGK1 inhibition further considerably augmented the radiation-induced apoptosis of MCF-7 cells. Moreover, TAC- and EMD638683 triggered early actin polymerization in MCF-7 cells. Blocking actin restructuring with cytochalasin B abrogated the TAC- and EMD638683-induced pro-apoptotic responses. Further analysis of the molecular signaling revealed late de-phosphorylation of FAK and Akt. Our results demonstrate that mAR activation triggers pro-apoptotic responses in breast tumor cells, an effect significantly enhanced by SGK1 inhibition, involving actin reorganization and paralleled by down-regulation of FAK/Akt signaling.

Membrane androgen receptor sensitive Na+/H+ exchanger activity in prostate cancer cells

Membrane androgen receptors (mAR) are expressed in several tumors. mAR activation by testosterone albumin conjugates (TAC) suppresses tumor growth and migration. mAR signaling involves phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) and Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK). PI3K stimulates serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase SGK1, which in turn activates Na(+)/H(+)-exchangers (NHE). In prostate cancer cells cytosolic pH (pHi) was determined utilizing 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein-fluorescence and NHE-activity utilizing Na(+)-dependent cytosolic realkalinization following an ammonium pulse. TAC (100 nM) significantly increased pHi and NHE-activity, effects abrogated by NHE1-inhibitor cariporide (10 μM), SGK1-inhibitors EMD638683 (50 μM) and GSK650349 (10 μM) and ROCK-inhibitors Y-27632 (10 μM) and fasudil (100 μM). TAC treatment rapidly and significantly increased cell volume and actin polymerization, effects abolished in the presence of cariporide. Thus, mAR-activation activates cariporide-sensitive Na(+)/H(+)-exchangers, an effect requiring SGK1 and ROCK activity.

Testosterone induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells is regulated by PI3K/Rac1 signaling

Recently, it has been reported that testosterone membrane signaling regulates actin reorganization and induces pro-apoptotic responses in colon tumor cells. In the present study the membrane androgen receptors (mARs)-induced activation of Rac1 GTPase and the involvement of PI3K/Rac1 signaling in controlling the apoptotic responses in testosterone treated Caco2 colon cancer cells has been analyzed. In line with previous findings, activation of mAR by testosterone conjugates triggered early and transient actin reorganization as indicated by the significant decrease of the G/Total actin ratio after 15- and 30-min treatment of the cells. Interestingly, stimulation of mAR rapidly activated the Rac1 GTPase. This effect was evident after 15 min and persisted for at least 24 h. Testosterone induced Rac1 activation was fully blocked in Caco2 cells pre-treated with the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin, indicating that Rac1 signaling is acting downstream of the PI3K pathway. Remarkably, when cells were pre-treated with wortmannin that blocks the PI3K/Rac1 signaling, apoptotic response was almost fully inhibited. These finding suggest that Rac1 activation, triggering actin redistribution, is involved in testosterone induced pro-apoptotic responses governed by mAR activation and emphasize the regulatory role of PI3K/Rac1 signaling in colon tumors.

Chorein sensitivity of cytoskeletal organization and degranulation of platelets

Chorea-acanthocytosis (ChAc), a lethal disease caused by defective chorein, is characterized by neurodegeneration and erythrocyte acanthocytosis. The functional significance of chorein in other cell types remained ill-defined. The present study revealed chorein expression in blood platelets. As compared to platelets from healthy volunteers, platelets from patients with ChAc displayed a 47% increased globular/filamentous actin ratio, indicating actin depolymerization. Moreover, phosphoinositide-3-kinase subunit p85 phosphorylation, p21 protein-activated kinase (PAK1) phosphorylation, as well as vesicle-associated membrane protein 8 (VAMP8) expression were significantly reduced in platelets from patients with ChAc (by 17, 22, and 39%, respectively) and in megakaryocytic (MEG-01) cells following chorein silencing (by 16, 54, and 11%, respectively). Activation-induced platelet secretion from dense granules (ATP release) and α granules (P-selectin exposure) were significantly less (by 55% after stimulation with 1 μg/ml CRP and by 33% after stimulation with 5 μM TRAP, respectively) in ChAc platelets than in control platelets. Furthermore, platelet aggregation following stimulation with different platelet agonists was significantly impaired. These observations reveal a completely novel function of chorein, i.e., regulation of secretion and aggregation of blood platelets.

Serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase SGK1 regulates reorganization of actin cytoskeleton in mast cells upon degranulation

Aggregation of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) on mast cells (MCs) causes MC degranulation, a process that involves cortical F-actin disassembly. Actin depolymerization may be triggered by increase of cytosolic Ca(2+). Entry of Ca(2+) through the Ca(2+) release-activated Ca(2+) (CRAC) channels is under powerful regulation by the serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase SGK1. Moreover, FcεRI-dependent degranulation is decreased in SGK1-deficient (sgk1(-/-)) MCs. The present study addressed whether SGK1 is required for actin cytoskeleton rearrangement in MCs and whether modulation of actin architecture could underlie decreased degranulation of sgk1(-/-) MCs. Confirming previous results, release of β-hexosaminidase reflecting FcεRI-dependent degranulation was impaired in sgk1(-/-) MCs compared with sgk1(+/+) MCs. When CRAC channels were inhibited by 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB; 50 μM), MC degranulation was strongly decreased in both sgk1(+/+) and sgk1(-/-) MCs and the difference between genotypes was abolished. Moreover, degranulation was impaired by actin-stabilizing (phallacidin) and enhanced by actin-disrupting (cytochalasin B) agents to a similar extent in sgk1(+/+) MCs and sgk1(-/-) MCs, implying a regulatory role of actin reorganization in this event. In line with this, measurements of monomeric (G) and filamentous (F) actin content by FACS analysis and Western blotting of detergent-soluble and -insoluble cell fractions indicated an increase of the G/F-actin ratio in sgk1(+/+) MCs but not in sgk1(-/-) MCs upon FcεRI ligation, an observation reflecting actin depolymerization. In sgk1(+/+) MCs, FcεRI-induced actin depolymerization was abolished by 2-APB. The observed actin reorganization was confirmed by confocal laser microscopic analysis. Our observations uncover SGK1-dependent Ca(2+) entry in mast cells as a novel mechanism regulating actin cytoskeleton.

Cutaneous human papillomavirus type 38 E7 regulates actin cytoskeleton structure for increasing cell proliferation through CK2 and the eukaryotic elongation factor 1A

We previously reported that the oncoproteins E6 and E7 from cutaneous human papillomavirus type 38 (HPV38) can immortalize primary human keratinocytes in vitro and sensitize transgenic mice to develop skin cancer in vivo. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that human keratinocytes immortalized by HPV38 E6 and E7 display fewer actin stress fibers than do control primary keratinocyte cells, raising the possibility of a role of the viral oncoproteins in the remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. In this study, we show that HPV38 E7 induces actin stress fiber disruption and that this phenomenon correlates with its ability to downregulate Rho activity. The downregulation of Rho activity by HPV38 E7 is mediated through the activation of the CK2-MEK-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. In addition, HPV38 E7 is able to induce actin fiber disruption by binding directly to eukaryotic elongation factor 1A (eEF1A) and abolishing its effects on actin fiber formation. Finally, we found that the downregulation of Rho activity by HPV38 E7 through the CK2-MEK-ERK pathway facilitates cell growth proliferation. Taken together, our data support the conclusion that HPV38 E7 promotes keratinocyte proliferation in part by negatively regulating actin cytoskeleton fiber formation through the CK2-MEK-ERK-Rho pathway and by binding to eEF1A and inhibiting its effects on actin cytoskeleton remodeling.

Hydration-sensitive gene expression in brain

Dehydration has a profound influence on neuroexcitability. The mechanisms remained, however, incompletely understood. The present study addressed the effect of water deprivation on gene expression in the brain. To this end, animals were exposed to a 24 hours deprivation of drinking water and neuronal gene expression was determined by microarray technology with subsequent confirmation by RT-PCR. As a result, water deprivation was followed by significant upregulation of clathrin (light polypeptide Lcb), serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase (SGK) 1, and protein kinase A (PRKA) anchor protein 8-like. Water deprivation led to downregulation of janus kinase and microtubule interacting protein 1, neuronal PAS domain protein 4, thrombomodulin, purinergic receptor P2Y - G-protein coupled 13 gene, gap junction protein beta 1, neurotrophin 3, hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1, G protein-coupled receptor 19, CD93 antigen, forkhead box P1, suppressor of cytokine signaling 3, apelin, immunity-related GTPase family M, serine (or cysteine) peptidase inhibitor clade B member 1a, serine (or cysteine) peptidase inhibitor clade H member 1, glutathion peroxidase 8 (putative), discs large (Drosophila) homolog-associated protein 1, zinc finger and BTB domain containing 3, and H2A histone family member V. Western blotting revealed the downregulation of forkhead box P1, serine (or cysteine) peptidase inhibitor clade H member 1, and gap junction protein beta 1 protein abundance paralleling the respective alterations of transcript levels. In conclusion, water deprivation influences the transcription of a wide variety of genes in the brain, which may participate in the orchestration of brain responses to water deprivation.

Functional membrane androgen receptors in colon tumors trigger pro-apoptotic responses in vitro and reduce drastically tumor incidence in vivo

BACKGROUND

Membrane androgen receptors (mAR) have been implicated in the regulation of cell growth, motility and apoptosis in prostate and breast cancer. Here we analyzed mAR expression and function in colon cancer.

RESULTS

Using fluorescent mAR ligands we showed specific membrane staining in colon cell lines and mouse xenograft tumor tissues, while membrane staining was undetectable in healthy mouse colon tissues and non-transformed intestinal cells. Saturation/displacement assays revealed time- and concentration-dependent specific binding for testosterone with a KD of 2.9 nM. Stimulation of colon mAR by testosterone albumin conjugates induced rapid cytoskeleton reorganization and apoptotic responses, even in the presence of anti-androgens. The actin cytoskeleton drug cytochalasin B effectively inhibited the pro-apoptotic responses and caspase-3 activation. Interestingly, in vivo studies revealed that mAR activation resulted in a 65% reduction of tumor incidence in chemically induced Balb/c mice colon tumors.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate for the first time that functional mARs are predominantly expressed in colon tumors and that their activation results in induction of anti-tumor responses in vitro and extensive reduction of tumor incidence in vivo.

Corticotropin Releasing Factor promotes breast cancer cell motility and invasiveness

INTRODUCTION

Cancer cells secrete bioactive peptides that act in an autocrine or paracrine fashion affecting tumor growth and metastasis. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a hypothalamic neuropeptide that controls the response to stress, has been detected in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. CRF can affect breast cancer cells in an autocrine or paracrine manner via its production from innervating sympathetic neurons or immune cells.

METHODS

In the present study we report our findings regarding the impact of CRF on breast cancer cell motility and invasiveness. For this purpose we used the MCF7 breast cancer cell line and evaluated the effect of CRF on motility and invasiveness using the wound-healing and boyden-chamber assays. In addition, we measured the effect of CRF on molecules that mediate motility by western blot, immunofluorescence, ELISA and RT-PCR.

RESULTS

Our findings show that: 1. CRF transiently inhibited the apoptosis of MCF7 cells. 2. CRF enhanced MCF7 cell motility in a wound healing assay and their invasiveness through extracellular matrix. 3. CRF increased actin polymerization, phosphorylation of Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK), providing a potential mechanism for the observed induction of MCF7 motility. 4. CRF induced the expression of Cox-1 but not Cox-2 in MCF7 cells as well as the production of prostaglandins, factors known to promote invasiveness and metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Overall, our data suggest that CRF stimulates cell motility and invasiveness of MCF7 cells most probably via induction of FAK phosphorylation and actin filament reorganization and production of prostaglandins via Cox1. Based on these findings we postulate that the stress neuropeptide CRF present in the vicinity of tumors (either produced locally by the tumor cells themselves or by nearby normal cells or secreted from the innervations of surrounding tissues) may play an important role on breast tumor growth and metastatic capacity, providing a potential link between stress and tumor progression.

Desmethoxymajusculamide C, a cyanobacterial depsipeptide with potent cytotoxicity in both cyclic and ring-opened forms

Cytotoxicity-guided fractionation of the organic extract from a Fijian Lyngbya majuscula led to the discovery of desmethoxymajusculamide C (DMMC) as the active metabolite. Spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR, MS/MS, and chemical degradation and derivatization protocols were used to assign the planar structure and stereoconfiguration of this new cyclic depsipeptide. DMMC demonstrated potent and selective anti-solid tumor activity with an IC(50) = 20 nM against the HCT-116 human colon carcinoma cell line via disruption of cellular microfilament networks. A linear form of DMMC was generated by base hydrolysis, and the amino acid sequence was confirmed by mass spectrometry. Linearized DMMC was also evaluated in the biological assays and found to maintain potent actin depolymerization characteristics while displaying solid tumor selectivity equivalent to DMMC in the disk diffusion assay. A clonogenic assay assessing cytotoxicity to HCT-116 cells as a function of exposure duration showed that greater than 24 h of constant drug treatment was required to yield significant cell killing. Therapeutic studies with HCT-116 bearing SCID mice demonstrated efficacy at the highest dose used (%T/C = 60% at 0.62 mg/kg daily for 5 days).

Membrane androgen receptor activation triggers down-regulation of PI-3K/Akt/NF-kappaB activity and induces apoptotic responses via Bad, FasL and caspase-3 in DU145 prostate cancer cells

Background

Recently we have reported membrane androgen receptors-induced apoptotic regression of prostate cancer cells regulated by Rho/ROCK/actin signaling. In the present study we explored the specificity of these receptors and we analyzed downstream effectors controlling survival and apoptosis in hormone refractory DU145-prostate cancer cells stimulated with membrane androgen receptor-selective agonists.

Results

Using membrane impermeable conjugates of serum albumin covalently linked to testosterone, we show here down-regulation of the activity of pro-survival gene products, namely PI-3K/Akt and NF-κB, in DU145 cells. Testosterone-albumin conjugates further induced FasL expression. A FasL blocking peptide abrogated membrane androgen receptors-dependent apoptosis. In addition, testosterone-albumin conjugates increased caspase-3 and Bad protein activity. The actin cytoskeleton drug cytochalasin B and the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 inhibited FasL induction and caspase-3 activation, indicating that the newly identified Rho/Rock/actin signaling may regulate the downstream pro-apoptotic effectors in DU145 cells. Finally, other steroids or steroid-albumin conjugates did not interfere with these receptors indicating testosterone specificity.

Conclusion

Collectively, our results provide novel mechanistic insights pointing to specific pro-apoptotic molecules controlling membrane androgen receptors-induced apoptotic regression of prostate cancer cells and corroborate previously published observations on the potential use of membrane androgen receptor-agonists as novel anti-tumor agents in prostate cancer.

Activation of FAK/PI3K/Rac1 signaling controls actin reorganization and inhibits cell motility in human cancer cells

We have recently identified a specific signaling pathway that regulates actin reorganization in malignant human breast and prostate epithelial cells associated with FAK, PI-3K and Rac1 activation. Here we report that this pathway operates in MCF7 cells upon activation of membrane androgen receptors (mAR). Stimulation of mAR by the non-permeable testosterone-BSA conjugate resulted in early actin reorganization documented by quantitative measurements of actin dynamics and morphological analysis of microfilament organization. This effect was regulated by early phosphorylation of FAK and subsequent PI-3K and Rac1 activation. The functional role of this pathway was further shown in A375 melanoma cells. Treatment with the opioid antagonist alpha(s1) casomorphin resulted in rapid and potent actin remodeling in A375 cells, regulated by rapid activation of the FAK/PI-3K/Rac1 signaling. Pretreatment of both cell lines with the specific PI-3K inhibitor wortmannin blocked actin reorganization. Interestingly, wound healing assays revealed that testosterone-BSA and alpha (s1) casomorphin significantly inhibited MCF7 and A375 cell motility respectively. These effects were abrogated through blockade of PI-3K signaling by wortmannin. The results presented here indicate that actin reorganization through FAK/PI3-K/Rac-1 activation operates in various human cancer cell systems supporting a functional role for FAK/PI-3K/Rac1/actin signaling in controlling cell motility.