FAK和ILK介导骨桥蛋白诱导的血管平滑肌细胞黏附和迁移

黏着斑激酶（FAK）和整合素偶联激酶（ILK）是整合素信号途径中的重要信号转导分子,为阐明两者在血管平滑肌细胞（VSMC）黏附和迁移中的作用,以骨桥蛋白（OPN）作为VSMC黏附和迁移的诱导剂,检测其对FAK和ILK磷酸化以及对两者之间结合的影响.在此基础上,用FAK磷酸化特异性抑制剂黏着斑相关非激酶（FRNK）或ILK反义RNA分别阻断FAK磷酸化或ILK表达,进一步探讨两者在VSMC黏附和迁移中所起的作用.结果显示,OPN诱导可促进FAK磷酸化,诱导10 min后FAK磷酸化水平升高到对照组的2.4倍;与此同时,ILK的磷酸化受到抑制,30 min降至对照细胞的44.6％.OPN诱导FAK磷酸化的同时使FAK与ILK的结合减少.外源性FRNK在VSMC中的过表达显著降低FAK的磷酸化水平,促进ILK磷酸化和FAK与ILK之间的结合,抑制VSMC的黏附和迁移.用ILK反义RNA抑制ILK表达使VSMC在OPN上的黏附增加1.8倍,迁移细胞数降低45.5％.结果提示,FAK和ILK介导OPN诱导的VSMC黏附和迁移过程,两者通过对同一刺激信号产生不同的磷酸化变化而对VSMC的黏附和迁移产生不同的影响.     

Src介导骨桥蛋白诱导的血管平滑肌细胞黏附和迁移过程

为阐明酪氨酸激酶Src在整合素被骨桥蛋白(OPN)激活所触发的细胞黏附和迁移信号途径中所起的作用,应用Src特异性抑制剂PP2阻断Src,观察OPN诱导的血管平滑肌细胞(VSMC)黏附和迁移活性的改变,并利用免疫沉淀检查PP2对整合素下游信号分子黏着斑激酶(FAK)和整合素偶联激酶(ILK)磷酸化及其相互作用的影响。结果显示,PP2可明显抑制OPN诱导的VSMC黏附和伤口愈合(黏附和迁移活性分别为对照组的76.6%和33.8%);OPN可显著诱导FAK磷酸化(磷酸化水平达对照组的1.9倍),促进ILK去磷酸化,并使FAK与ILK的结合减少(降至对照组的46.4%)。10μmol/LPP2可明显抑制OPN诱导的FAK磷酸化、拮抗OPN诱导对ILK的去磷酸化作用、促进FAK与ILK之间的结合。研究结果表明,Src作为OPN-整合素-FAK信号途径中的信号分子,通过影响FAK和ILK的磷酸化以及两者之间的相互作用来调节VSMC的黏附和迁移活性。     

骨桥蛋白趋化和趋触作用对FAK和ILK磷酸化修饰的影响

为探讨可溶性(趋化作用)或锚定(趋触作用)形式的骨桥蛋白(OPN)与整合素相互作用对下游信号分子黏着斑激酶(FAK)和整合素偶联激酶(ILK)磷酸化修饰的影响,分别用包被于培养瓶上锚定型或加在培养液中的可溶性OPN刺激血管平滑肌细胞(VSMC)后,观察FAK和ILK的磷酸化及FAK与ILK相互作用的变化。结果显示,包被于培养瓶上的OPN通过趋触作用促进VSMC黏附和伸展,接种45min时,黏附细胞数达对照组的2.4倍(P<0.05);OPN的趋触及趋化作用均可诱导FAK磷酸化、ILK去磷酸化并抑制FAK与ILK结合;转染可表达整合素β3亚单位胞内区的表达质粒pEGFP-C3-β3CD能阻断OPN与整合素相互作用所引发的FAK磷酸化及ILK去磷酸化。研究结果表明,OPN的趋触和趋化作用对整合素下游信号分子FAK和ILK的影响是一致的,且这些作用是由整合素β3亚单位胞内区所介导的。     

粘着斑激酶活化与血管内皮剥脱后再狭窄的关系初探

粘着斑激酶(focal adhesion kinase,FAK)是一种非受体酪氨酸激酶,最初是在转染v-Src的鸡胚成纤维细胞中被发现.近年研究证实,AK介导细胞外信号由整合素受体向细胞内转导的过程.FAK的磷酸化激活以及由此产生的下游一系列蛋白质的磷酸化,是细胞外基质(extracellular matrix,ECM)与细胞相互作用并产生一系列生物学效应的关键环节,参与细胞增殖、迁移与凋亡的调节过程.已经发现,AK与肿瘤的生长、浸润和转移密切相关.然而,在以血管平滑肌细胞(vascular smooth muscle ell,SMC)增生为主要特征的血管再狭窄发生过程中,AK是否参与、介导了VSMC的迁移与增殖目前尚未见报道.本文就此进行了初步探讨.     

整合蛋白α5β1过表达诱导人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721“失巢凋亡”机理

为了进一步阐明整合蛋白α5 β1过表达诱导非粘着状态的人肝癌细胞SMMC 772 1失巢凋亡的机理 ,利用poly HEME阻断细胞贴壁 ,诱导失巢凋亡 ,在poly HEME包被的 96孔板中检测细胞生存率 .利用Western印迹法检测了与细胞信号转导密切相关的粘着斑激酶 (FAK)、蛋白激酶B(PKB)及生存蛋白survivin的表达水平 .α5 β1过表达细胞株在去粘附状态下的生存率明显低于对照细胞 .在生长 8d时 ,以整合蛋白不同亚单位转染的α5 β1 772 1、β1 772 1和α5 772 1细胞 ,活细胞数分别降至对照组的 4 0 %、4 5 %和 83% .这说明整合蛋白α5 β1过表达细胞株 ,特别是α5 β1 772 1和 β1 772 1细胞的失巢凋亡明显加快 .细胞悬浮生长 2 4h后 ,α5 β1过表达细胞株都有不同程度的凋亡发生 ;同时粘着斑激酶 (FAK)和蛋白激酶B(PKB)表达量及其磷酸化水平均低于对照细胞 ,而survivin表达水平在α5 β1 772 1中最高 ,在 β1 772 1中最低 .在给予天然细胞外基质纤粘连蛋白的条件下 ,α5 β1 772 1和 β1 772 1细胞的FAK和PKB的磷酸化水平却呈升高趋势 .结果说明 ,FAK和PKB的变化与细胞的粘附状态密切相关 ,并且参与整合蛋白α5 β1过表达细胞在去粘附状态下失巢凋亡的发生 .     

PTEN对SMMC—7721人肝癌细胞迁移增殖及粘着斑激酶磷酸化水平的影响

抑癌基因PTEN编码产物具有双专一性磷酸酶活性 ,并与细胞骨架张力蛋白同源。PTEN可参与粘着斑的形成和解聚而影响细胞迁移。现用PTEN表达质粒转染SMMC 772 1肝癌细胞 ,研究SMMC 772 1细胞运动能力的变化及PTEN与粘着斑激酶 (FAK)酪氨酸磷酸化水平之间的关系。PTEN过表达能够显著抑制细胞在Fn基质上的活动 :细胞在Fn基质上的迁移下降了 35 % ;在 30min和 6 0min两个时间点 ,Fn基质上细胞铺展分别降低了 2 9%和 2 6 % ;而在多聚赖氨酸基质上细胞铺展并没有变化。运用免疫沉淀和Western印迹方法 ,分析FAK及其酪氨酸磷酸化水平 ,发现PTEN过表达不影响FAK表达 ,但显著降低Fn诱导的FAK酪氨酸磷酸化水平 ,两者水平呈负相关。流式细胞仪分析细胞周期结果表明 ,PTEN抑制细胞 ,S期细胞下降了 16 %。上述结果提示 ,PTEN抑制肝癌细胞迁移铺展和增殖 ;PTEN对细胞运动的影响可能通过调节FAK酪氨酸磷酸化水平而实现。     

整合素β3亚单位胞内区在骨桥蛋白诱导血管平滑肌细胞黏附和迁移中的作用

为阐明整合素β3亚单位胞内区及其不同保守序列在骨桥蛋白（OPN）诱导血管平滑肌细胞（VSMC）黏附和迁移中所起的作用, 构建了整合素β3亚单位胞内区肽段真核表达载体（p-EGFP-C3-β3CD）, 并人工合成了含有β3亚单位胞内区不同保守序列（NXXY）的寡肽（肽-747和肽-759）, 通过导入VSMC, 观察它们对OPN诱导VSMC黏附和迁移的影响.结果显示, 整合素β3胞内区在VSMC中强制性表达可使细胞在OPN上的黏附和迁移明显下降（分别为对照组的34.3%和31.7%）,导入肽-747、肽-759和肽-747+肽-759均可显著抑制VSMC的黏附和迁移, 其中肽-747+肽-759的作用更强(分别为对照组的36.4%和31.1%). 免疫荧光结果显示, 在转染p-EGFP-C3-β3-CD或肽-747+肽-759的VSMC中, 黏着斑蛋白的磷酸化水平降低, 黏着斑形成明显减少.研究结果表明, 整合素β3亚单位胞内区及其NXXY保守序列在黏着斑相关蛋白募集、黏着斑形成及VSMC黏附和迁移方面发挥重要作用.     

粘着斑激酶在bFGF引起细胞迁移中的动态变化及意义

本文旨在观察不同浓度碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(basic fibroblast growth factor,bFGF)引起体外培养的ECV-304细胞迁移时粘着斑激酶(focal adhesion kinase,FAK)的动态变化及FAK与细胞迁移的关系。建立体外培养的ECV-304细胞划痕损伤模型,观察经不同剂量(0、5、10、15 ng/ml)bFGF作用12-24 h内细胞迁移距离(电脑图像测定)和FAK蛋白含量(Western blot)、活性(免疫沉淀加Western blot)和mRNA(RT-PCR)的动态变化。用免疫细胞化学(ABC法)染色研究整合素α3表达。结果发现,低浓度(5 ng/ml)bFGF促进细胞迁移,FAK蛋白含量增加42.07±2.02％、活性增加71.37±1.85％,与对照组比,差异显著(P<0.05),并与迁移距离呈正相关(P<0.05)。高浓度(15 ng/ml)bFGF抑制细胞迁移,FAK的变化相反。FAK mRNA的变化比蛋白变化早出现6 h。与对照细比,各实验组整合素α3表达无明显差异。由此可见,不同剂量bFGF对ECV-304细胞迁移的双相调节作用与FAK含量、活性与mRNA表达呈正相关,FAK在bFGF引起的细胞迁移的信号转导途径中起着重要作用。     

N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶Ⅴ过表达对人肝癌细胞粘着斑复合物介导的信号转导作用

为了探讨过表达N 乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶Ⅴ (GnT Ⅴ )后 772 1细胞侵袭、迁移等行为改变的机制 ,检测了GnT Ⅴ 772 1及pcDNA3 772 1两组细胞中与恶性表型密切相关的粘着斑激酶 (focalad hesionkinase ,FAK)、PTEN蛋白、蛋白激酶B(PKB)等重要信号分子的表达水平 ,同时测定了 2组细胞非贴壁依赖生长的能力 .利用Western印迹方法检测FAK、PTEN、PKB的表达或磷酸化水平 .利用poly hema使细胞非贴壁生长 ,2组细胞悬浮无血清培养 2 0h ,采用流式细胞仪方法检测细胞的失巢凋亡 (anoikis) .研究发现 ,转染GnT Ⅴ后的肝癌细胞的FAK表达无明显变化 ,FAK的酪氨酸磷酸化水平增高 70 %;而PTEN的表达下降了 4 9%;PKB的磷酸化增加 2 0 0 %;pcDNA3 772 1细胞已有明显凋亡 ,而转染GnT Ⅴ的 772 1细胞未发生凋亡 .结果提示 ,转染GnT Ⅴ后的肝癌细胞迁移力增强 ,可能与其FAK的磷酸化程度升高 ,激酶活力增强有关 ;而能逃逸失巢凋亡是因为PTEN的表达下降 ,PTEN蛋白的磷酸酶活性降低 ,细胞Akt PKB磷酸化水平保持在较高水平 .     

N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶Ⅴ过表达对人肝癌细胞粘着斑复合物介导的信号转导作用

为了探讨过表达N 乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶Ⅴ (GnT Ⅴ )后 772 1细胞侵袭、迁移等行为改变的机制 ,检测了GnT Ⅴ 772 1及pcDNA3 772 1两组细胞中与恶性表型密切相关的粘着斑激酶 (focalad hesionkinase ,FAK)、PTEN蛋白、蛋白激酶B(PKB)等重要信号分子的表达水平 ,同时测定了 2组细胞非贴壁依赖生长的能力 .利用Western印迹方法检测FAK、PTEN、PKB的表达或磷酸化水平 .利用poly hema使细胞非贴壁生长 ,2组细胞悬浮无血清培养 2 0h ,采用流式细胞仪方法检测细胞的失巢凋亡 (anoikis) .研究发现 ,转染GnT Ⅴ后的肝癌细胞的FAK表达无明显变化 ,FAK的酪氨酸磷酸化水平增高 70 %;而PTEN的表达下降了 4 9%;PKB的磷酸化增加 2 0 0 %;pcDNA3 772 1细胞已有明显凋亡 ,而转染GnT Ⅴ的 772 1细胞未发生凋亡 .结果提示 ,转染GnT Ⅴ后的肝癌细胞迁移力增强 ,可能与其FAK的磷酸化程度升高 ,激酶活力增强有关 ;而能逃逸失巢凋亡是因为PTEN的表达下降 ,PTEN蛋白的磷酸酶活性降低 ,细胞Akt PKB磷酸化水平保持在较高水平 .     

Autonomous expression of a noncatalytic domain of the focal adhesion-associated protein tyrosine kinase pp125FAK.

Integrins play a central role in cellular adhesion and anchorage of the cytoskeleton and participate in the generation of intracellular signals, including tyrosine phosphorylation. We have recently isolated a cDNA encoding a unique, focal adhesion-associated protein tyrosine kinase (FAK) that is a component of an integrin-mediated signal transduction pathway. Here we report the isolation of cDNAs encoding the C-terminal, noncatalytic domain of the FAK kinase, termed FRNK (FAK-related nonkinase). Both the FAK- and FRNK-encoded polypeptides, pp125FAK and p41/p43FRNK, are expressed in normal chicken embryo cells. pp125FAK and p41/p43FRNK were localized to focal adhesions, suggesting that pp125FAK is directed to the focal adhesions by sequences within its C-terminal domain. We also show that the fibronectin-dependent increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125FAK is accompanied by a concomitant posttranslational modification of p41FRNK.     

A NPxY-independent beta5 integrin activation signal regulates phagocytosis of apoptotic cells

Integrin receptors are heterodimeric transmembrane receptors with critical functions in cell adhesion and migration, cell cycle progression, differentiation, apoptosis, and phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. Integrins are activated by intracellular signaling that alter the binding affinity for extracellular ligands, so-called inside to outside signaling. A common element for integrin activation involves binding of the cytoskeletal protein talin, via its FERM domain, to a highly conserved NPxY motif in the β chain cytoplasmic tails, which is involved in long-range conformation changes to the extracellular domain that impinges on ligand affinity. When the human beta-5 (β5) integrin cDNA was expressed in αv positive, β5 and β3 negative hamster CS-1 cells, it promoted NPxY-dependent adhesion to VTN-coated surfaces, phosphorylation of FAK, and concomitantly, β5 integrin-EGFP protein was recruited into talin and paxillin-containing focal adhesions. Expression of a NPxY destabilizing β5 mutant (Y750A) abrogated adhesion and β5-Y750A-EGFP was excluded from focal adhesions at the tips of stress fibers. Surprisingly, expression of β5 Y750A integrin had a potent gain-of-function effect on apoptotic cell phagocytosis, and further, a β5-Y750A-EGFP fusion integrin readily bound MFG-E8-coated 10 μm diameter microspheres developed as apoptotic cell mimetics. The critical sequences in β5 integrin were mapped to a YEMAS motif just proximal to the NPxY motif. Our studies suggest that the phagocytic function of β5 integrin is regulated by an unconventional NPxY-talin-independent activation signal and argue for the existence of molecular switches in the β5 cytoplasmic tail for adhesion and phagocytosis.     

Vascular endothelial growth factor regulates focal adhesion assembly in human brain microvascular endothelial cells through activation of the focal adhesion kinase and related adhesion focal tyrosine kinase

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a significant role in blood-brain barrier breakdown and angiogenesis after brain injury. VEGF-induced endothelial cell migration is a key step in the angiogenic response and is mediated by an accelerated rate of focal adhesion complex assembly and disassembly. In this study, we identified the signaling mechanisms by which VEGF regulates human brain microvascular endothelial cell (HBMEC) integrity and assembly of focal adhesions, complexes comprised of scaffolding and signaling proteins organized by adhesion to the extracellular matrix. We found that VEGF treatment of HBMECs plated on laminin or fibronectin stimulated cytoskeletal organization and increased focal adhesion sites. Pretreating cells with VEGF antibodies or with the specific inhibitor SU-1498, which inhibits Flk-1/KDR receptor phosphorylation, blocked the ability of VEGF to stimulate focal adhesion assembly. VEGF induced the coupling of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) to integrin alphavbeta5 and tyrosine phosphorylation of the cytoskeletal components paxillin and p130cas. Additionally, FAK and related adhesion focal tyrosine kinase (RAFTK)/Pyk2 kinases were tyrosine-phosphorylated by VEGF and found to be important for focal adhesion sites. Overexpression of wild type RAFTK/Pyk2 increased cell spreading and the migration of HBMECs, whereas overexpression of catalytically inactive mutant RAFTK/Pyk2 markedly suppressed HBMEC spreading ( approximately 70%), adhesion ( approximately 82%), and migration ( approximately 65%). Furthermore, blocking of FAK by the dominant-interfering mutant FRNK (FAK-related non-kinase) significantly inhibited HBMEC spreading and migration and also disrupted focal adhesions. Thus, these studies define a mechanism for the regulatory role of VEGF in focal adhesion complex assembly in HBMECs via activation of FAK and RAFTK/Pyk2.     

Integrin-mediated Activation of MAP Kinase Is Independent of FAK: Evidence for Dual Integrin Signaling Pathways in Fibroblasts

Integrin-mediated cell adhesion causes activation of MAP kinases and increased tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Autophosphorylation of FAK leads to the binding of SH2-domain proteins including Src-family kinases and the Grb2–Sos complex. Since Grb2–Sos is a key regulator of the Ras signal transduction pathway, one plausible hypothesis has been that integrin-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK leads to activation of the Ras cascade and ultimately to mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase activation. Thus, in this scenario FAK would serve as an upstream regulator of MAP kinase activity. However, in this report we present several lines of evidence showing that integrin-mediated MAP kinase activity in fibroblasts is independent of FAK. First, a β1 integrin subunit deletion mutant affecting the putative FAK binding site supports activation of MAP kinase in adhering fibroblasts but not tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK. Second, fibroblast adhesion to bacterially expressed fragments of fibronectin demonstrates that robust activation of MAP kinase can precede tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK. Finally, we have used FRNK, the noncatalytic COOH-terminal domain of FAK, as a dominant negative inhibitor of FAK autophosphorylation and of tyrosine phosphorylation of focal contacts. Using retroviral infection, we demonstrate that levels of FRNK expression sufficient to completely block FAK tyrosine phosphorylation were without effect on integrin-mediated activation of MAP kinase. These results strongly suggest that integrin-mediated activation of MAP kinase is independent of FAK and indicate the probable existence of at least two distinct integrin signaling pathways in fibroblasts.     

Regulation of reactive oxygen species-induced endothelial cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts by focal adhesion kinase and adherens junction proteins

Oxidants, generated by activated neutrophils, have been implicated in the pathophysiology of vascular disorders and lung injury; however, mechanisms of oxidant-mediated endothelial barrier dysfunction are unclear. Here, we have investigated the role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in regulating hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of intercellular adhesion proteins and barrier function in endothelium. Treatment of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAECs) with H(2)O(2) increased tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK, paxillin, beta-catenin, and vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin and decreased transendothelial electrical resistance (TER), an index of cell-cell adhesion and/or cell-matrix adhesion. To study the role of FAK in H(2)O(2)-induced TER changes, BPAECs were transfected with vector or FAK wild-type or FAK-related non-kinase (FRNK) plasmids. Overexpression of FRNK reduced FAK expression and attenuated H(2)O(2)-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK, paxillin, beta-catenin, and VE-cadherin and cell-cell adhesion. Additionally, FRNK prevented H(2)O(2)-induced distribution of FAK, paxillin, beta-catenin, or VE-cadherin toward focal adhesions and cell-cell adhesions but not actin stress fiber formation. These results suggest that activation of FAK by H(2)O(2) is an important event in oxidant-mediated VE barrier function regulated by cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts.     

An endogenous inhibitor of focal adhesion kinase blocks Rac1/JNK but not Ras/ERK-dependent signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells

Humoral factors and extracellular matrix are critical co-regulators of smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and proliferation. We reported previously that focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-related non-kinase (FRNK) is expressed selectively in SMC and can inhibit platelet-derived growth factor BB homodimer (PDGF-BB)-induced proliferation and migration of SMC by attenuating FAK activity. The goal of the current studies was to identify the mechanism by which FAK/FRNK regulates SMC growth and migration in response to diverse mitogenic signals. Transient overexpression of FRNK in SMC attenuated autophosphorylation of FAK at Tyr-397, reduced Src family-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK at Tyr-576, Tyr-577, and Tyr-881, and reduced phosphorylation of the FAK/Src substrates Cas and paxillin. However, FRNK expression did not alter the magnitude or dynamics of ERK activation induced by PDGF-BB or angiotensin II. Instead, FRNK expression markedly attenuated PDGF-BB-, angiotensin II-, and integrin-stimulated Rac1 activity and attenuates downstream signaling to JNK. Importantly, constitutively active Rac1 rescued the proliferation defects in FRNK expressing cells. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that FAK activation is required to integrate integrin signals with those from receptor tyrosine kinases and G protein-coupled receptors through downstream activation of Rac1 and that in SMC, FRNK may control proliferation and migration by buffering FAK-dependent Rac1 activation.     

Paxillin binding is not the sole determinant of focal adhesion localization or dominant-negative activity of focal adhesion kinase/focal adhesion kinase-related nonkinase

The carboxy-terminal 150 residues of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) comprise the focal adhesion-targeting sequence, which is responsible for its subcellular localization. The mechanism of focal adhesion targeting has not been fully elucidated. We describe a mutational analysis of the focal adhesion-targeting sequence of FAK to further examine the mechanism of focal adhesion targeting and explore additional functions encoded by the carboxy-terminus of FAK. The results demonstrate that paxillin binding is dispensable for focal adhesion targeting of FAK. Cell adhesion-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation strictly correlated with the ability of mutants to target to focal adhesions. Focal adhesion targeting was also a requirement for maximal FAK-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin and FAK-related nonkinase (FRNK)-dependent inhibition of endogenous FAK function. However, there were additional requirements for these latter functions because we identified mutants that target to focal adhesions, yet are defective for the induction of paxillin phosphorylation or the dominant-negative function of FRNK. Furthermore, the paxillin-binding activity of FRNK mutants did not correlate with their ability to inhibit FAK, suggesting that FRNK has other targets in addition to paxillin.     

SRC-mediated phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase couples actin and adhesion dynamics to survival signaling

Integrin-associated focal adhesions not only provide adhesive links between cellular actin and extracellular matrix but also are sites of signal transmission into the cell interior. Many cell responses signal through focal adhesion kinase (FAK), often by integrin-induced autophosphorylation of FAK or phosphorylation by Src family kinases. Here, we used an interfering FAK mutant (4-9F-FAK) to show that Src-dependent FAK phosphorylation is required for focal adhesion turnover and cell migration, by controlling assembly of a calpain 2/FAK/Src/p42ERK complex, calpain activation, and proteolysis of FAK. Expression of 4-9F-FAK in FAK-deficient fibroblasts also disrupts F-actin assembly associated with normal adhesion and spreading. In addition, we found that FAK's ability to regulate both assembly and disassembly of the actin and adhesion networks may be linked to regulation of the protease calpain. Surprisingly, we also found that the same interfering 4-9F-FAK mutant protein causes apoptosis of serum-deprived, transformed cells and suppresses anchorage-independent growth. These data show that Src-mediated phosphorylation of FAK acts as a pivotal regulator of both actin and adhesion dynamics and survival signaling, which, in turn, control apparently distinct processes such as cell migration and anchorage-independent growth. This also highlights that dynamic regulation of actin and adhesions (which include the integrin matrix receptors) is critical to signaling output and biological responses.