PTEN interactions with focal adhesion kinase and suppression of the extracellular matrix-dependent phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt cell survival pathway. (33/1828)

The tumor suppressor PTEN is a phosphatase with sequence homology to tensin. PTEN dephosphorylates phosphatidylinositol 3,4, 5-trisphosphate (PIP3) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and it can inhibit cell growth, invasion, migration, and focal adhesions. We investigated molecular interactions of PTEN and FAK in glioblastoma and breast cancer cells lacking PTEN. The PTEN trapping mutant D92A bound wild-type FAK, requiring FAK autophosphorylation site Tyr397. In PTEN-mutated cancer cells, FAK phosphorylation was retained even in suspension after detachment from extracellular matrix, accompanied by enhanced PI 3-K association with FAK and sustained PI 3-K activity, PIP3 levels, and Akt phosphorylation; expression of exogenous PTEN suppressed all five properties. PTEN-mutated cells were resistant to apoptosis in suspension, but most of the cells entered apoptosis after expression of exogenous PTEN or wortmannin treatment. Moreover, overexpression of FAK in PTEN-transfected cells reversed the decreased FAK phosphorylation and PI 3-K activity, and it partially rescued PIP3 levels, Akt phosphorylation, and PTEN-induced apoptosis. Our results show that FAK Tyr397 is important in PTEN interactions with FAK, that PTEN regulates FAK phosphorylation and molecular associations after detachment from matrix, and that PTEN negatively regulates the extracellular matrix-dependent PI 3-K/Akt cell survival pathway in a process that can include FAK.  (+info)

Focal adhesion proteins FAK and paxillin increase in hypertrophied skeletal muscle. (34/1828)

Components of signaling pathways for mechanotransduction during load-induced enlargement of skeletal muscle have not been completely defined. We hypothesized that loading of skeletal muscle would result in an adaptive increase in the expression of two focal adhesion complex (FAC)-related proteins, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin, as well as increased FAK activity. FAK protein was immunolocalized to the sarcolemmal region of rooster anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) myofibers in the middle of the ALD muscle. FAK (77 and 81%) and paxillin (206 and 202%) protein concentrations per unit of total protein in Western blots increased significantly after 1.5 and 7 days, but not after 13 days, of stretch-induced hypertrophy-hyperplasia of the ALD muscle. FAK autokinase activity in immunoprecipitates was increased after 1.5, 7, and 13 days in stretched ALD muscles. To determine whether increased FAK and paxillin protein concentrations are associated with hypertrophy and/or new fiber formation, two additional experiments were performed. First, during formation of primary chicken myotubes (a model of new fiber formation), FAK protein concentration (63%), FAK activity (157%), and paxillin protein concentration (97%) increased compared with myoblasts. Second, FAK (112% and 611%) and paxillin (87% and 431%) protein concentrations per unit of total protein in the soleus muscle increased at 1 and 8 days after surgical ablation of the synergistic gastrocnemius muscle (a model of hypertrophy without hyperplasia). Thus increases in components of the FAC occur in hypertrophying muscle of animals and in newly formed muscle fibers in culture. Furthermore, increased FAK activity suggests a possible convergence of signaling at the FAC in load-induced growth of skeletal muscle.  (+info)

Role of PTP-1B in aortic smooth muscle cell motility and tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion proteins. (35/1828)

Recent studies have focused attention on the role of protein tyrosine kinases in vascular smooth muscle cell biology, but similar information regarding protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTP) is sparse. PTP-1B is a ubiquitous nonreceptor phosphatase with uncertain function and substrates that are mostly unidentified. We used antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) against PTP-1B to investigate the role of endogenous PTP-1B in motility of primary cultures of rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMC). Antisense ODN decreased PTP-1B protein levels and activity in a concentration-dependent fashion, whereas sense, scrambled, or three-base mismatch antisense ODN had little or no effect. Treatment of cells with antisense ODN, but not sense, scrambled, or three-base mismatch antisense ODN, enhanced cell motility and increased tyrosine phosphorylation levels of focal adhesion proteins paxillin, p130(cas), and focal adhesion kinase. Our findings indicate that PTP-1B is a negative regulator of RASMC motility via modulation of phosphotyrosine levels in several focal adhesion proteins and suggest the involvement of PTP-1B in events such as atherosclerosis and restenosis, which are associated with increased vascular smooth muscle cell motility.  (+info)

Hydrogen peroxide stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase in vascular endothelial cells. (36/1828)

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in the pathophysiology of several vascular disorders including atherosclerosis. Although the mechanism(s) of ROS-induced vascular damage remains unclear, there is increasing evidence for ROS-mediated modulation of signal transduction pathways. Exposure of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells to hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of 60- to 80- and 110- to 130-kDa cellular proteins, which were determined by immunoprecipitation with specific antibodies focal adhesion kinase (p125(FAK)) and paxillin (p68). Brief exposure of cells to a relatively high concentration of H(2)O(2) (1 mM) resulted in a time- and dose-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK, which reached maximum levels within 10 min (290% of basal levels). Cytoskeletal reorganization as evidenced by the appearance of actin stress fibers preceded H(2)O(2)-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK, and the microfilament disruptor cytochalasin D also attenuated the tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK. Treatment of BPAECs with 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N', N'-tetraacetic acid-AM attenuated H(2)O(2)-induced increases in intracellular Ca(2+) but did not show any consistent effect on H(2)O(2)-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK. Several tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including genistein, herbimycin, and tyrphostin, had no detectable effect on tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK but attenuated the H(2)O(2)-induction of mitogen-activated protein kinase activity. We conclude that H(2)O(2)-induced increases in FAK tyrosine phosphorylation may be important in H(2)O(2)-mediated endothelial cell activation.  (+info)

Required role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) for integrin-stimulated cell migration. (37/1828)

FAK localizes to sites of transmembrane integrin receptor clustering and facilitates intracellular signaling events. FAK-null (FAK-) fibroblasts exhibit a rounded morphology, defects in cell migration, and an elevated number of cell-substratum contact sites. Here we show that stable re-expression of epitope-tagged FAK reversed the morphological defects of the FAK- cells through the dynamic regulation of actin structures and focal contact sites in fibronectin (FN) stimulated cells. FAK re-expressing fibroblasts (clones DA2 and DP3) exhibit a characteristic fibrillar shape and display indistinguishable FN receptor-stimulated migration properties compared to normal fibroblasts. Expression of various FAK mutants in the FAK- cells showed that FAK kinase activity, the Tyr-397/SH2 domain binding site, and the first proline-rich SH3 binding region in the FAK C-terminal domain were individually needed to promote full FAK-mediated FAK- cell migration to FN whereas direct paxillin binding to FAK was not required. Expression of the FAK Phe-397 mutant did not promote FAK- cell migration and overexpression of p50(csk) in DA2 cells inhibited migration to FN suggesting that Src-family PTKs play important roles in FAK-mediated motility events. Expression of the FAK C-terminal domain, FRNK, promoted FAK dephosphorylation at Tyr-397 and potently blocked FAK-mediated cell migration. This dominant-negative effect of FRNK was reversed by a point mutation (Leu-1034 to Ser) which prevented FRNK localization to focal contact sites. Our results show that FAK functions as a key regulator of fibronectin receptor stimulated cell migration events through the recruitment of both SH2 and SH3 domain-containing signaling proteins to sites of integrin receptor clustering.  (+info)

TNF-alpha induces actin cytoskeleton reorganization in glomerular epithelial cells involving tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin and focal adhesion kinase. (38/1828)

Glomerular permeability for macromolecules depends partially on proper attachment of the glomerular epithelial cells (GEC) to the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). The latter requires integrity of the actin cytoskeleton, which in turn is regulated by specific actin-associated proteins. Since several glomerulopathies characterized by heavy proteinuria are associated with increased glomerular tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) expression, we studied the interaction of TNF-alpha with the actin cytoskeleton of cultured rat GEC. Incubation of GEC with 10 ng/ml TNF-alpha for variable time periods ranging from 15 min to 24 hr demonstrated a marked accentuation and redistribution of actin microfilaments, as shown by direct fluorescence analysis and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Quantitative biochemical determination of the G/total-actin ratio confirmed the above observations. Indeed, this ratio was significantly reduced, indicating substantial polymerization of G-actin and formation of F-actin. Concurrently, TNF-alpha rapidly induced tyrosine phosphorylation of both paxillin and focal adhesion kinase, without affecting the expression levels of these two proteins. In addition, tyrosine phosphorylation of vinculin became evident, indicating involvement of this focal adhesion marker in the observed actin reorganization. Inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation by genistein prevented the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton by TNF-alpha. We conclude that TNF-alpha induces substantial reorganization of actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesions. These effects occur simultaneously, with a prompt TNF-alpha-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin and focal adhesion kinase, indicating that these proteins, known to regulate actin polymerization and formation of focal adhesions, may be directly involved in the mechanism controlling the observed actin redistribution. These findings suggest that the observed TNF-alpha-actin cytoskeleton interactions may relate to the pathogenesis of glomerulopathies with heavy proteinuria, in which increased glomerular expression of TNF-alpha is associated with disturbances in the attachment of podocytes to the GBM.  (+info)

Focal adhesion kinase, paxillin, and bcl-2: analysis of expression, phosphorylation, and association during morphogenesis. (39/1828)

Cell adhesive mechanisms which determine tissue architecture during morphogenesis are tightly regulated and have an impact on apoptosis, cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Bcl-2 is a death repressor that protects cells from apoptosis initiated by a variety of stimuli including loss of cell adhesion. Utilizing the kidney as a model of an organ that undergoes three-dimensional development we demonstrate that bcl-2 directly associates with paxillin. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK)(p125) and paxillin(p68) were highly expressed and tyrosine phosphorylated during development but declined to low levels following renal maturation (postnatal day 20) in normal mice. The decline in the expression of p125 FAK and p68 paxillin occurred together with an increase in specific cleavage products of lower molecular weights. Mice deficient in bcl-2 are born with renal hypoplasia and succumb to renal failure as a result of renal multicystic disease. In kidneys from postnatal day 20 bcl-2 -/- mice, tyrosine phosphorylation of p125 FAK and p68 paxillin was not down-regulated. However, the level of expression was similar to that of normal mice. These results demonstrate that the developmentally regulated expression and phosphorylation of FAK and paxillin, in the presence of bcl-2, is necessary for normal morphogenesis. The interaction of paxillin with bcl-2 during nephrogenesis may provide an alternative to integrin(s) signaling through paxillin/FAK thus bypassing the need for adhesion-mediated survival during three dimensional morphogenesis. Dev Dyn 1999;215:371-382.  (+info)

Shc and FAK differentially regulate cell motility and directionality modulated by PTEN. (40/1828)

Cell migration is modulated by regulatory molecules such as growth factors, oncogenes, and the tumor suppressor PTEN. We previously described inhibition of cell migration by PTEN and restoration of motility by focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and p130 Crk-associated substrate (p130(Cas)). We now report a novel pathway regulating random cell motility involving Shc and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, which is downmodulated by PTEN and additive to a FAK pathway regulating directional migration. Overexpression of Shc or constitutively activated MEK1 in PTEN- reconstituted U87-MG cells stimulated integrin- mediated MAP kinase activation and cell migration. Conversely, overexpression of dominant negative Shc inhibited cell migration; Akt appeared uninvolved. PTEN directly dephosphorylated Shc. The migration induced by FAK or p130(Cas) was directionally persistent and involved extensive organization of actin microfilaments and focal adhesions. In contrast, Shc or MEK1 induced a random type of motility associated with less actin cytoskeletal and focal adhesion organization. These results identify two distinct, additive pathways regulating cell migration that are downregulated by tumor suppressor PTEN: one involves Shc, a MAP kinase pathway, and random migration, whereas the other involves FAK, p130(Cas), more extensive actin cytoskeletal organization, focal contacts, and directionally persistent cell motility. Integration of these pathways provides an intracellular mechanism for regulating the speed and the directionality of cell migration.  (+info)