短发夹RNA慢病毒载体稳定抑制NLRP3表达的HepG2细胞的构建

目的:构建针对NLRP3基因的短发夹RNA(sh RNA)慢病毒表达载体,在Hep G2细胞中鉴定该载体对NLRP3的抑制效果。方法:设计针对NLRP3基因的sh RNA序列,将其插入慢病毒表达载体p WPT-U6-sh RNA-CMV-GFP中,将载体与包装质粒ps PAX2、p MD2.G共转染293T细胞,进行病毒包装;得到的病毒原液浓缩后系列稀释为9个浓度递减的病毒液,分别转染293T细胞后进行滴度测定;用获得的慢病毒液感染人肝癌细胞系Hep G2,获得稳定沉默NLRP3的细胞株;利用实时定量PCR和Western印迹检测稳定细胞株中NLRP3的沉默效应。结果:构建了具有沉默效应的慢病毒干扰载体;稀释法测定干扰病毒滴度为2×108TU/m L;实时定量PCR和Western印迹实验均证实慢病毒转染后,细胞株中NLRP3表达水平明显降低。结论:构建了人NLRP3基因特异性慢病毒干扰载体,获得NLRP3基因稳定干扰的Hep G2细胞株。     

慢病毒介导的TPX2沉默对人宫颈癌HeLa细胞凋亡和侵袭的影响及机制

该文的目的是研究慢病毒介导的Xklp2靶蛋白(targeting protein for Xklp2,TPX2)沉默对人宫颈癌He La细胞凋亡、侵袭的影响及机制。构建4种载有TPX2-sh RNA的重组慢病毒及其阴性对照,将5种重组慢病毒分别稳定感染人宫颈癌He La细胞,利用实时荧光定量PCR和Western blot筛选出TPX2沉默效果最佳的一组He La细胞作为干扰组进行后续实验。采用Transwell基底膜侵袭实验测定各组细胞的侵袭能力。采用流式细胞术检测各组细胞的凋亡情况。Western blot检测TPX2-sh RNA转染前后细胞凋亡及侵袭相关蛋白质Bcl-2、Bax、Caspase-3、MMP9、TIMP-1及nm23-H1水平。结果显示,筛选出的RNA干扰慢病毒载体LV-TPX2-sh RNA-1可有效抑制He La细胞TPX2的表达;与对照组相比,干扰组的He La细胞凋亡率明显增加(P0.01);穿过Transwell小室基底膜细胞明显减少(P0.01)。He La细胞感染LV-TPX2-sh RNA-1能下调凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2的表达水平,上调Caspase-3及Bax的表达水平(P0.05);上调侵袭相关蛋白质nm23-H1及TIMP-1水平,下调MMP9水平(P0.05)。以上结果表明,沉默TPX2表达能增加宫颈癌细胞的凋亡,可能与其上调Caspase-3及Bax水平,下调Bcl-2水平有关;沉默TPX2表达能抑制宫颈癌细胞侵袭能力,可能与其上调TIMP-1及nm23-H1水平,下调MMP9的水平有关。     

Sprouty-2对胃癌细胞上皮间质转化及侵袭转移的影响

目的:研究Sprouty2(SPRY2)基因在胃癌肿瘤细胞上皮间质转化(EMT)和侵袭转移的影响。方法:体外培养人胃癌细胞(BGC-823),采用慢病毒介导的sh RNA沉默SPRY2基因,并用实时定量PCR与Western blot检测其SPRY2、E-钙黏蛋白(E-cadherin)、波形蛋白(vimentin)的表达,采用细胞划痕实验、Transwell实验检测SPRY2基因沉默后的胃癌细胞侵袭转移能力变化。结果:在慢病毒介导sh RNA沉默SPRY2基因的人胃癌BGC-823细胞中,SPRY2的m RNA和蛋白表达明显降低(P0.05),SPRY2沉默后人胃癌细胞E-cadherin的蛋白表达增多(P0.05),vimentin的蛋白表达减少(P0.05)。此外,SPRY2沉默后,胃癌细胞迁移能力和侵袭能力明显减弱(P值均P0.05)。结论:Sprouty-2基因通过调节E-cadherin与vimentin的表达参与胃癌细胞的上皮-间质转化,进而促进胃癌细胞的迁移与侵袭。     

SIRT6基因沉默对裸鼠异位移植人肝癌细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

该文旨在探讨沉默信息调节因子6(silent information regulator 6,SIRT6)基因沉默对裸鼠异位移植人肝癌细胞增殖和凋亡的影响。构建稳定细胞系SIRT6-sh RNA-SK-Hep-1和sh Cont-SKHep-1,并应用定量逆转录PCR(q RT-PCR)和Western blot检测SIRT6基因的表达水平;将稳定转染细胞注入裸鼠皮下,实时监测裸鼠移植瘤的生长,7周后剥离出裸鼠移植瘤并称重;免疫组织化学分析SIRT6、Ki-67的蛋白质水平。进一步应用q RT-PCR检测SIRT6基因沉默对下游靶向分子凋亡抑制蛋白(inhibitor of apoptosis proteins,IAPs)家族的影响;Western blot检测X连锁凋亡抑制蛋白(X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein gene,XIAP)和多腺苷二磷酸核糖聚合酶(poly ADP-ribose polymerase,PARP)蛋白质水平。结果显示,成功构建了沉默SIRT6基因的SK-Hep-1稳定细胞系;SIRT6-sh RNASK-Hep-1组裸鼠移植瘤体积和质量较sh Cont-SK-Hep-1组均减少(P0.01);免疫组织化学发现,SIRT6-sh RNA-SK-Hep-1组Ki-67水平下调;沉默SIRT6基因下调XIAP m RNA和蛋白质水平,并增加PARP蛋白质的剪切水平。该研究结果提示,SIRT6基因沉默可能通过下调XIAP的表达抑制裸鼠异位移植人肝癌细胞的生长。     

慢病毒介导SRB-1 受体基因沉默对人脑小胶质细胞吞噬Aβ蛋白能力的影响

目的:利用慢病毒载体筛选人脑小胶质细胞(HM1900)清道夫受体SRB1基因敲减稳定细胞系,检测该细胞系对AD致病蛋白Aβ的吞噬水平变化。方法:采用反转录PCR确认人脑小胶质细胞(HM1900)SRB1(Gene ID:949)基因表达情况,利用软件设计三组不同序列的针对人SRB1基因的慢病毒sh RNA干扰载体,包装为慢病毒感染HM1900细胞,实时荧光定量PCR检测各慢病毒干扰载体的靶基因干扰效率。选用干扰效果最佳的RNA干扰慢病毒筛选并获得SRB1基因敲减细胞系,稳定传代后用realtime-PCR检测SRB1受体表达下调情况。通过蛋白内吞实验测定基因敲减后该细胞系对病理蛋白Aβ的吞噬能力,与正常小胶质细胞进行比较。结果:利用筛选出的干扰载体完成对HM1900细胞系的SRB1基因敲减,荧光定量PCR检测显示SRB1基因在靶细胞HM1900中表达抑制率达83.7%。蛋白内吞实验显示该基因敲减细胞系对病理蛋白Aβ的吞噬能力下降到对照组的57%(P0.05)。结论:通过慢病毒载体成功建立SRB1基因稳定敲减的人脑小胶质细胞系,SRB1受体参与了小胶质细胞对病理蛋白Aβ的吞噬及清除过程。     

MMP2在胃癌侵袭和转移中的作用

目的 探索MMP2在胃癌侵袭和转移中的作用,以期为胃癌转移提供新的预测指标及治疗靶点.方法 选择胃癌细胞系MKN-1转染慢病毒,使MMP2低表达,获得细胞系sh-MMP2,并通过RT-PCR及Western Blot检测转染后MKN-1细胞中MMP2表达情况.进一步通过细胞划痕实验、Transwell、CCK8实验分别...     

慢病毒介导的大鼠肝BRL-3A 细胞Tmub1 基因沉默及稳定感染细胞 系的建立

目的:构建Tmub1基因慢病毒干扰载体,建立稳定转染细胞系,检测大鼠肝BRL-3A细胞中Tmub1基因表达的干扰效果。方法:设计并构建4对针对大鼠Tmub1基因的特异性shRNA干扰质粒,酶切鉴定、DNA测序所得质粒。将由pRSV-Rev、pMDLg-pRRE、pMD2G和pll3.7干扰质粒组成的包装系统共转染293T细胞,产生慢病毒。所得慢病毒感染大鼠正常肝细胞BRL-3A,Western Blot检测不同靶点RNAi后Tmub1蛋白表达情况,确定有效靶点。针对有效靶点大量包装慢病毒。测定病毒滴度并以最适感染复数(multiplicity of infection,MOI)感染BRL-3A细胞后,G418抗生素筛选稳定感染细胞系BRL-3A/256。RT-PCR和Western Blot检测各组细胞Tmub1 mRNA和蛋白质的表达差异。结果:结果显示Tmub1 RNAi慢病毒载体构建成功,C0020Sh2-Hops-256干扰靶点RNAi效果最强。成功包装Tmub1基因RNAi慢病毒,测定病毒滴度为2.3×108TU/ml,对293T细胞的最适感染复数为60。成功建立Tmub1 RNAi慢病毒载体稳定感染细胞系BRL-3A/256,且在该细胞系中Tmub1 mRNA和蛋白质表达明显降低。结论:成功构建Tmub1 RNAi慢病毒载体,有效干扰BRL-3A细胞中Tmub1 mRNA和蛋白表达;成功筛选出Tmub1RNAi慢病毒稳定感染细胞系BRL-3A/256。     

自分泌运动因子在肝细胞癌侵袭及转移中的作用

目的:探讨自分泌运动因子(AMF)在人肝细胞癌侵袭和转移中的作用。方法:人肝细胞系LO2和人肝细胞癌细胞株MHCC97-H作为实验材料,检测二者AMF的表达水平;设计并合成针对AMF基因序列的双链小干扰RNA转染高转移性人肝癌细胞株MHCC97-H,Western blot检测AMF基因的蛋白的表达水平;通过MTT实验检测转染后细胞的增殖力;通过体外Transwell小室对比沉默AMF基因前后的肝癌细胞的迁移力和侵袭力;最后用细胞悬液皮下接种小鼠,观察沉默AMF基因前后肝细胞的成瘤能力。结果:AMF在MHCC97-H的表达量较高;将双链小干扰RNA转入MHCC97-H后,AMF的表达显著降低(P0.05);沉默AMF基因序列后,MHCC97-H的增殖力、迁移力和侵袭力均有明显下降(P0.05);用细胞悬液皮下接种小鼠沉默AMF基因的MHCC97-H形成的肿瘤体积小于对照组(P0.05)。结论:AMF基因可调节肝癌细胞的迁移和侵袭。     

乙酰肝素酶促进骨肉瘤细胞增殖和侵袭的体外研究

目的:探讨通过基因转染正向调节HPSE-1,体外对骨肉瘤细胞系恶性特质的影响.方法:转染HPSE-1基因至骨肉瘤细胞系MG-63,检测HPSE-1 mRNA和蛋白水平的表达,进一步应用MTT试验和Transwell侵袭试验观察稳定转染的细胞的增殖力和侵袭力的影响.结果:成功建立稳定转染HPSE-1基因的MG-63细胞系MG-63-HPSE,且该细胞系在mRNA和蛋白水平均发现HPSE-1表达增高,MTT和Transwell试验结果发现MG-63-HPSE细胞的增殖力和侵袭力均明显高于对照组.结论:基因转染后过表达HPSE-1的骨肉瘤细胞系体外表现出增强的增殖和侵袭活性.     

SIRT6基因沉默对人肝癌细胞凋亡的影响及其机制研究

该文旨在探讨慢病毒介导的沉默信息调节因子6(silent information regulator 6,SIRT6)基因沉默对人肝癌细胞凋亡的影响及其机制。逆转录PCR(RT-PCR)和Western blot分别检测人肝癌细胞系(SK-Hep-1、Huh-7、PLC/PRF/5、Hep G2)和永生化肝细胞系(MIHA)中SIRT6基因的表达水平;利用慢病毒介导的sh RNA干扰技术靶向沉默SIRT6的表达,并通过RT-PCR和Western blot验证其沉默效率;流式细胞术检测SIRT6基因沉默对人肝癌细胞凋亡的影响,进一步应用RT-PCR和Western blot检测SIRT6基因沉默对凋亡抑制蛋白基因(inhibitor of apoptosis proteins,IAPs)家族m RNA和蛋白质水平的影响;最后,应用流式细胞术分析X连锁凋亡抑制蛋白基因(X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein gene,XIAP)在SIRT6基因沉默诱导的肝癌细胞凋亡中的作用。结果显示,SIRT6基因在人肝癌细胞系中表达上调;慢病毒介导的sh RNA能抑制人肝癌细胞中SIRT6基因的表达;沉默SIRT6基因的表达能诱导人肝癌细胞凋亡,并降低XIAP的m RNA和蛋白质水平;过表达XIAP能逆转SIRT6基因沉默所诱导的人肝癌细胞凋亡。该研究结果提示,SIRT6基因沉默可能通过调节XIAP的表达从而诱导人肝癌细胞凋亡。     

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling pathway mediated by p110α regulates invadopodia formation

Invadopodia are extracellular matrix-degrading protrusions formed by invasive cancer cells that are thought to function in cancer invasion. Although many invadopodia components have been identified, signaling pathways that link extracellular stimuli to invadopodia formation remain largely unknown. We investigate the role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling during invadopodia formation. We find that in human breast cancer cells, both invadopodia formation and degradation of a gelatin matrix were blocked by treatment with PI3K inhibitors or sequestration of D-3 phosphoinositides. Functional analyses revealed that among the PI3K family proteins, the class I PI3K catalytic subunit p110α, a frequently mutated gene product in human cancers, was selectively involved in invadopodia formation. The expression of p110α with cancerous mutations promoted invadopodia-mediated invasive activity. Furthermore, knockdown or inhibition of PDK1 and Akt, downstream effectors of PI3K signaling, suppressed invadopodia formation induced by p110α mutants. These data suggest that PI3K signaling via p110α regulates invadopodia-mediated invasion of breast cancer cells.     

Study on Invadopodia Formation for Lung Carcinoma Invasion with a Microfluidic 3D Culture Device

Invadopodia or invasive feet, which are actin-rich membrane protrusions with matrix degradation activity formed by invasive cancer cells, are a key determinant in the malignant invasive progression of tumors and represent an important target for cancer therapies. In this work, we presented a microfluidic 3D culture device with continuous supplement of fresh media via a syringe pump. The device mimicked tumor microenvironment in vivo and could be used to assay invadopodia formation and to study the mechanism of human lung cancer invasion. With this device, we investigated the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, GM6001 on invadopodia formation by human non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549 in 3D matrix model. This device was composed of three units that were capable of achieving the assays on one control group and two experimental groups'' cells, which were simultaneously pretreated with EGF or GM6001 in parallel. Immunofluorescence analysis of invadopodia formation and extracellular matrix degradation was conducted using confocal imaging system. We observed that EGF promoted invadopodia formation by A549 cells in 3D matrix and that GM6001 inhibited the process. These results demonstrated that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling played a significant role in invadopodia formation and related ECM degradation activity. Meanwhile, it was suggested that MMP inhibitor (GM6001) might be a powerful therapeutic agent targeting invadopodia formation in tumor invasion. This work clearly demonstrated that the microfluidic-based 3D culture device provided an applicable platform for elucidating the mechanism of cancer invasion and could be used in testing other anti-invasion agents.     

STIM1调控细胞运动促进骨肉瘤转移的研究

目的:明确STIM1是否参与调控细胞运动促进骨肉瘤的转移。方法:应用靶向STIM1的si RNA沉默MG-63骨肉瘤细胞中STIM1的表达,然后用侵袭实验、迁移实验以及黏附实验检测骨肉瘤细胞侵袭、迁移与黏附能力的变化,采用Western Blot检测细胞FAK和paxillin的表达及Rac1和RhoA信号通路的活性。结果:转染靶向STIM1的si RNA后,MG-63骨肉瘤细胞中STIM1的蛋白表达和m RNA表达均明显降低(P0.05),细胞的侵袭、迁移与黏附能力均显著下降(P0.05),细胞伪足与细胞骨架的重要组分FAK和paxillin的表达及调控细胞运动的Rac1和RhoA信号通路活性均显著降低(P0.05)。结论:STIM1可能通过激活RhoA和Rac1的信号通路,增加FAK和paxillin的表达,从而调控骨肉瘤细胞运动,促进骨肉瘤转移。     

FAK alters invadopodia and focal adhesion composition and dynamics to regulate breast cancer invasion

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is important for breast cancer progression and invasion and is necessary for the dynamic turnover of focal adhesions. However, it has not been determined whether FAK also regulates the dynamics of invasive adhesions formed in cancer cells known as invadopodia. In this study, we report that endogenous FAK functions upstream of cellular Src (c-Src) as a negative regulator of invadopodia formation and dynamics in breast cancer cells. We show that depletion of FAK induces the formation of active invadopodia but impairs invasive cell migration. FAK-deficient MTLn3 breast cancer cells display enhanced assembly and dynamics of invadopodia that are rescued by expression of wild-type FAK but not by FAK that cannot be phosphorylated at tyrosine 397. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that FAK depletion switches phosphotyrosine-containing proteins from focal adhesions to invadopodia through the temporal and spatial regulation of c-Src activity. Collectively, our findings provide novel insight into the interplay between FAK and Src to promote invasion.     

Molecular mechanisms of invadopodium formation: the role of the N-WASP-Arp2/3 complex pathway and cofilin

Invadopodia are actin-rich membrane protrusions with a matrix degradation activity formed by invasive cancer cells. We have studied the molecular mechanisms of invadopodium formation in metastatic carcinoma cells. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor kinase inhibitors blocked invadopodium formation in the presence of serum, and EGF stimulation of serum-starved cells induced invadopodium formation. RNA interference and dominant-negative mutant expression analyses revealed that neural WASP (N-WASP), Arp2/3 complex, and their upstream regulators, Nck1, Cdc42, and WIP, are necessary for invadopodium formation. Time-lapse analysis revealed that invadopodia are formed de novo at the cell periphery and their lifetime varies from minutes to several hours. Invadopodia with short lifetimes are motile, whereas long-lived invadopodia tend to be stationary. Interestingly, suppression of cofilin expression by RNA interference inhibited the formation of long-lived invadopodia, resulting in formation of only short-lived invadopodia with less matrix degradation activity. These results indicate that EGF receptor signaling regulates invadopodium formation through the N-WASP-Arp2/3 pathway and cofilin is necessary for the stabilization and maturation of invadopodia.     

Vimentin intermediate filament and plectin provide a scaffold for invadopodia,facilitating cancer cell invasion and extravasation for metastasis

To investigate the molecular mechanisms of cancer metastasis, we have isolated a high-metastatic bladder cancer cell subpopulation from a low-metastatic cell line by using an in vivo selection system. Cells in the subpopulation showed a high ability to form invadopodia, the filamentous actin (F-actin)-based membrane protrusions that play an essential role in cancer cell invasion. Analysis of the gene expression profile revealed that the expression of an intermediate filament (IF) protein, vimentin and a cytoskeletal linker protein, plectin was up-regulated in the high-metastatic subpopulation compared with the low metastatic cell line. Here we report a novel role of vimentin IF and plectin in metastasis. In invasive bladder cancer cells, the vimentin IF-plectin-invadopodia F-actin link was formed. Disruption of this link severely impaired invadopodia formation, reducing the capacities of extracellular matrix degradation, transendothelial migration and metastasis. In addition, the vimentin assembly into the filaments was required for invadopodia formation. Our results suggest that plectin anchoring invadopodia to vimentin IF scaffolds and stabilizes invadopodia, which is a critical molecular process for cancer cell invasion and extravasation for metastasis.     

Metabolic regulation of invadopodia and invasion by acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 and de novo lipogenesis

Invadopodia are membrane protrusions that facilitate matrix degradation and cellular invasion. Although lipids have been implicated in several aspects of invadopodia formation, the contributions of de novo fatty acid synthesis and lipogenesis have not been defined. Inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), the committed step of fatty acid synthesis, reduced invadopodia formation in Src-transformed 3T3 (3T3-Src) cells, and also decreased the ability to degrade gelatin. Inhibition of fatty acid synthesis through AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) activation and ACC phosphorylation also decreased invadopodia incidence. The addition of exogenous 16∶0 and 18∶1 fatty acid, products of de novo fatty acid synthesis, restored invadopodia and gelatin degradation to cells with decreased ACC1 activity. Pharmacological inhibition of ACC also altered the phospholipid profile of 3T3-Src cells, with the majority of changes occurring in the phosphatidylcholine (PC) species. Exogenous supplementation with the most abundant PC species, 34∶1 PC, restored invadopodia incidence, the ability to degrade gelatin and the ability to invade through matrigel to cells deficient in ACC1 activity. On the other hand, 30∶0 PC did not restore invadopodia and 36∶2 PC only restored invadopodia incidence and gelatin degradation, but not cellular invasion through matrigel. Pharmacological inhibition of ACC also reduced the ability of MDA-MB-231 breast, Snb19 glioblastoma, and PC-3 prostate cancer cells to invade through matrigel. Invasion of PC-3 cells through matrigel was also restored by 34∶1 PC supplementation. Collectively, the data elucidate the novel metabolic regulation of invadopodia and the invasive process by de novo fatty acid synthesis and lipogenesis.     

The Role of the Exocyst in Matrix Metalloproteinase Secretion and Actin Dynamics during Tumor Cell Invadopodia Formation

Invadopodia are actin-rich membrane protrusions formed by tumor cells that degrade the extracellular matrix for invasion. Invadopodia formation involves membrane protrusions driven by Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization and secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) at the focal degrading sites. The exocyst mediates the tethering of post-Golgi secretory vesicles at the plasma membrane for exocytosis and has recently been implicated in regulating actin dynamics during cell migration. Here, we report that the exocyst plays a pivotal role in invadopodial activity. With RNAi knockdown of the exocyst component Exo70 or Sec8, MDA-MB-231 cells expressing constitutively active c-Src failed to form invadopodia. On the other hand, overexpression of Exo70 promoted invadopodia formation. Disrupting the exocyst function by siEXO70 or siSEC8 treatment or by expression of a dominant negative fragment of Exo70 inhibited the secretion of MMPs. We have also found that the exocyst interacts with the Arp2/3 complex in cells with high invasion potential; blocking the exocyst-Arp2/3 interaction inhibited Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization and invadopodia formation. Together, our results suggest that the exocyst plays important roles in cell invasion by mediating the secretion of MMPs at focal degrading sites and regulating Arp2/3-mediated actin dynamics.     

A novel protease-docking function of integrin at invadopodia.

Invadopodia are membrane extensions of aggressive tumor cells that function in the activation of membrane-bound proteases occurring during tumor cell invasion. We explore a novel and provocative activity of integrins in docking proteases to sites of invasion, termed invadopodia. In the absence of collagen, alpha(3)beta(1) integrin and the gelatinolytic enzyme, seprase, exist as nonassociating membrane proteins. Type I collagen substratum induces the association of alpha(3)beta(1) integrin with seprase as a complex on invadopodia. The results show that alpha(3)beta(1) integrin is a docking protein for seprase to form functional invadopodia. In addition, alpha(5)beta(1) integrin may participate in the adhesion process necessary for invadopodial formation. Thus, alpha(3)beta(1) and alpha(5)beta(1) integrins play major organizational roles in the adhesion and formation of invadopodia, promoting invasive cell behavior.     

The interaction of IQGAP1 with the exocyst complex is required for tumor cell invasion downstream of Cdc42 and RhoA

Invadopodia are actin-based membrane protrusions formed at contact sites between invasive tumor cells and the extracellular matrix with matrix proteolytic activity. Actin regulatory proteins participate in invadopodia formation, whereas matrix degradation requires metalloproteinases (MMPs) targeted to invadopodia. In this study, we show that the vesicle-tethering exocyst complex is required for matrix proteolysis and invasion of breast carcinoma cells. We demonstrate that the exocyst subunits Sec3 and Sec8 interact with the polarity protein IQGAP1 and that this interaction is triggered by active Cdc42 and RhoA, which are essential for matrix degradation. Interaction between IQGAP1 and the exocyst is necessary for invadopodia activity because enhancement of matrix degradation induced by the expression of IQGAP1 is lost upon deletion of the exocyst-binding site. We further show that the exocyst and IQGAP1 are required for the accumulation of cell surface membrane type 1 MMP at invadopodia. Based on these results, we propose that invadopodia function in tumor cells relies on the coordination of cytoskeletal assembly and exocytosis downstream of Rho guanosine triphosphatases.