Regulation of the Cell Cycle by Focal Adhesion Kinase

In this report, we have analyzed the potential role and mechanisms of integrin signaling through FAK in cell cycle regulation by using tetracycline-regulated expression of exogenous FAK and mutants. We have found that overexpression of wild-type FAK accelerated G1 to S phase transition. Conversely, overexpression of a dominant-negative FAK mutant ΔC14 inhibited cell cycle progression at G1 phase and this inhibition required the Y397 in ΔC14. Biochemical analyses indicated that FAK mutant ΔC14 was mislocalized and functioned as a dominant-negative mutant by competing with endogenous FAK in focal contacts for binding signaling molecules such as Src and Fyn, resulting in a decreases of Erk activation in cell adhesion. Consistent with this, we also observed inhibition of BrdU incorporation and Erk activation by FAK Y397F mutant and FRNK, but not FRNKΔC14, in transient transfection assays using primary human foreskin fibroblasts. Finally, we also found that ΔC14 blocked cyclin D1 upregulation and induced p21 expression, while wild-type FAK increased cyclin D1 expression and decreased p21 expression. Taken together, these results have identified FAK and its associated signaling pathways as a mediator of the cell cycle regulation by integrins.     

Visualizing and Manipulating Focal Adhesion Kinase Regulation in Live Cells

Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) is essential for cell migration and plays an important role in tumor metastasis. However, the complex intermolecular and intramolecular interactions that regulate FAK activity at the focal adhesion remain unresolved. We have engineered a toolbox of FRET sensors that retain all of the individual FAK domains but modulate a key intramolecular regulatory interaction between the band 4.1/ezrin/radixin/moesin (FERM) and kinase domains of FAK. We demonstrate systematic control and quantitative measurement of the FERM-kinase interaction at focal adhesions, which in turn allows us to control cell migration. Using these sensors, we find that Tyr-397 phosphorylation, rather than kinase activity of FAK, is the key determinant of cell migration. Our sensors directly demonstrate, for the first time, a pH-dependent change in a protein-protein interaction at a macromolecular structure in live cells. The FERM-kinase interaction at focal adhesions is enhanced at acidic pH, with a concomitant decrease in Tyr-397 phosphorylation, providing a potential mechanism for enhanced migration of cancer cells.     

Allosteric Regulation of E-Cadherin Adhesion

Cadherins are transmembrane adhesion proteins that maintain intercellular cohesion in all tissues, and their rapid regulation is essential for organized tissue remodeling. Despite some evidence that cadherin adhesion might be allosterically regulated, testing of this has been hindered by the difficulty of quantifying altered E-cadherin binding affinity caused by perturbations outside the ectodomain binding site. Here, measured kinetics of cadherin-mediated intercellular adhesion demonstrated quantitatively that treatment with activating, anti-E-cadherin antibodies or the dephosphorylation of a cytoplasmic binding partner, p120^ctn, increased the homophilic binding affinity of E-cadherin. Results obtained with Colo 205 cells, which express inactive E-cadherin and do not aggregate, demonstrated that four treatments, which induced Colo 205 aggregation and p120^ctn dephosphorylation, triggered quantitatively similar increases in E-cadherin affinity. Several processes can alter cell aggregation, but these results directly demonstrated the allosteric regulation of cell surface E-cadherin by p120^ctn dephosphorylation.     

黏着斑激酶与细胞迁移

细胞迁移过程始于细胞前端板状伪足的形成、外周黏附的建立、细胞体的收缩和尾部的解离.黏着斑激酶是一种非受体酪氨酸蛋白激酶,通过其激酶活性和"脚手架"的功能在细胞迁移的各个过程中发挥关键作用.现重点介绍黏着斑激酶介导的信号转导通路及其在调控细胞迁移方面的研究进展.     

Differential Regulation of Focal Adhesion Kinase and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Tyrosine Phosphorylation During Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I-Mediated Cytoskeletal Reorganization

Abstract: In SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I mediates membrane ruffling and growth cone extension. We have previously shown that IGF-I activates the tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 2. In the current study, we examined which signaling pathway underlies IGF-I-mediated FAK phosphorylation and cytoskeletal changes and determined if an intact cytoskeleton was required for IGF-I signaling. Treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with cytochalasin D disrupted the actin cytoskeleton and prevented any morphological changes induced by IGF-I. Inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) blocked IGF-I-mediated changes in the actin cytoskeleton as measured by membrane ruffling. In contrast, PD98059, a selective inhibitor of ERK kinase, had no effect on IGF-I-induced membrane ruffling. In parallel with effects on the actin cytoskeleton, cytochalasin D and PI 3-K inhibitors blocked IGF-I-induced FAK tyrosine phosphorylation, whereas PD98059 had no effect. It is interesting that cytochalasin D did not block IGF-I-induced ERK2 tyrosine phosphorylation. Therefore, it is likely that FAK and ERK2 tyrosine phosphorylations are regulated by separate pathways during IGF-I signaling. Our study suggests that integrity as well as dynamic motility of the actin cytoskeleton mediated by PI 3-K is required for IGF-I-induced FAK tyrosine phosphorylation, but not for ERK2 activation.     

粘附斑激酶(FAK)及其信号通路研究进展

粘附斑激酶(focal adhesion kinase,FAK)是一类胞质非受体蛋白酪氨酸激酶,属于蛋白酪氨酸激酶(protein tyrosine kinase)超家族,因而也称为PTKⅡ.FAK在细胞信号转导中处于十分重要的位置,它是胞内外信号出入的中枢,介导多条信号通路.FAK可以整合来自整合素、生长因子以及机械刺激等的信号,激活胞内PI3K/Akt、Ras/MAPK等信号通路,调节细胞生长.FAK还与胚胎发育、肿瘤发生与迁移有关.     

Focal Adhesion Kinase Modulates Cell Adhesion Strengthening via Integrin Activation

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is an essential nonreceptor tyrosine kinase regulating cell migration, adhesive signaling, and mechanosensing. Using FAK-null cells expressing FAK under an inducible promoter, we demonstrate that FAK regulates the time-dependent generation of adhesive forces. During the early stages of adhesion, FAK expression in FAK-null cells enhances integrin activation to promote integrin binding and, hence, the adhesion strengthening rate. Importantly, FAK expression regulated integrin activation, and talin was required for the FAK-dependent effects. A role for FAK in integrin activation was confirmed in human fibroblasts with knocked-down FAK expression. The FAK autophosphorylation Y397 site was required for the enhancements in adhesion strengthening and integrin-binding responses. This work demonstrates a novel role for FAK in integrin activation and the time-dependent generation of cell–ECM forces.     

Focal Adhesion Kinase Signaling and the Aggressive Melanoma Phenotype

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) mediates myriad cellular functions and has been found to be over-expressed in numerous human cancers. We recently explored the role of FAK in promoting the aggressive phenotype of melanoma cells, characterized by increased invasion, migration, and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) potential. We found FAK to be phosphorylated on its key tyrosine residues (397 and 576) in aggressive melanoma cells cultured on a three-dimensional type 1 collagen matrix in vitro, as well as in radial and vertical growth phase melanomas in situ. Furthermore, expressing FAK related non-kinase (FRNK) in melanoma cells directly resulted in the inhibition of the aggressive phenotype, as demonstrated by decreased invasion, migration, and VM potential, in part by blocking an Erk1/2 mediated signaling pathway. Additional data indicated that increased FAK activity may promote cellular proliferation and anchorage independent growth of aggressive melanoma. Together these observations implicate FAK as a promoter of the aggressive melanoma phenotype, thereby identifying a rational target for therapeutic intervention of malignant melanoma.     

Autophosphorylation-independent and -dependent Functions of Focal Adhesion Kinase during Development

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) regulates numerous cellular functions and is critical for processes ranging from embryo development to cancer progression. Although autophosphorylation on Tyr-397 appears required for FAK functions in vitro, its role in vivo has not been established. We addressed this question using a mutant mouse (fakΔ) deleted of exon 15, which encodes Tyr-397. The resulting mutant protein FAKΔ is an active kinase expressed at normal levels. Our results demonstrate that the requirement for FAK autophosphorylation varies during development. FAK^Δ/Δ embryos developed normally up to embryonic day (E) 12.5, contrasting with the lethality at E8.5 of FAK-null embryos. Thus, autophosphorylation on Tyr-397 is not required for FAK to achieve its functions until late mid-gestation. However, FAK^Δ/Δ embryos displayed hemorrhages, edema, delayed artery formation, vascular remodeling defects, multiple organ abnormalities, and overall developmental retardation at E13.5–14.5, and died thereafter demonstrating that FAK autophosphorylation is also necessary for normal development. Fibroblasts derived from mutant embryos had a normal stellate morphology and expression of focal adhesion proteins, Src family members, p53, and Pyk2. In contrast, in FAK^Δ/Δ fibroblasts and endothelial cells, spreading and lamellipodia formation were altered with an increased size and number of focal adhesions, enriched in FAKΔ. FAK mutation also decreased fibroblast proliferation. These results show that the physiological functions of FAK in vivo are achieved through both autophosphorylation-independent and autophosphorylation-dependent mechanisms.     

Conformational Dynamics of the Focal Adhesion Targeting Domain Control Specific Functions of Focal Adhesion Kinase in Cells

Focal adhesion (FA) kinase (FAK) regulates cell survival and motility by transducing signals from membrane receptors. The C-terminal FA targeting (FAT) domain of FAK fulfils multiple functions, including recruitment to FAs through paxillin binding. Phosphorylation of FAT on Tyr⁹²⁵ facilitates FA disassembly and connects to the MAPK pathway through Grb2 association, but requires dissociation of the first helix (H1) of the four-helix bundle of FAT. We investigated the importance of H1 opening in cells by comparing the properties of FAK molecules containing wild-type or mutated FAT with impaired or facilitated H1 openings. These mutations did not alter the activation of FAK, but selectively affected its cellular functions, including self-association, Tyr⁹²⁵ phosphorylation, paxillin binding, and FA targeting and turnover. Phosphorylation of Tyr⁸⁶¹, located between the kinase and FAT domains, was also enhanced by the mutation that opened the FAT bundle. Similarly phosphorylation of Ser⁹¹⁰ by ERK in response to bombesin was increased by FAT opening. Although FAK molecules with the mutation favoring FAT opening were poorly recruited at FAs, they efficiently restored FA turnover and cell shape in FAK-deficient cells. In contrast, the mutation preventing H1 opening markedly impaired FAK function. Our data support the biological importance of conformational dynamics of the FAT domain and its functional interactions with other parts of the molecule.     

黏着斑激酶与肿瘤侵袭转移

黏着斑激酶（focal adhesion kinase,FAK）是一种非受体型蛋白酪氨酸激酶,在肿瘤细胞的侵袭和转移中起着重要的作用。FAK是整合素介导的或生长因子受体诱导的调节细胞迁移的信号通路的关键组分。FAK通过与相关分子作用可以调节细胞骨架重构、胞外基质降解、细胞黏附更新以及质膜突出,进而参与肿瘤细胞的运动等多个过程,所以FAK与肿瘤发展的关系已经越来越受到重视。     

Induction of Apoptosis after Expression of PYK2, a Tyrosine Kinase Structurally Related to Focal Adhesion Kinase

Many cells (e.g., epithelial cells) require attachment to the extracellular matrix (ECM) to survive, a phenomenon known as anchorage-dependent cell survival. Disruption of the cell–ECM interactions mediated by the integrin receptors results in apoptosis. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a 125-kD protein tyrosine kinase activated by integrin engagement, appears to be involved in mediating cell attachment and survival. Proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2), also known as cellular adhesion kinase β (CAKβ) and related adhesion focal tyrosine kinase, is a second member of the FAK subfamily and is activated by an increase in intracellular calcium levels, or treatment with TNFα and UV light. However, the function of PYK2 remains largely unknown. In this study, we show that over-expression of PYK2, but not FAK, in rat and mouse fibroblasts leads to apoptotic cell death. Using a series of deletion mutants and chimeric fusion proteins of PYK2/FAK, we determined that the NH₂-terminal domain and tyrosine kinase activity of PYK2 were required for the efficient induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, the apoptosis mediated by PYK2 could be suppressed by over-expressing catalytically active v-Src, c-Src, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, or Akt/protein kinase B. In addition, it could also be suppressed by overexpressing an ICE or ICE-like proteinase inhibitor, crmA, but not Bcl2. Collectively, our results suggest that PYK2 and FAK, albeit highly homologous in primary structure, appear to have different functions; FAK is required for cell survival, whereas PYK2 induces apoptosis in fibroblasts.     

Roles for Zebrafish Focal Adhesion Kinase in Notochord and Somite Morphogenesis

We have cloned zebrafish focal adhesion kinase (Fak) and analyzed its subcellular localization. Fak protein is localized at the cortex of notochord cells and at the notochord-somite boundary. During somitogenesis, Fak protein becomes concentrated at the basal region of epithelial cells at intersomitic boundaries. Phosphorylated Fak protein is seen at both the notochord-somite boundary and intersomitic boundaries, consistent with a role for Fak in boundary formation and maintenance. The localization of Fak protein to the basal region of epithelial cells in knypek;trilobite double mutant embryos shows that polarization of Fak distribution in the somite border cells is independent of internal mesenchymal cells. In addition, we show that neither Notch signaling through Suppressor of Hairless (SuH) nor deltaD is necessary for the wild-type segmental pattern of fak mRNA expression in the anterior paraxial mesoderm. However, nonsegmental expression of fak mRNA occurs with ectopic activation of Notch signaling through SuH and also in fused somite and beamter mutant embryos, indicating that there are multiple regulators of fak mRNA expression. Our results suggest that Fak plays a central role in notochord and somite morphogenesis.     

JNK Pathway-associated Phosphatase Dephosphorylates Focal Adhesion Kinase and Suppresses Cell Migration

JNK pathway-associated phosphatase (JKAP, also named DUSP22) is expressed in various tissues, indicating that JKAP may have an important biological function. We showed that JKAP localized in the actin filament-enriched region. Expression of JKAP reduced cell migration, whereas a JKAP mutant lacking catalytic activity promoted cell motility. JKAP efficiently removed tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins. We have identified focal adhesion kinase (FAK) as a substrate of JKAP. Overexpression of JKAP, but not JKAP mutant lacking catalytic activity, decreased FAK phosphorylation at tyrosines 397, 576, and 577 in H1299 cells. Consistent with these results, decreasing JKAP expression by RNA interference promoted cell migration and Src-induced FAK phosphorylation. Taken together, this study identified a new role for JKAP in the modulation of FAK phosphorylation and cell motility.     

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。     

Regulation of Focal Adhesion Dynamics and Cell Motility by the EB2 and Hax1 Protein Complex

Cell migration is a fundamental cellular process requiring integrated activities of the cytoskeleton, membrane, and cell/extracellular matrix adhesions. Many cytoskeletal activities rely on microtubule filaments. It has been speculated that microtubules can serve as tracks to deliver proteins essential for focal adhesion turnover. Three microtubule end-binding proteins (EB1, EB2, and EB3) in mammalian cells can track the plus ends of growing microtubules. EB1 and EB3 together can regulate microtubule dynamics by promoting microtubule growth and suppressing catastrophe, whereas, in contrast, EB2 does not play a direct role in microtubule dynamic instability, and little is known about the cellular function of EB2. By quantitative proteomics, we identified mammalian HCLS1-associated protein X-1 (HAX1) as an EB2-specific interacting protein. Knockdown of HAX1 and EB2 in skin epidermal cells stabilizes focal adhesions and impairs epidermal migration in vitro and in vivo. Our results further demonstrate that cell motility and focal adhesion turnover require interaction between Hax1 and EB2. Together, our findings provide new insights for this critical cellular process, suggesting that EB2 association with Hax1 plays a significant role in focal adhesion turnover and epidermal migration.     

Phosphorylation of RACK1 on Tyrosine 52 by c-Abl Is Required for Insulin-like Growth Factor I-mediated Regulation of Focal Adhesion Kinase

Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) activity is controlled by growth factors and adhesion signals in tumor cells. The scaffolding protein RACK1 (receptor for activated C kinases) integrates insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and integrin signaling, but whether RACK1 is required for FAK function is unknown. Here we show that association of FAK with RACK1 is required for both FAK phos pho ryl a tion and dephos pho ryl a tion in response to IGF-I. Suppression of RACK1 by small interfering RNA ablates FAK phos pho ryl a tion and reduces cell adhesion, cell spreading, and clonogenic growth. Peptide array and mutagenesis studies localize the FAK binding interface to blades I-III of the RACK1 β-propeller and specifically identify a set of basic and hydrophobic amino acids (Arg-47, Tyr-52, Arg-57, Arg-60, Phe-65, Lys-127, and Lys-130) as key determinants for association with FAK. Mutation of tyrosine 52 alone is sufficient to disrupt interaction of RACK1 with FAK in cells where endogenous RACK1 is suppressed by small interfering RNA. Cells expressing a Y52F mutant RACK1 are impaired in adhesion, growth, and foci formation. Comparative analyses of homology models and crystal structures for RACK1 orthologues suggest a role for Tyr-52 as a site for phos pho ryl a tion that induces conformational change in RACK1, switching the protein into a FAK binding state. Tyrosine 52 is further shown to be phos pho ryl a ted by c-Abl kinase, and the c-Abl inhibitor STI571 disrupts FAK interaction with RACK1. We conclude that FAK association with RACK1 is regulated by phos pho ryl a tion of Tyr-52. Our data reveal a novel mechanism whereby IGF-I and c-Abl control RACK1 association with FAK to facilitate adhesion signaling.RACK1² is a tryptophan-aspartate (WD) repeat containing protein that acts as a scaffolding protein in a wide array of signaling events (1, 2). It has been reported to both regulate and promote cell migration in different cell types (3–5). RACK1 scaffolds proteins at focal adhesions and is capable of mediating both focal adhesion assembly and disassembly (4, 6, 7). RACK1 also scaffolds core kinases of the ERK pathway in response to adhesion signals and modulates the phosphorylation of focal adhesion proteins including focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin (8, 9). In transformed cells RACK1 integrates signaling from the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) and β1 integrin by forming a scaffolding complex that includes these receptors as well as signaling molecules that promote cell migration (5, 10, 11). Cooperation between IGF-IR and β1 integrin signaling is essential for growth of certain tumors (12), and we propose that RACK1 has an important role in this.The interaction of RACK1 with the IGF-IR requires integrins to be ligated and also requires a domain in the C terminus of the IGF-IR that is essential for IGF-IR function in anchorage-independent growth, cell survival, and cell migration (13, 14). Ligand-mediated activation of the IGF-IR leads to recruitment of certain proteins to RACK1 such as IRS-1, β1 integrin, and dissociation of other proteins from RACK1 such as PP2A and Src. Competitive binding to RACK1 occurs for some of these proteins. For example, IGF-I-mediated dissociation of PP2A from RACK1 is required for recruitment of β1 integrin, and both PP2A and β1 integrin compete for binding to tyrosine 302 in RACK1 (5, 15).RACK1 is located in areas of cell protrusion that are rich in paxillin (4, 7) and can increase the phosphorylation of FAK (7). FAK is a well characterized kinase in mediating integrin signaling and is associated with the enhanced migratory potential of several cancer cell types (16–18). FAK is phosphorylated on tyrosine 397 in response to the clustering of integrins (for review, see Ref. 19) or by activation of the EGF and platelet-derived growth factor receptors (20–23). This results in recruitment of Src and subsequent phosphorylation of target proteins that are associated with focal adhesion formation and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. FAK becomes rapidly dephosphorylated when cells are detached, and this is thought to be essential for focal adhesion dissolution and cell migration. FAK dephosphorylation can be stimulated by IGF-I (5, 24–27). Interestingly, we have observed that IGF-I-mediated dephosphorylation of FAK is enhanced in cells overexpressing RACK1, which also have enhanced migratory potential and increased activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways (28). However, it is not known how the phosphorylation and subsequent dephosphorylation of FAK are coordinated. In particular, the role of RACK1 in regulation of FAK phosphorylation remains undefined. Here we investigated this in the context of IGF-I and adhesion signaling by determining the role of RACK1 in FAK function.