Specific decrease in the level of Hic-5, a focal adhesion protein, during immortalization of mouse embryonic fibroblasts, and its association with focal adhesion kinase

Hic-5 is a paxillin homologue with four LIM domains in its C-terminal region, localized mainly in focal adhesions in normal fibroblasts. Hic-5 is also known to associate with focal adhesion kinase (FAK) or the related CAKbeta, and with vinculin. In the present study, we examined changes in Hic-5 and paxillin protein levels in primary mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEF) during mortal and immortal stages. The Hic-5 level was markedly decreased when cells became immortalized, whereas that of paxillin was increased. The vinculin level was not changed significantly. Hic-5 was mainly localized in focal adhesion plaques of mortal MEF but was localized in the nuclear periphery in the immortalized MEF; the number of focal adhesion plaques was decreased in these cells. Mouse Hic-5 contains three LD domains in its N-terminal half, and the first LD domain (LD1) appears to be involved in interaction with FAK. However, this interaction was not essential for recruitment of Hic-5 to focal adhesions, since its subcellular localization was similar in FAK(-/-) cells. Forced expression of Hic-5 decreased colony forming ability of MEF from FAK(+/+) mice, but not of FAK(-/-) cells. These observations suggested the involvement of Hic-5 in determination of cellular proliferative capacity in collaboration with other cytoskeletal components.     

FAK nuclear export signal sequences

Ubiquitously expressed focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a critical component in transducing signals from sites of cell contacts with extracellular matrix, was named after its typical localization in focal adhesions. A nuclear localization of FAK has been also reported and its scaffolding role in nucleus and requirement for p53 ubiquitination were only recently described. Whereas FAK nuclear localization signal (NLS) was found in F2 lobe of FERM domain, nuclear export signal (NES) sequences have not been yet determined. Here we demonstrate that FAK has two NES sequences, NES1 in F1 lobe of FERM domain and NES2 in kinase domain. Although, both NES1 and NES2 are evolutionary conserved, and present as well in FAK-related protein kinase Pyk2, only NES2 demonstrates full biological nuclear export activity.     

LIM domain protein Trip6 has a conserved nuclear export signal, nuclear targeting sequences, and multiple transactivation domains

Trip6 is a member of a subfamily of LIM domain proteins, including also zyxin, LPP, Ajuba, and Hic-5, which localize primarily to focal adhesion plaques. However, in this report, we demonstrate that Trip6 is largely in the nucleus in cells treated with leptomycin B, suggesting that Trip6 shuttles between nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments and that nuclear export of Trip6 is dependent on Crm1. Consistent with this finding, we have identified a nuclear export signal (NES) in Trip6, and mutation of this NES also results in sequestration of Trip6 in the nucleus. Addition of the Trip6 NES to the nuclear v-Rel oncoprotein redirects v-Rel to the cytoplasm. Trip6 also has at least two sequences that can direct cytoplasmic beta-galactosidase to the nucleus. Using GAL4 fusion proteins and reporter gene assays, we demonstrate that Trip6 has multiple transactivation domains, including one that appears to overlap with sequences of the NES. In vitro- or in vivo-synthesized Trip6, however, does not bind to DNA-cellulose. Taken together, these results are consistent with Trip6, and other members of this LIM protein family, having a role in relaying signals between focal adhesion plaques and the nucleus.     

Oligomerizing potential of a focal adhesion LIM protein Hic-5 organizing a nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling complex

Hic-5 is a focal adhesion LIM protein serving as a scaffold in integrin signaling. The protein comprises four LD domains in its N-terminal half and four LIM domains in its C-terminal half with a nuclear export signal in LD3 and is shuttled between the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments. In this study, immunoprecipitation and in vitro cross-linking experiments showed that Hic-5 homo-oligomerized through its most C-terminal LIM domain, LIM4. Strikingly, paxillin, the protein most homologous to Hic-5, did not show this capability. Gel filtration analysis also revealed that Hic-5 differs from paxillin in that it has multiple forms in the cellular environment, and Hic-5 but not paxillin was capable of hetero-oligomerization with a LIM-only protein, PINCH, another molecular scaffold at focal adhesions. The fourth LIM domain of Hic-5 and the fifth LIM domain region of PINCH constituted the interface for the interaction. The complex included integrin-linked kinase, a binding partner of PINCH, which also interacted with Hic-5 through the region encompassing the pleckstrin homology-like domain and LIM domains of Hic-5. Of note, Hic-5 marginally affected the subcellular distribution of PINCH but directed its shuttling between the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments in the presence of integrin-linked kinase. Uncoupling of the two signaling platforms of Hic-5 and PINCH through interference with the hetero-oligomerization resulted in impairment of cellular growth. Hic-5 is, thus, a molecular scaffold with the potential to dock with another scaffold through the LIM domain, organizing a mobile supramolecular unit and coordinating the adhesion signal with cellular activities in the two compartments.     

Hic-5 promotes endothelial cell migration to lysophosphatidic acid

Endothelial cell migration is critical for proper blood vessel development. Signals from growth factors and matrix proteins are integrated through focal adhesion proteins to alter cell migration. Hydrogen peroxide-inducible clone 5 (Hic-5), a paxillin family member, is enriched in the focal adhesions in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial (BPAE) cells, which migrate to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) on denatured collagen. In this study, we investigate the role of Hic-5 in LPA-stimulated endothelial cell migration. LPA recruits Hic-5 to the focal adhesions and to the pseudopodia in BPAE cells plated on collagen, suggesting that recruitment of Hic-5 to focal adhesions is associated with endothelial cell migration. Knockdown of endogenous Hic-5 significantly decreases migration toward LPA, confirming involvement of Hic-5 in migration. To address the role of Hic-5 in endothelial cell migration, we exogenously expressed wild-type (WT) Hic-5 and green fluorescent protein Hic-5 C369A/C372A (LIM3 mutant) constructs in BPAE cells. WT Hic-5 expression increases chemotaxis of BPAE cells to LPA, whereas migration toward LPA of the green fluorescent protein Hic-5 C369A/C372A-expressing cells is similar to that shown in vector control cells. Additionally, ERK phosphorylation is enhanced in the presence of LPA in WT Hic-5 cells. A pharmacological inhibitor of MEK activity inhibits LPA-stimulated WT Hic-5 cell migration and ERK phosphorylation, suggesting Hic-5 enhances migration via MEK activation of ERK. Together, these studies indicate that Hic-5, a focal adhesion protein in endothelial cells, is recruited to the pseudopodia in the presence of LPA and enhances migration.     

Differential roles of HIC-5 isoforms in the regulation of cell death and myotube formation during myogenesis

Hic-5 is a LIM-Only member of the paxillin superfamily of focal adhesion proteins. It has been shown to regulate a range of biological processes including: senescence, tumorigenesis, steroid hormone action, integrin signaling, differentiation, and apoptosis. To better understand the roles of Hic-5 during development, we initiated a detailed analysis of Hic-5 expression and function in C(2)C(12) myoblasts, a well-established model for myogenesis. We have found that: (1) myoblasts express at least 6 distinct Hic-5 isoforms; (2) the two predominant isoforms, Hic-5alpha and Hic-5beta, are differentially expressed during myogenesis; (3) any experimentally induced change in Hic-5 expression results in a substantial increase in apoptosis during differentiation; (4) ectopic expression of Hic-5alpha is permissive to differentiation while expression of either Hic-5beta or antisense Hic-5 blocks myoblast fusion but not chemodifferentiation; (5) Hic-5 localizes to focal adhesions in C(2)C(12) myoblasts and perturbation of Hic-5 leads to defects in cell spreading; (6) alterations in Hic-5 expression interfere with the normal dynamics of laminin expression; and (7) ectopic laminin, but not fibronectin, can rescue the Hic-5-induced blockade of myoblast survival and differentiation. Our data demonstrate differential roles for individual Hic-5 isoforms during myogenesis and support the hypothesis that Hic-5 mediates these effects via integrin signaling.     

The focal adhesion protein Hic-5 is highly expressed in the rat myometrium during late pregnancy and labour and co-localizes with FAK

Background  

Myometrial growth and remodeling of the cytoskeleton and focal adhesions during late pregnancy may be critical aspects of myometrial activation and thus labour. Yet our understanding of these aspects is inhibited by the paucity of information concerning the components of focal adhesions in the myometrium. The focal adhesion protein hydrogen peroxide-inducible clone-5 (Hic-5) has recently been found in mononuclear smooth muscle but was not examined in the myometrium during pregnancy. Thus, the goal of this study was to characterize Hic-5 mRNA and protein expression in the rat myometrium during pregnancy and labour.     

Distinct LIM domains of Hic-5/ARA55 are required for nuclear matrix targeting and glucocorticoid receptor binding and coactivation

Hydrogen peroxide-inducible clone-5 (Hic-5), belongs to the group III LIM domain protein family and contains four carboxyl-terminal LIM domains (LIM1-LIM4). In addition to its role in focal adhesion signaling, Hic-5 acts in the nucleus as a coactivator for some steroid hormone receptors such as the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and androgen receptor (AR). Based upon its effect on AR transactivation, Hic-5 has also been designated as ARA55. Here, we report mapping studies of Hic-5/ARA55 functional domains and establish that LIM3 and LIM4 are necessary for maximal effects on GR transactivation. However, results from yeast two-hybrid assays demonstrated that these two LIM domains together, while necessary, are not sufficient to interact with the tau2 transactivation domain of GR. LIM4 also functions as a nuclear matrix targeting sequence (NMTS) for Hic-5/ARA55, as it is both necessary and sufficient to target a heterologous protein to the nuclear matrix. Thus, as suggested from previous analysis of LIM domain-containing proteins, separate but highly related LIM domains serve distinct functions.     

Tyrosine-phosphorylated Hic-5 inhibits epidermal growth factor-induced lamellipodia formation

The focal adhesion protein Hic-5, a homologue to paxillin, has been shown to be tyrosine-phosphorylated in fibroblasts in response to stimuli such as osmotic stress, serum, LPA and endothelin. However, the function of this modification to Hic-5 is unclear. Herein, we show that Hic-5 is tyrosine-phosphorylated on residues 38 and 60 following epidermal growth factor (EGF) treatment of COS-7 cells, coincident with an increase in peripheral actin reorganization. To explore the role of Hic-5 phosphorylation in this process, we introduced wild-type (WT) and mutant Hic-5 constructs into COS-7 cells and determined that EGF-induced lamellipodia formation was suppressed by WT Hic-5. This effect required localization to focal adhesions as well as phosphorylation of Hic-5 as overexpression of both a non-targeting and a non-phosphorylatable Hic-5 failed to inhibit peripheral actin reorganization. Interestingly, overexpression of non-phosphorylatable Y31/118F or WT paxillin did not affect lamellipodia formation, indicating that this effect is specific to Hic-5. The EGF-induced lamellipodia were Rac-dependent and overexpressed WT Hic-5, but not non-phosphorylatable Hic-5 inhibited Rac activation. Our data suggest that Hic-5 tyrosine phosphorylation functions to regulate signaling associated with lamellipodia formation, a process fundamental to cell motility.     

Competitive nuclear export of cyclin D1 and Hic-5 regulates anchorage dependence of cell growth and survival

Anchorage dependence of cell growth and survival is a critical trait that distinguishes nontransformed cells from transformed cells. We demonstrate that anchorage dependence is determined by anchorage-dependent nuclear retention of cyclin D1, which is regulated by the focal adhesion protein, Hic-5, whose CRM1-dependent nuclear export counteracts that of cyclin D1. An adaptor protein, PINCH, interacts with cyclin D1 and Hic-5 and potentially serves as an interface for the competition between cyclin D1 and Hic-5 for CRM1. In nonadherent cells, the nuclear export of Hic-5, which is redox-sensitive, was interrupted due to elevated production of reactive oxygen species, and cyclin D1 was exported from the nucleus. When an Hic-5 mutant that was continuously exported in a reactive oxygen species-insensitive manner was introduced into the cells, cyclin D1 was retained in the nucleus under nonadherent conditions, and a significant population of cells escaped from growth arrest or apoptosis. Interestingly, activated ras achieved predominant cyclin D1 nuclear localization and thus, growth in nonadherent cells. We report a failsafe system for anchorage dependence of cell growth and survival.     

Hic-5, a paxillin homologue, binds to the protein-tyrosine phosphatase PEST (PTP-PEST) through its LIM 3 domain

The Hic-5 protein is encoded by a transforming growth factor-beta1- and hydrogen peroxide-inducible gene, hic-5, and has striking similarity to paxillin, especially in their C-terminal LIM domains. Like paxillin, Hic-5 is localized in focal adhesion plaques in association with focal adhesion kinase in cultured fibroblasts. We carried out yeast two-hybrid screening to identify cellular factors that form a complex with Hic-5 using its LIM domains as a bait, and we identified a cytoplasmic tyrosine phosphatase (PTP-PEST) as one of the partners of Hic-5. These two proteins are associated in mammalian cells. From in vitro binding experiments using deletion and point mutations, it was demonstrated that the essential domain in Hic-5 for the binding was LIM 3. As for PTP-PEST, one of the five proline-rich sequences found on PTP-PEST, Pro-2, was identified as the binding site for Hic-5 in in vitro binding assays. Paxillin also binds to the Pro-2 domain of PTP-PEST. In conclusion, Hic-5 may participate in the regulation of signaling cascade through its interaction with distinct tyrosine kinases and phosphatases.     

Hic-5-Reduced Cell Spreading on Fibronectin: Competitive Effects between Paxillin and Hic-5 through Interaction with Focal Adhesion Kinase

Hic-5 is a paxillin homologue that is localized to focal adhesion complexes. Hic-5 and paxillin share structural homology and interacting factors such as focal adhesion kinase (FAK), Pyk2/CAKbeta/RAFTK, and PTP-PEST. Here, we showed that Hic-5 inhibits integrin-mediated cell spreading on fibronectin in a competitive manner with paxillin in NIH 3T3 cells. The overexpression of Hic-5 sequestered FAK from paxillin, reduced tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin and FAK, and prevented paxillin-Crk complex formation. In addition, Hic-5-mediated inhibition of spreading was not observed in mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from FAK(-/-) mice. The activity of c-Src following fibronectin stimulation was decreased by about 30% in Hic-5-expressing cells, and the effect of Hic-5 was restored by the overexpression of FAK and the constitutively active forms of Rho-family GTPases, Rac1 V12 and Cdc42 V12, but not RhoA V14. These observations suggested that Hic-5 inhibits cell spreading through competition with paxillin for FAK and subsequent prevention of downstream signal transduction. Moreover, expression of antisense Hic-5 increased spreading in primary MEFs. These results suggested that the counterbalance of paxillin and Hic-5 expression may be a novel mechanism regulating integrin-mediated signal transduction.     

Expression of Focal Adhesion Proteins in the Developing Rat Kidney

Focal adhesions play a critical role as centers that transduce signals by cell-matrix interactions and regulate fundamental processes such as proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), paxillin, integrin-linked kinase (ILK), and hydrogen peroxide–inducible clone-5 (Hic-5) are major proteins that contribute to these events. In this study, we investigated the expression of focal adhesion proteins in the developing rat kidney. Western blotting analysis revealed that the protein levels of FAK, p-FAK³⁹⁷, paxillin, p-paxillin¹¹⁸, and Hic-5 were high in embryonic kidneys, while ILK expression persisted from the embryonic to the mature stage. Immunohistochemistry revealed that FAK, p-FAK³⁹⁷, paxillin, and p-paxillin¹¹⁸ were strongly expressed in condensed mesenchymal cells and the ureteric bud. They were detected in elongating tubules and immature glomerular cells in the nephrogenic zone. Hic-5 was predominantly expressed in mesenchymal cells as well as immature glomerular endothelial and mesangial cells, suggesting that Hic-5 might be involved in mesenchymal cell development. ILK expression was similar to that of FAK in the developmental stages. Interestingly, ILK was strongly expressed in podocytes in mature glomeruli. ILK might play a role in epithelial cell differentiation as well as kidney growth and morphogenesis. In conclusion, the temporospatially regulated expression of focal adhesion proteins during kidney development might play a role in morphogenesis and cell differentiation.     

Hic-5, an adaptor protein expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells, modulates the arterial response to injury in vivo

Focal adhesion components are targets for biochemical and mechanical stimuli that evoke crucial injury. Hic-5 (hydrogen peroxide-inducible clone 5) is a multidomain adaptor protein which is implicated in the regulation of integrin signaling in focal adhesion. The aim of this research was to test the hypothesis that Hic-5, a focal adhesion LIM protein expressed in smooth muscle cells, is involved in dynamic processes by pathological stimuli in the vessel wall. Here, we describe the analysis of the function of Hic-5 using a mouse model of vascular injury that may mimic balloon angioplasty. At 4 days after vascular injury, marked down-regulation of the Hic-5 expression was observed in the smooth muscle layer, and local delivery of the Hic-5 using adenovirus vectors repressed injury-induced neointimal expansion. In addition, Hic-5 reduced cells migration into three-dimensional collagen gels, and the forced expression of Hic-5 in cells embedded in the collagen gel matrix repressed the expression of uPA that participates in smooth muscle cell migration. These results suggest that Hic-5 modulates cellular responses to pathological stimuli in the vessel wall.