Control of motile and invasive cell phenotypes by focal adhesion kinase

Cell motility is stimulated by extracellular stimuli and initiated by intracellular signaling proteins that localize to sites of cell contact with the extracellular matrix termed focal contacts. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is an intracellular protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK) that acts to regulate the cycle of focal contact formation and disassembly required for efficient cell movement. FAK is activated by a variety of cell surface receptors and transmits signals to a range of targets. Thus, FAK acts as an integrator of cell motility-associated signaling events. We will review the stimulatory and regulatory mechanisms of FAK activation, the different signaling connections of FAK that are mediated by a growing number of FAK-interacting proteins, and the modulation of FAK function by tyrosine and serine phosphorylation. We will also summarize findings with regard to FAK function in vertebrate and invertebrate development as well as recent insights into the mechanistic role(s) of FAK in promoting cell migration. As increased FAK expression and tyrosine phosphorylation have been correlated with the progression to an invasive cell phenotype, there is growing interest in elucidating the important FAK-related signaling connections promoting invasive tumor cell movement. To this end, we will discuss the effects of FAK inhibition via the dominant-negative expression of the FAK C-terminal domain termed FAK-related non-kinase (FRNK) and how these studies have uncovered a distinct role for FAK in promoting cell invasion that may differ from its role in promoting cell motility.     

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli induces modification of the focal adhesions of infected host cells

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a human-specific pathogen that causes severe diarrhoea in young children. The disease involves intimate interaction between the pathogen and the brush border of enterocytes. During infection, EPEC uses a type III secretion system (TTSS) to inject several proteins into the infected cells, and these effector proteins modify specific processes in the host cell. We show that, upon infection, EPEC induces detachment of the infected host cells from the substratum, modification of focal adhesions (FA) in the infected cells and specific dephosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). We also show that EPEC-induced cell detachment is dependent on FAK expression by the infected cells. Finally, we demonstrate that cell detachment, FA modification and FAK dephosphorylation are dependent on functional TTSS in the infecting EPEC. These results suggest that EPEC is using its TTSS to inject protein(s) into the infected cells, which can induce FAK dephosphorylation, as well as FAK-dependent FA modification and cell detachment. These processes are specific and probably play an important role in EPEC virulence.     

Space and time in the plant cell wall: relationships between cell type, cell wall rheology and cell function

BACKGROUND: The biomechanical behaviour of plant cells depends upon the material properties of their cell walls and, in many cases, it is necessary that these properties are quite specific. Additionally, physiological regulation may require that target cells responding to hormonal signals or environmental factors are able to modulate these characteristics. ARGUMENT: This paper uses a rheological analysis of creep of elongating sunflower (Helianthus annuus) sunflower hypocotyls to demonstrate that the mechanical behaviour of plant cell walls is complex and involves multiple layered processes that can be distinguished from one another by the time-scale over which they lead to a change in tissue dimensions, their sensitivity to pH and temperature, and their responses to changes in spatial arrangement of the cell wall brought about by treatment with high M(r) PEG. Furthermore, it appears possible to regulate individual rheological processes, with limited effect on others, in order to modulate growth without affecting tissue structural integrity. It is proposed that control of the water content of the cell wall and therefore the space between cell wall polymers may be one mechanism by which differential regulation of cell wall biomechanical properties is achieved. This hypothesis is supported by evidence showing that enzyme extracts from growing tissues can cause swelling in cell wall fragments in suspension. IMPLICATIONS: The physiological implications of this complexity are then considered for growing tissues, stomatal guard cells and abscission cells. It is noted that, in each circumstance, a different combination of mechanical properties is required and that differential regulation of properties affecting behaviour over different time-scales is often necessary.     

Inhibition of pp125FAK in cultured fibroblasts results in apoptosis

The tyrosine kinase called pp125FAK is believed to play an important role in integrin-mediated signal transduction. pp125FAK is associated both functionally and spatially with integrins, which are the cell surface receptors for extracellular matrix components. Although the precise function of pp125FAK is not known, two possibilities have been proposed: pp125FAK may regulate the assembly of focal adhesions in spreading or migrating cells, or pp125FAK may participate in a signal transduction cascade to inform the nucleus that the cell is anchored. To test these models in living cells, a peptide representing the focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-binding site of the beta 1 tail was coupled to carrier protein and injected into cultured cells to competitively inhibit the binding of pp125FAK to endogenous integrin, thus inhibiting activation of pp125FAK on a cell-by-cell basis. In addition, an antibody directed against an epitope adjacent to the focal adhesion targeting sequence on pp125FAK was microinjected, as an alternative means of inhibiting pp125FAK activation. It was observed that when rounded cells were injected with either the integrin peptide or the anti-FAK antibody, the cells rapidly began to apoptose, within 4 h after injection. These results indicate that pp125FAK may play a critical role in suppressing apoptosis in fibroblasts.     

XIAP is essential for shear stress-enhanced Tyr-576 phosphorylation of FAK

In endothelial cells, X-chromosome linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) regulates cell survival, migration and adhesion. We have recently found that XIAP recruits focal adhesion kinase (FAK) into integrin-associated focal adhesions, controlling cell migration. However, little is understood about the molecular mechanisms by which FAK modulation is controlled by XIAP. In this study, we show that XIAP modulates FAK activity through the control of FAK phosphorylation. In bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC), phosphorylation of Tyr-576 in FAK is elevated by laminar shear stress. This elevated phosphorylation appears to be responsible for shear stress-stimulated ERK activation. We found that XIAP knockdown reduces shear stress-enhanced phosphorylation of Tyr-576 and induces shear stress-triggered translocation of FAK into nucleus. Nuclear translocation of FAK reduces contact between FAK and Src, a kinase which phosphorylates Tyr-576. This spatial segregation of FAK from Src decreases Tyr-576 phosphorylation and thus shear-stimulated ERK activation. Taken together, our results demonstrate that XIAP plays a key role in shear stress-stimulated ERK activation by maintaining the Src-accessible location of FAK.     

Non-muscle myosin II regulates aortic stiffness through effects on specific focal adhesion proteins and the non-muscle cortical cytoskeleton

Non-muscle myosin II (NMII) plays a role in many fundamental cellular processes including cell adhesion, migration, and cytokinesis. However, its role in mammalian vascular function is not well understood. Here, we investigated the function of NMII in the biomechanical and signalling properties of mouse aorta. We found that blebbistatin, an inhibitor of NMII, decreases agonist-induced aortic stress and stiffness in a dose-dependent manner. We also specifically demonstrate that in freshly isolated, contractile, aortic smooth muscle cells, the non-muscle myosin IIA (NMIIA) isoform is associated with contractile filaments in the core of the cell as well as those in the non-muscle cell cortex. However, the non-muscle myosin IIB (NMIIB) isoform is excluded from the cell cortex and colocalizes only with contractile filaments. Furthermore, both siRNA knockdown of NMIIA and NMIIB isoforms in the differentiated A7r5 smooth muscle cell line and blebbistatin-mediated inhibition of NM myosin II suppress agonist-activated increases in phosphorylation of the focal adhesion proteins FAK Y925 and paxillin Y118. Thus, we show in the present study, for the first time that NMII regulates aortic stiffness and stress and that this regulation is mediated through the tension-dependent phosphorylation of the focal adhesion proteins FAK and paxillin.     

Regulation of focal adhesion kinase by a novel protein inhibitor FIP200

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a major mediator of integrin signaling pathways. The mechanisms of regulation of FAK activity and its associated cellular functions are not very well understood. Here, we present data suggesting that a novel protein FIP200 functions as an inhibitor for FAK. We show the association of endogenous FIP200 with FAK, which is decreased upon integrin-mediated cell adhesion concomitant with FAK activation. In vitro- and in vivo-binding studies indicate that FIP200 interacts with FAK through multiple domains directly. FIP200 bound to the kinase domain of FAK inhibited its kinase activity in vitro and its autophosphorylation in vivo. Overexpression of FIP200 or its segments inhibited cell spreading, cell migration, and cell cycle progression, which correlated with their inhibition of FAK activity in vivo. The inhibition of these cellular functions by FIP200 could be rescued by coexpression of FAK. Last, we show that disruption of the functional interaction between endogenous FIP200 with FAK leads to increased FAK phosphorylation and partial restoration of cell cycle progression in cells plated on poly-L-lysine, providing further support for FIP200 as a negative regulator of FAK. Together, these results identify FIP200 as a novel protein inhibitor for FAK.     

Thrombospondin induces RhoA inactivation through FAK-dependent signaling to stimulate focal adhesion disassembly

Cells utilize dynamic interactions with the extracellular matrix to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) induces focal adhesion disassembly and cell migration through a sequence (hep I) in its heparin-binding domain signaling through the calreticulin-low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein receptor complex. This involves the Galphai-dependent activation of ERK and phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase, both of which are required for focal adhesion disassembly. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) regulates adhesion dynamics, acting in part by modulating RhoA activity, and FAK is implicated in ERK and PI 3-kinase activation. In this work, we sought to determine the role of FAK in TSP1-induced focal adhesion disassembly. TSP1/hep I does not stimulate focal adhesion disassembly in FAK knockout fibroblasts, whereas re-expressing FAK rescues responsiveness. Inhibiting FAK signaling through FRNK or FAK Y397F expression in endothelial cells also abrogates this response. TSP1/hep I stimulates a transient increase in FAK phosphorylation that requires calreticulin and Galphai, but not ERK or PI 3-kinase. Hep I does not activate ERK or PI 3-kinase in FAK knockout fibroblasts, suggesting activation occurs downstream of FAK. TSP1/hep I stimulates RhoA inactivation with kinetics corresponding to focal adhesion disassembly in a FAK, ERK, and PI 3-kinase-dependent manner. Furthermore, hep I does not stimulate focal adhesion disassembly in cells expressing constitutively active RhoA, suggesting that RhoA inactivation is required for this response. This is the first work to illustrate a connection between FAK phosphorylation in response to a soluble factor and RhoA inactivation, as well as the first report of PI 3-kinase and ERK in FAK regulation of RhoA activity.     

The FERM domain: organizing the structure and function of FAK

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a scaffold and tyrosine kinase protein that binds to itself and cellular partners through its four-point-one, ezrin, radixin, moesin (FERM) domain. Recent structural work reveals that regulatory protein partners convert auto-inhibited FAK into its active state by binding to its FERM domain. Further, the identity of FAK FERM domain-interacting proteins yields clues as to how FAK coordinates diverse cellular responses, including cell adhesion, polarization, migration, survival and death, and suggests that FERM domains might mediate information transfer between the cell cortex and nucleus. Importantly, the FAK FERM domain might act as a paradigm for the actions of other FERM domain-containing proteins.     

Understanding the Roles of FAK in Cancer: Inhibitors,Genetic Models,and New Insights

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a protein tyrosine kinase that regulates cellular adhesion, motility, proliferation and survival in various types of cells. Interestingly, FAK is activated and/or overexpressed in advanced cancers, and promotes cancer progression and metastasis. For this reason, FAK became a potential therapeutic target in cancer, and small molecule FAK inhibitors have been developed and are being tested in clinical phase trials. These inhibitors have demonstrated to be effective by inducing tumor cell apoptosis in addition to reducing metastasis and angiogenesis. Furthermore, several genetic FAK mouse models have made advancements in understanding the specific role of FAK both in tumors and in the tumor environment. In this review, we discuss FAK inhibitors as well as genetic mouse models to provide mechanistic insights into FAK signaling and its potential in cancer therapy.     

The mif gene is transcriptionally regulated by glucose in insulin-secreting cells

We have established that focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-transfected HL-60 (HL-60/FAK) cells were highly resistant to hydrogen peroxide and etoposide-induced apoptosis compared to vector-transfected cells. Mutagenesis study revealed that Y397 is required for anti-apoptotic activity in HL-60/FAK, since Y397F-mutated FAK (397FAK) lost anti-apoptotic function. Assuming that 397FAK functions as a dominant negative FAK, we introduced 397FAK cDNA into a human glioma cell line, T98G, using an adenoviral vector. We found that 397FAK induced marked apoptosis with significant FAK degradation. As PI3-kinase-Akt survival pathway was constitutively activated in T98G cells, we hypothesized that this pathway was shut off by 397FAK gene transfection. As expected, activation of PI3-kinase-Akt survival pathway was decreased by the 397FAK gene transfection. 397FAK activated mainly caspase-6 which induced degradation of transfected FAK as well as endogenous FAK. These results indicated that 397FAK induces apoptosis in T98G cells, by interrupting signals of FAK leading to the survival pathway in T98G glioma cells.     

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.     

FIP200对FN诱导的人类呼吸道上皮细胞增殖的影响

目的研究 FIP200(FAK-family interacting protein of 200 kDa)对细胞外基质成份诱导的呼吸道上皮细胞增殖和细胞周期演进的影响及其作用机制.方法通过纤连接蛋白(FN)诱导培养呼吸道上皮细胞增殖,以FIP200反义寡核苷酸(ODN)经脂质体转染细胞;利用四唑盐(MTT)比色实验研究呼吸道上皮细胞增殖情况;采用流式细胞术分析呼吸道上皮细胞细胞周期各期分布情况;以Western blot检测FIP200和FAK蛋白表达水平;以免疫共沉淀检测FIP200和FAK结合情况和FAK磷酸化程度.结果 FN诱导的呼吸道上皮细胞MTT吸光度明显增强,G1期细胞数量明显减少,S期和G2期细胞数量明显增多,同时FAK表达水平及其酪氨酸磷酸化程度显著增高,FIP200表达有降低趋势,FAK与FIP200的结合程度显著减低;与40mg/L FN组相比,经脂质体转染了反义FIP200寡核苷酸的气道上皮细胞MTT吸光度值显著增高,G1期细胞数明显减少,S期和G2期细胞数显著增多,FIP200表达水平显著降低,FAK表达水平无明显变化,与FIP200结合的FAK显著降低, FAK酪氨酸磷酸化程度明显增高.结论内源性FIP200和FAK的结合抑制FAK的活化,从而抑制呼吸道上皮细胞增殖和细胞周期演进,内源性FIP200作为FAK的抑制剂而存在;FN能够促使FAK和FIP200结合的解离而活化FAK,从而促进细胞增殖.     

Focal adhesion kinase protein regulates Wnt3a gene expression to control cell fate specification in the developing neural plate

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase protein localized to regions called focal adhesions, which are contact points between cells and the extracellular matrix. FAK protein acts as a scaffold to transfer adhesion-dependent and growth factor signals into the cell. Increased FAK expression is linked to aggressive metastatic and invasive tumors. However, little is known about its normal embryonic function. FAK protein knockdown during early Xenopus laevis development anteriorizes the embryo. Morphant embryos express increased levels of anterior neural markers, with reciprocally reduced posterior neural marker expression. Posterior neural plate folding and convergence-extension is also inhibited. This anteriorized phenotype resembles that of embryos knocked down zygotically for canonical Wnt signaling. FAK and Wnt3a genes are both expressed in the neural plate, and Wnt3a expression is FAK dependent. Ectopic Wnt expression rescues this FAK morphant anteriorized phenotype. Wnt3a thus acts downstream of FAK to balance anterior-posterior cell fate specification in the developing neural plate. Wnt3a gene expression is also FAK dependent in human breast cancer cells, suggesting that this FAK-Wnt linkage is highly conserved. This unique observation connects the FAK- and Wnt-signaling pathways, both of which act to promote cancer when aberrantly activated in mammalian cells.     

FERM control of FAK function: Implications for cancer therapy

Integrins are transmembrane receptors that bind to extracellular matrix proteins and convey anchorage-dependent signals regulating normal cell proliferation. Integrin signals within the tumor micro-environment also impact cancer cell survival and invasion during tumor progression. These integrin-associated signaling events are transduced in part through the activation of non-receptor protein-tyrosine kinases. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is activated by β-subunit integrins in both normal and transformed cells. As genetic inactivation of β1 integrin or FAK yield early embryonic lethal phenotypes associated with decreased cell proliferation, and dominant-negative inhibition of FAK can cause increased cell apoptosis, there is a concern that FAK inhibition may have cytotoxic effects on cell growth or survival.However, FAK-specific small molecule inhibitors do not directly impact cell growth in culture, but yet show potent anti-tumor growth effects in vivo. Additionally, recent studies have shed new insight into the FAK kinase-independent regulation of cell proliferation and survival mediated by the FAK N-terminal FERM (band 4.1, ezrin, radixin, moesin homology) domain.Herein, we review the role of the FAK FERM domain in both the intrinsic regulation of FAKkinase activity and how FERM-mediated nuclear localization of FAK promotes enhanced cell survival through the inhibition of tumor suppressor p53 activation during development and under conditions of cellular stress. As we find that FAK FERM-mediated regulation of p53 occurs in human carcinoma cells, elevated FAK expression in tumors may promote both kinase-dependent and –independent survival mechanisms. We discuss how the pharmacological inhibition of FAK kinase activity may impact tumor progression through combined effects of blocking both tumor- and stromal-associated signaling regulating neovascularization.     

Induced Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) Expression in FAK-Null Cells Enhances Cell Spreading and Migration Requiring Both Auto- and Activation Loop Phosphorylation Sites and Inhibits Adhesion-Dependent Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Pyk2

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase involved in integrin-mediated control of cell behavior. Following cell adhesion to components of the extracellular matrix, FAK becomes phosphorylated at multiple sites, including tyrosines 397, 576, and 577. Tyr-397 is an autophosphorylation site that promotes interaction with c-Src or Fyn. Tyr-576 and Tyr-577 lie in the putative activation loop of the kinase domain, and FAK catalytic activity may be elevated through phosphorylation of these residues by associated Src family kinase. Recent studies have implicated FAK as a positive regulator of cell spreading and migration. To further study the mechanism of adhesion-induced FAK activation and the possible role and signaling requirements for FAK in cell spreading and migration, we utilized the tetracycline repression system to achieve inducible expression of either wild-type FAK or phosphorylation site mutants in fibroblasts derived from FAK-null mouse embryos. Using these Tet-FAK cells, we demonstrated that both the FAK autophosphorylation and activation loop sites are critical for maximum adhesion-induced FAK activation and FAK-enhanced cell spreading and migration responses. Negative effects on cell spreading and migration, as well as decreased phosphorylation of the substrate p130(Cas), were observed upon induced expression of the FAK autophosphorylation site mutant. These negative effects appear to result from an inhibition of integrin-mediated signaling by the FAK-related kinase Pyk2/CAKbeta/RAFTK/CadTK.     

Focal adhesion kinase‐dependent regulation of adhesive forces involves vinculin recruitment to focal adhesions

Background information. FAK (focal adhesion kinase), an essential non‐receptor tyrosine kinase, plays pivotal roles in migratory responses, adhesive signalling and mechanotransduction. FAK‐dependent regulation of cell migration involves focal adhesion turnover dynamics as well as actin cytoskeleton polymerization and lamellipodia protrusion. Whereas roles for FAK in migratory and mechanosensing responses have been established, the contribution of FAK to the generation of adhesive forces is not well understood. Results. Using FAK‐null cells expressing wild‐type and mutant FAK under an inducible tetracycline promoter, we analysed the role of FAK in the generation of steady‐state adhesive forces using micropatterned substrates and a hydrodynamic adhesion assay. FAK expression reduced steady‐state strength by 30% compared with FAK‐null cells. FAK expression reduced VCL (vinculin) localization to focal adhesions by 35% independently of changes in integrin binding and localization of talin and paxillin. RNAi (RNA interference) knock‐down of VCL abrogated the FAK‐dependent differences in adhesive forces. FAK‐dependent changes in VCL localization and adhesive forces were confirmed in human primary fibroblasts with FAK knocked down by RNAi. The autophosphorylation Tyr‐397 and kinase domain Tyr‐576/Tyr‐577 sites were differentially required for FAK‐mediated adhesive responses. Conclusions. We demonstrate that FAK reduces steady‐state adhesion strength by modulating VCL recruitment to focal adhesions. These findings provide insights into the role of FAK in mechanical interactions between a cell and the extracellular matrix.     

Identification of Tyr-397 as the primary site of tyrosine phosphorylation and pp60src association in the focal adhesion kinase, pp125FAK.

A number of cellular processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, and transformation, are regulated by cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Previous studies have identified a novel tyrosine kinase, the focal adhesion kinase p125FAK, as a component of cell adhesion plaques. p125FAK was identified as a 125-kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated protein in cells transformed by the v-src oncogene. p125FAK is an intracellular protein composed of three domains: a central domain with homology to protein tyrosine kinases, flanked by two noncatalytic domains of 400 amino acids which bear no significant homology to previously cloned proteins. p125FAK is believed to play an important regulatory role in cell adhesion because it localizes to cell adhesion plaques and because its phosphorylation on tyrosine residues is regulated by binding of cell surface integrins to the extracellular matrix. Recent studies have shown that Src, through its SH2 domain, stably associates with pp125FAK and that this association prevents dephosphorylation of pp125FAK in vitro by protein tyrosine phosphatases. In this report, we identify Tyr-397 as the primary in vivo and in vitro site of p125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation and association with Src. Substituting phenylalanine for tyrosine at position 397 significantly reduces p125FAK tyrosine phosphorylation and association with Src but does not abolish p125FAK kinase activity. In addition, p125FAK kinase is able to trans-phosphorylate Tyr-397 in vitro in a kinase-deficient p125FAK variant. Phosphorylation of Tyr-397 provides a site [Y(P)AEI] that fits the consensus sequence for the binding of Src.     

Identification of p130Cas as a Mediator of Focal Adhesion Kinase–promoted Cell Migration

Previously we have demonstrated that focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-promoted migration on fibronectin (FN) by its overexpression in CHO cells is dependent on FAK autophosphorylation at Y397 and subsequent binding of Src to this site. In this report, we have examined the role of FAK association with Grb2 and p130^Cas, two downstream events of the FAK/Src complex that could mediate integrin-stimulated activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (Erks). We show that a Y925F FAK mutant was able to promote cell migration as efficiently as FAK and that the transfected FAK demonstrated no detectable association with Grb2 in CHO cells. In contrast, cells expressing a FAK P712/715A mutant demonstrated a level of migration comparable to that of control cells. This mutation did not affect FAK kinase activity, autophosphorylation, or Src association but did significantly reduce p130^Cas association with FAK. Furthermore, FAK expression in CHO cells increased tyrosine phosphorylation of p130^Cas and its subsequent binding to several SH2 domains, which depended on both the p130^Cas binding site and the Src binding site. However, we did not detect increased activation of Erks in cells expressing FAK, and the MEK inhibitor PD98059 did not decrease FAK-promoted cell migration. Finally, we show that coexpression of p130^Cas further increased cell migration on FN and coexpression of the p130^Cas SH3 domain alone functioned as a dominant negative mutant and decreased cell migration. Together, these results demonstrate that p130^Cas, but not Grb2, is a mediator of FAK-promoted cell migration and suggest that FAK/ p130^Cas complex targets downstream pathways other than Erks in mediating FAK-promoted cell migration.