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Yang XM, Cao XY, He P, Li J, Feng MX, Zhang YL, Zhang XL, Wang YH, Yang Q, Zhu L, Nie HZ, Jiang SH, Tian GA, Zhang XX, Liu Q, Ji J, Zhu X, Xia Q, Zhang ZG. Overexpression of Rac GTPase Activating Protein 1 Contributes to Proliferation of Cancer Cells by Reducing Hippo Signaling to Promote Cytokinesis. Gastroenterology 2018; 155:1233-1249.e22. [PMID: 30009820 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Agents designed to block or alter cytokinesis can kill or stop proliferation of cancer cells. We aimed to identify cytokinesis-related proteins that are overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and might be targeted to slow liver tumor growth. METHODS Using the Oncomine database, we compared the gene expression patterns in 16 cancer microarray datasets and assessed gene enrichment sets using gene ontology. We performed immunohistochemical analysis of an HCC tissue microarray and identified changes in protein levels that are associated with patient survival times. Candidate genes were overexpressed or knocked down with small hairpin RNAs in SMMC7721, MHCC97H, or HCCLM3 cell lines; we analyzed their proliferation, viability, and clone-formation ability and their growth as subcutaneous or orthotopic xenograft tumors in mice. We performed microarray analyses to identify alterations in signaling pathways and immunoblot and immunofluorescence assays to detect and localize proteins in tissues. Yeast 2-hybrid screens and mass spectrometry combined with co-immunoprecipitation experiments were used to identify binding proteins. Protein interactions were validated with co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays. Chromatin immunoprecipitation, promoter luciferase activity, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses were used to identify factors that regulate transcription of specific genes. RESULTS The genes that were most frequently overexpressed in different types of cancer cells were involved in cell division processes. We identified 3 cytokinesis-regulatory proteins among the 10 genes most frequently overexpressed by all cancer cell types. Rac GTPase activating protein 1 (RACGAP1) was the cytokinesis-regulatory protein that was most highly overexpressed in multiple cancers. Increased expression of RACGAP1 in tumor tissues was associated with shorter survival times of patients with cancer. Knockdown of RACGAP1 in HCC cells induced cytokinesis failure and cell apoptosis. In microarray analyses, we found knockdown of RACGAP1 in SMMC7721 cells to reduce expression of genes regulated by yes-associated protein (YAP) and WW domain containing transcription regulator 1 (WWTR1 or TAZ). RACGAP1 reduced activation of the Hippo pathway in HCC cells by increasing activity of RhoA and polymerization of filamentous actin. Knockdown of YAP reduced phosphorylation of RACGAP1 and redistribution at the anaphase central spindle. We found transcription of the translocated promoter region, nuclear basket protein (TPR) to be regulated by YAP and coordinately expressed with RACGAP1 to promote proliferation of HCC cells. TPR redistributed upon nuclear envelope breakdown and formed complexes with RACGAP1 during mitosis. Knockdown of TPR in HCC cells reduced phosphorylation of RACGAP1 by aurora kinase B and impaired their redistribution at the central spindle during cytokinesis. STAT3 activated transcription of RACGAP in HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS In an analysis of gene expression patterns of multiple tumor types, we found RACGAP1 to be frequently overexpressed, which is associated with shorter survival times of patients. RACGAP1 promotes proliferation of HCC cells by reducing activation of the Hippo and YAP pathways and promoting cytokinesis in coordination with TPR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Mei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping He
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming-Xuan Feng
- Department of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan-Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xue-Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya-Hui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui-Zhen Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu-Heng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guang-Ang Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianguang Ji
- Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University Jan Waldenströms gata 35 Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Xuefeng Zhu
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Qiang Xia
- Department of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zhi-Gang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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Modelling Cooperative Tumorigenesis in Drosophila. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:4258387. [PMID: 29693007 PMCID: PMC5859872 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4258387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The development of human metastatic cancer is a multistep process, involving the acquisition of several genetic mutations, tumour heterogeneity, and interactions with the surrounding microenvironment. Due to the complexity of cancer development in mammals, simpler model organisms, such as the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster, are being utilized to provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms involved. In this review, we highlight recent advances in modelling tumorigenesis using the Drosophila model, focusing on the cooperation of oncogenes or tumour suppressors, and the interaction of mutant cells with the surrounding tissue in epithelial tumour initiation and progression.
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Willoughby LF, Manent J, Allan K, Lee H, Portela M, Wiede F, Warr C, Meng TC, Tiganis T, Richardson HE. Differential regulation of protein tyrosine kinase signalling by Dock and the PTP61F variants. FEBS J 2017; 284:2231-2250. [PMID: 28544778 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Revised: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent signalling is coordinated by the opposing actions of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). There is a growing list of adaptor proteins that interact with PTPs and facilitate the dephosphorylation of substrates. The extent to which any given adaptor confers selectivity for any given substrate in vivo remains unclear. Here we have taken advantage of Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism to explore the influence of the SH3/SH2 adaptor protein Dock on the abilities of the membrane (PTP61Fm)- and nuclear (PTP61Fn)-targeted variants of PTP61F (the Drosophila othologue of the mammalian enzymes PTP1B and TCPTP respectively) to repress PTK signalling pathways in vivo. PTP61Fn effectively repressed the eye overgrowth associated with activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), PTK, or the expression of the platelet-derived growth factor/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (PVR) or insulin receptor (InR) PTKs. PTP61Fn repressed EGFR and PVR-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling and attenuated PVR-induced STAT92E signalling. By contrast, PTP61Fm effectively repressed EGFR- and PVR-, but not InR-induced tissue overgrowth. Importantly, coexpression of Dock with PTP61F allowed for the efficient repression of the InR-induced eye overgrowth, but did not enhance the PTP61Fm-mediated inhibition of EGFR and PVR-induced signalling. Instead, Dock expression increased, and PTP61Fm coexpression further exacerbated the PVR-induced eye overgrowth. These results demonstrate that Dock selectively enhances the PTP61Fm-mediated attenuation of InR signalling and underscores the specificity of PTPs and the importance of adaptor proteins in regulating PTP function in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jan Manent
- Department of Biochemistry & Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kirsten Allan
- Department of Biochemistry & Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Han Lee
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, and Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Marta Portela
- Department of Biochemistry & Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Florian Wiede
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Coral Warr
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tzu-Ching Meng
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, and Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tony Tiganis
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Helena E Richardson
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry & Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Tissue growth and tumorigenesis in Drosophila: cell polarity and the Hippo pathway. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2017; 48:1-9. [PMID: 28364663 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2017.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cell polarity regulation is critical for defining membrane domains required for the establishment and maintenance of the apical-basal axis in epithelial cells (apico-basal polarity), asymmetric cell divisions, planar organization of tissues (planar cell polarity), and the formation of the front-rear axis in cell migration (front-rear polarity). In the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster, cell polarity regulators also interact with the Hippo tissue growth control signaling pathway. In this review we survey the recent Drosophila literature linking cell polarity regulators with the Hippo pathway in epithelial tissue growth, neural stem cell asymmetric divisions and in cell migration in physiological and tumorigenic settings.
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Ercolani L, Scirè A, Galeazzi R, Massaccesi L, Cianfruglia L, Amici A, Piva F, Urbanelli L, Emiliani C, Principato G, Armeni T. A possible S-glutathionylation of specific proteins by glyoxalase II: An in vitro and in silico study. Cell Biochem Funct 2017; 34:620-627. [PMID: 27935136 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Revised: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Glyoxalase II, the second of 2 enzymes in the glyoxalase system, is a hydroxyacylglutathione hydrolase that catalyses the hydrolysis of S-d-lactoylglutathione to form d-lactic acid and glutathione, which is released from the active site. The tripeptide glutathione is the major sulfhydryl antioxidant and has been shown to control several functions, including S-glutathionylation of proteins. S-Glutathionylation is a way for the cells to store reduced glutathione during oxidative stress, or to protect protein thiol groups from irreversible oxidation, and few enzymes involved in protein S-glutathionylation have been found to date. In this work, the enzyme glyoxalase II and its substrate S-d-lactoylglutathione were incubated with malate dehydrogenase or with actin, resulting in a glutathionylation reaction. Glyoxalase II was also submitted to docking studies. Computational data presented a high propensity of the enzyme to interact with malate dehydrogenase or actin through its catalytic site and further in silico investigation showed a high folding stability of glyoxalase II toward its own reaction product glutathione both protonated and unprotonated. This study suggests that glyoxalase II, through a specific interaction of its catalytic site with target proteins, could be able to perform a rapid and specific protein S-glutathionylation using its natural substrate S-d-lactoylglutathione. SIGNIFICANCE This article reports for the first time a possible additional role of Glo2 that, after interacting with a target protein, is able to promote S-glutathionylation using its natural substrate SLG, a glutathione derived compound. In this perspective, Glo2 can play a new important regulatory role inS-glutathionylation, acquiring further significance in cellular post-translational modifications of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Ercolani
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, Biology and Physics, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Andrea Scirè
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Roberta Galeazzi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Luca Massaccesi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Laura Cianfruglia
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, Biology and Physics, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Adolfo Amici
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, Biology and Physics, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Piva
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, Biology and Physics, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Lorena Urbanelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Carla Emiliani
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Principato
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, Biology and Physics, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Tatiana Armeni
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, Biology and Physics, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
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Abbassi L, Malki S, Cockburn K, Macaulay A, Robert C, Rossant J, Clarke HJ. Multiple Mechanisms Cooperate to Constitutively Exclude the Transcriptional Co-Activator YAP from the Nucleus During Murine Oogenesis. Biol Reprod 2016; 94:102. [PMID: 26985001 PMCID: PMC4939736 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.115.137968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproduction depends on the generation of healthy oocytes. Improving therapeutic strategies to prolong or rescue fertility depends on identifying the inter- and intracellular mechanisms that direct oocyte development under physiological conditions. Growth and proliferation of multiple cell types is regulated by the Hippo signaling pathway, whose chief effectors are the transcriptional co-activator YAP and its paralogue WWTR1. To resolve conflicting results concerning the potential role of Hippo in mammalian oocyte development, we systematically investigated the expression and localization of YAP in mouse oocytes. We report that that YAP is expressed in the germ cells beginning as early as Embryonic Day 15.5 and subsequently throughout pre- and postnatal oocyte development. However, YAP is restricted to the cytoplasm at all stages. YAP is phosphorylated at serine-112 in growing and fully grown oocytes, identifying a likely mechanistic basis for its nuclear exclusion, and becomes dephosphorylated at this site during meiotic maturation. Phosphorylation at serine-112 is regulated by a mechanism dependent on cyclic AMP and protein kinase A, which is known to be active in oocytes prior to maturation. Growing oocytes also contain a subpopulation of YAP, likely dephosphorylated, that is able enter the oocyte nucleus, but it is not retained there, implying that oocytes lack the cofactors required to retain YAP in the nucleus. Thus, although YAP is expressed throughout oocyte development, phosphorylation-dependent and -independent mechanisms cooperate to ensure that it does not accumulate in the nucleus. We conclude that nuclear YAP does not play a significant physiological role during oocyte development in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laleh Abbassi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Safia Malki
- Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Katie Cockburn
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Angus Macaulay
- Département des sciences animales, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Claude Robert
- Département des sciences animales, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Janet Rossant
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Hugh J Clarke
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada Department of Biology, McGill University, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
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Kwon HJ, Waghmare I, Verghese S, Singh A, Singh A, Kango-Singh M. Drosophila C-terminal Src kinase regulates growth via the Hippo signaling pathway. Dev Biol 2014; 397:67-76. [PMID: 25446534 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2014.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2014] [Revised: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The Hippo signaling pathway is involved in regulating tissue size by inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis. Aberrant Hippo pathway function is often detected in human cancers and correlates with poor prognosis. The Drosophila C-terminal Src kinase (d-Csk) is a genetic modifier of warts (wts), a tumor-suppressor gene in the Hippo pathway, and interacts with the Src oncogene. Reduction in d-Csk expression and the consequent activation of Src are frequently seen in several cancers including hepatocellular and colorectal tumors. Previous studies show that d-Csk regulates cell proliferation and tissue size during development. Given the similarity in the loss-of-function phenotypes of d-Csk and wts, we have investigated the interactions of d-Csk with the Hippo pathway. Here we present multiple lines of evidence suggesting that d-Csk regulates growth via the Hippo signaling pathway. We show that loss of dCsk caused increased Yki activity, and our genetic epistasis places dCsk downstream of Dachs. Furthermore, dCsk requires Yki for its growth regulatory functions, suggesting that dCsk is another upstream member of the network of genes that interact to regulate Wts and its effector Yki in the Hippo signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailey J Kwon
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469, USA
| | | | - Shilpi Verghese
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469, USA
| | - Aditi Singh
- Centerville High School, Centerville, OH 45459, USA
| | - Amit Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469, USA; Center for Tissue Regeneration and Engineering at Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469, USA; Premedical Programs, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469, USA
| | - Madhuri Kango-Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469, USA; Center for Tissue Regeneration and Engineering at Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469, USA; Premedical Programs, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469, USA.
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Abstract
Morphogenesis is the remarkable process by which cells self-assemble into complex tissues and organs that exhibit specialized form and function during embryological development. Many of the genes and chemical cues that mediate tissue and organ formation have been identified; however, these signals alone are not sufficient to explain how tissues and organs are constructed that exhibit their unique material properties and three-dimensional forms. Here, we review work that has revealed the central role that physical forces and extracellular matrix mechanics play in the control of cell fate switching, pattern formation, and tissue development in the embryo and how these same mechanical signals contribute to tissue homeostasis and developmental control throughout adult life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadanori Mammoto
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115;
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Khoo P, Allan K, Willoughby L, Brumby AM, Richardson HE. In Drosophila, RhoGEF2 cooperates with activated Ras in tumorigenesis through a pathway involving Rho1-Rok-Myosin-II and JNK signalling. Dis Model Mech 2013; 6:661-78. [PMID: 23324326 PMCID: PMC3634650 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.010066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ras oncogene contributes to ≈ 30% of human cancers, but alone is not sufficient for tumorigenesis. In a Drosophila screen for oncogenes that cooperate with an activated allele of Ras (Ras(ACT)) to promote tissue overgrowth and invasion, we identified the GTP exchange factor RhoGEF2, an activator of Rho-family signalling. Here, we show that RhoGEF2 also cooperates with an activated allele of a downstream effector of Ras, Raf (Raf(GOF)). We dissect the downstream pathways through which RhoGEF2 cooperates with Ras(ACT) (and Raf(GOF)), and show that RhoGEF2 requires Rho1, but not Rac, for tumorigenesis. Furthermore, of the Rho1 effectors, we show that RhoGEF2 + Ras (Raf)-mediated tumorigenesis requires the Rho kinase (Rok)-Myosin-II pathway, but not Diaphanous, Lim kinase or protein kinase N. The Rho1-Rok-Myosin-II pathway leads to the activation of Jun kinase (JNK), in cooperation with Ras(ACT). Moreover, we show that activation of Rok or Myosin II, using constitutively active transgenes, is sufficient for cooperative tumorigenesis with Ras(ACT), and together with Ras(ACT) leads to strong activation of JNK. Our results show that Rok-Myosin-II activity is necessary and sufficient for Ras-mediated tumorigenesis. Our observation that activation of Myosin II, which regulates Filamentous actin (F-actin) contractility without affecting F-actin levels, cooperates with Ras(ACT) to promote JNK activation and tumorigenesis, suggests that increased cell contractility is a key factor in tumorigenesis. Furthermore, we show that signalling via the Tumour necrosis factor (TNF; also known as Egr)-ligand-JNK pathway is most likely the predominant pathway that activates JNK upon Rok activation. Overall, our analysis highlights the need for further analysis of the Rok-Myosin-II pathway in cooperation with Ras in human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peytee Khoo
- Cell Cycle and Development Laboratory, Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Lee NP. The Blood-Biliary Barrier, Tight Junctions and Human Liver Diseases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2013; 763:171-85. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-4711-5_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Külshammer E, Uhlirova M. The actin cross-linker Filamin/Cheerio mediates tumor malignancy downstream of JNK signaling. J Cell Sci 2012; 126:927-38. [PMID: 23239028 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.114462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell shape dynamics, motility, and cell proliferation all depend on the actin cytoskeleton. Malignant cancer cells hijack the actin network to grow and migrate to secondary sites. Understanding the function of actin regulators is therefore of major interest. In the present study, we identify the actin cross-linking protein Filamin/Cheerio (Cher) as a mediator of malignancy in genetically defined Drosophila tumors. We show that in invasive tumors, resulting from cooperation of activated Ras with disrupted epithelial cell polarity, Cher is upregulated in a Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-dependent manner. Although dispensable in normal epithelium, Cher becomes required in the tumor cells for their growth and invasiveness. When deprived of Cher, these tumor clones lose their full potential to proliferate and breach tissue boundaries. Instead, the Cher-deficient clones remain confined within the limits of their source epithelium, permitting survival of the host animal. Through interaction with the myosin II heavy chain subunit, Cher is likely to strengthen the cortical actomyosin network and reinforce mechanical tension within the invasive tumors. Accordingly, Cher is required for aberrant expression of genes downstream of the Hippo/Yorkie signaling in the tumor tissue. Our study identifies Cher as a new target of JNK signaling that links cytoskeleton dynamics to tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Külshammer
- Institute for Genetics and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
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Schroeder MC, Halder G. Regulation of the Hippo pathway by cell architecture and mechanical signals. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2012; 23:803-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2012.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2012] [Revised: 06/09/2012] [Accepted: 06/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Hippo signaling: A hub of growth control, tumor suppression and pluripotency maintenance. J Genet Genomics 2011; 38:471-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2011.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2011] [Revised: 09/02/2011] [Accepted: 09/12/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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