Type I gamma phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase targets and regulates focal adhesions

The ability of cells to form cell contacts, adhere to the extracellular matrix, change morphology, and migrate is essential for development, wound healing, metastasis, cell survival and the immune response. These events depend on the binding of integrin to the extracellular matrix, and assembly of focal adhesions, which are complexes comprising scaffolding and signalling proteins organized by adhesion to the extracellular matrix. Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P(2)) regulates interactions between these proteins, including the interaction of vinculin with actin and talin. The binding of talin to beta-integrin is strengthened by PtdIns(4,5)P(2), suggesting that the basis of focal adhesion assembly is regulated by this lipid mediator. Here we show that the type I phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase isoform-gamma 661 (PIPKI gamma 661), an enzyme that makes PtdIns(4,5)P(2), is targeted to focal adhesions by an association with talin. PIPKI gamma 661 is tyrosine phosphorylated by focal adhesion associated kinase signalling, increasing both the activity of phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase and its association with talin. This defines a mechanism for spatial generation of PtdIns(4,5)P(2) at focal adhesions.     

Binding of paxillin to alpha4 integrins modifies integrin-dependent biological responses

The alpha4 integrins are indispensable for embryogenesis, haematopoiesis and immune responses, possibly because alpha4 regulates cellular functions differently from other integrins through its cytoplasmic tail. We used novel mimics of the alpha4 tail to identify molecules that could account for alpha4-specific signalling. Here we report that the alpha4 tail, but not several other alpha-subunit tails, binds tightly to the signalling adaptor paxillin. Paxillin physically associated with alpha4 integrins in Jurkat T cells at high stoichiometry, and joining the alpha4 tail to alphaIIb resulted in a complex of integrin alphaIIbbeta3 with paxillin. This association markedly enhanced the rates of alphaIIbbeta3-dependent phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and cell migration. It also reduced cell spreading, focal adhesion and stress fibre formation. A point mutation within the alpha4 tail that disrupts paxillin binding reversed all of these effects. Furthermore, alpha4beta1-dependent adhesion to VCAM-1 led to spreading of mouse embryonic fibroblasts derived from paxillin-null but not from wild-type mice. Thus, the tight association of paxillin with the alpha4 tail leads to distinct biochemical and biological responses to integrin-mediated cell adhesion.     

Helicobacter exploits integrin for type IV secretion and kinase activation

Integrins are important mammalian receptors involved in normal cellular functions as well as pathogenesis of chronic inflammation and cancer. We propose that integrins are exploited by the gastric pathogen and type-1 carcinogen Helicobacter pylori for injection of the bacterial oncoprotein cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) into gastric epithelial cells. Virulent H. pylori express a type-IV secretion pilus that injects CagA into the host cell; CagA then becomes tyrosine-phosphorylated by Src family kinases. However, the identity of the host cell receptor involved in this process has remained unknown. Here we show that the H. pylori CagL protein is a specialized adhesin that is targeted to the pilus surface, where it binds to and activates integrin alpha5beta1 receptor on gastric epithelial cells through an arginine-glycine-aspartate motif. This interaction triggers CagA delivery into target cells as well as activation of focal adhesion kinase and Src. Our findings provide insights into the role of integrins in H.-pylori-induced pathogenesis. CagL may be exploited as a new molecular tool for our further understanding of integrin signalling.     

Vinculin activation by talin through helical bundle conversion

Vinculin is a conserved component and an essential regulator of both cell-cell (cadherin-mediated) and cell-matrix (integrin-talin-mediated focal adhesions) junctions, and it anchors these adhesion complexes to the actin cytoskeleton by binding to talin in integrin complexes or to alpha-actinin in cadherin junctions. In its resting state, vinculin is held in a closed conformation through interactions between its head (Vh) and tail (Vt) domains. The binding of vinculin to focal adhesions requires its association with talin. Here we report the crystal structures of human vinculin in its inactive and talin-activated states. Talin binding induces marked conformational changes in Vh, creating a novel helical bundle structure, and this alteration actively displaces Vt from Vh. These results, as well as the ability of alpha-actinin to also bind to Vh and displace Vt from pre-existing Vh-Vt complexes, support a model whereby Vh functions as a domain that undergoes marked structural changes that allow vinculin to direct cytoskeletal assembly in focal adhesions and adherens junctions. Notably, talin's effects on Vh structure establish helical bundle conversion as a signalling mechanism by which proteins direct cellular responses.     

Expression, distribution and function of the focal adhesion kinase (pp125FAK) during murine ectoplacental cone outgrowthin vitro

Mouse embryo implantation is a complex process that includes trophoblast cells derived from ectoplacental cone (EPC) adhesion to and migration through the extracellular matrix (ECM) of uterine endometrium and invasion into the decidua. At the time of implantation, fibronectin (FN) is abundant in the decidua and is distributed pericellularly around each individual stromal cell, and its receptor (integrin α-5β-1) expression on trophoblast populations is up-regulated. The focal adhesion kinase, a 125 ku protein tyrosine kinase (pp125 FAK), is tyrosine phosphorylated upon integrin engagement with its ECM ligand, and its tyrosine phosphorylation sites then serve as the binding sites which couple it with cellular proteins that contain Src SH2 or SH3 domains. Through these linkages, pp125 FAK may integrate multiple signals triggered by integrins. The model of EPC culture %in vitro% was used to study the expression, distribution and function of pp125 FAK during EPC outgrowth on FN. Results indicated that, pp125 FAK primarily expressed and distributed in cellular focal adhesions of the front edge of trophoblast outgrowth from EPC, and was localized in the peripheral region of the individual migrating trophblast cell; antibody or antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to pp125 FAK inhibited EPC attachment and outgrowth, as well as trophoblast cells spreading and migration. This experiment demonstrated that pp125 FAK as an integrin-mediated signaling molecule was involved in EPC outgrowth %in vitro%, and played an important role during trophoblast cells interaction with FN.     

Regulation of focal adhesion-associated protein tyrosine kinase by both cellular adhesion and oncogenic transformation.

Increasing evidence indicates that the integrin family of cell adhesion receptors can transduce biochemical signals from the extracellular matrix to the cell interior to modulate cell growth and differentiation. We have shown that integrin/ligand interactions can trigger tyrosine phosphorylation of a protein of M(r) 120,000 (pp120), so it is possible that signal transduction by integrins might involve activation of intracellular protein tyrosine kinases as an early event in cell binding to the extracellular matrix. Here we report that pp120 is identical to the focal adhesion-associated protein tyrosine kinase pp125FAK (refs 3, 4). We show that tyrosine phosphorylation of this protein is modulated both by cell adhesion and transformation by pp60v-src, and that these changes in phosphorylation are correlated with increased pp125FAK tyrosine kinase activity. A model is proposed to relate these findings to the molecular basis of anchorage-independent growth of transformed cells.     

Cell-surface regulation of beta 1-integrin activity on developing retinal neurons.

Integrins are a family of alpha beta heterodimeric receptors that mediate cell-cell and cell-substratum interactions. Integrin binding to extracellular ligands regulates cell adhesion, shape, motility, intracellular signalling and gene expression. Mechanisms that regulate integrin function are, therefore, central to the participation of integrins in a diverse set of cellular events. Here we report the identification of TASC, a monoclonal antibody to a novel epitope on the integrin beta 1 subunit, which inhibits cell adhesion to vitronectin but promotes adhesion to laminin and collagen types I and IV. We show that developing retinal neurons that have lost responsiveness to laminin regain the ability to bind laminin in the presence of TASC. Thus, beta 1-class integrins are likely to occupy multiple affinity states that can be modulated at the cell surface.     

整合素在肝癌细胞侵袭和转移中的作用

癌细胞与细胞外基质（ECM）的粘附是恶性肿瘤侵袭首要步骤。肿瘤细胞与细胞外基质的粘附是通过细胞膜表达的特异受体介导的，其中整合素家族为重要的粘附分子。对整合素表达相关的细胞外基质的介绍及肝癌细胞侵袭与转移中整合素研究的综述，可了解相关的整合素所介导肝癌细胞与细胞外基质、肝癌细胞之间的相互作用。文中提及肝癌细胞趋化运动中相关的整合素，有助于进一步了解整合素在肝癌侵袭与转移中的作用。整合素参与了整个肝癌细胞的侵袭转移过程，寻找出干扰整合素与配体相互作用、特异性增加或减少整合素在肿瘤中的表达的物质，从而阻断肿瘤的侵袭与转移，对抗癌药物的研究有着深远的影响。     

Cell adhesion receptors and cancer

Cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions in the functions of cell adhesion and signal transduction are important in global control of cell phenotypes and cell behavior and are crucial for maintenance of homeostasis and structural/functional stabilization of tissues and organs. Cell adhesion receptors are recognized as the molecular basis of cell adhesion. Cadherin and Integrin are widely expressed adhesion receptors in most tissues. They are transmembrane glycoproteins which, through their cytoplasmic domain, bind to many proteins at the inner surface of cell membrane to form molecule-linkage complexes and then connect with the cytoskeleton. Through cell adhesion receptors a network functioning as cell adhesion and signal transduction is organized between tissue cells and cell-ECM. In this regard cell adhesion receptors play an important role in regulation of morphogenesis, cell-cell recognition, cell migration, cell sorting and the determination of cell's fate in development. They mediate cell functions and their fault expression is intimately correlated with development of disorders like cancer. Several isoforms of Integrin were found to have tumor suppressor effect. Some components in the molecule-linkage of focal contact are actin-binding proteins as well as substrates of kinase in the Integrin initiated signal pathway to play a role as signal transducer. Some of these molecules exhibited tumor suppressor effect too. Decreased expression of E-Cadherin has been demonstrated in many epithelium originated carcinomas. Cadherin associated membrane adhesion plaque molecule β-Catenin is also involved in the oncogene Wnt signal pathway. Both E-Cadherin and β-Catenin were proved respectively with tumor suppressor effect against invasiveness and metastasis. That Cadherin is important for the posttranslationally functional expression of Connexin has been supported by evidence from developmental biology and cancer cell differentiation studies to suggest that some sort of interrelation feedback control exists between the two signal pathways.     

The SH2/SH3 adaptor Grb4 transduces B-ephrin reverse signals

Bidirectional signals mediated by membrane-anchored ephrins and Eph receptor tyrosine kinases have important functions in cell-cell recognition events, including those that occur during axon pathfinding and hindbrain segmentation. The reverse signal that is transduced into B-ephrin-expressing cells is thought to involve tyrosine phosphorylation of the signal's short, conserved carboxy-terminal cytoplasmic domain. The Src-homology-2 (SH2) domain proteins that associate with activated tyrosine-phosphorylated B-subclass ephrins have not been identified, nor has a defined cellular response to reverse signals been described. Here we show that the SH2/SH3 domain adaptor protein Grb4 binds to the cytoplasmic domain of B ephrins in a phosphotyrosine-dependent manner. In response to B-ephrin reverse signalling, cells increase FAK catalytic activity, redistribute paxillin, lose focal adhesions, round up, and disassemble F-actin-containing stress fibres. These cellular responses can be blocked in a dominant-negative fashion by expression of the isolated Grb4 SH2 domain. The Grb4 SH3 domains bind a unique set of other proteins that are implicated in cytoskeletal regulation, including the Cbl-associated protein (CAP/ponsin), the Abl-interacting protein-1 (Abi-1), dynamin, PAK1, hnRNPK and axin. These data provide a biochemical pathway whereby cytoskeletal regulators are recruited to Eph-ephrin bidirectional signalling complexes.     

Integrin cytoplasmic tyrosine motif is required for outside-in alphaIIbbeta3 signalling and platelet function.

Integrins not only bind adhesive ligands, they also act as signalling receptors. Both functions allow the integrin alphaIIbbeta3 to mediate platelet aggregation. Platelet agonists activate alphaIIbbeta3 (inside-out signalling) to allow the binding of soluble fibrinogen. Subsequent platelet aggregation leads to outside-in alphaIIbbeta3 signalling, which results in calcium mobilization, tyrosine phosphorylation of numerous proteins including beta3 itself, increased cytoskeletal reorganisation and further activation of alphaIIbbeta3. Thus, outside-in signals enhance aggregation, although the mechanisms and functional consequences of specific signalling events remain unclear. Here we describe a mouse that expresses an alphaIIbbeta3 in which the tyrosines in the integrin cytoplasmic tyrosine motif have been mutated to phenylalanines. These mice are selectively impaired in outside-in alphaIIbbeta3 signalling, with defective aggregation and clot-retraction responses in vitro, and an in vivo bleeding defect which is characterized by a pronounced tendency to rebleed. These data provide evidence for an important role of outside-in signalling in platelet physiology. Furthermore, they identify the integrin cytoplasmic tyrosine motif as a key mediator of beta-integrin signals and a potential target for new therapeutic agents.     

Class 3 semaphorins control vascular morphogenesis by inhibiting integrin function

The motility and morphogenesis of endothelial cells is controlled by spatio-temporally regulated activation of integrin adhesion receptors, and integrin activation is stimulated by major determinants of vascular remodelling. In order for endothelial cells to be responsive to changes in activator gradients, the adhesiveness of these cells to the extracellular matrix must be dynamic, and negative regulators of integrins could be required. Here we show that during vascular development and experimental angiogenesis, endothelial cells generate autocrine chemorepulsive signals of class 3 semaphorins (SEMA3 proteins) that localize at nascent adhesive sites in spreading endothelial cells. Disrupting endogenous SEMA3 function in endothelial cells stimulates integrin-mediated adhesion and migration to extracellular matrices, whereas exogenous SEMA3 proteins antagonize integrin activation. Misexpression of dominant negative SEMA3 receptors in chick embryo endothelial cells locks integrins in an active conformation, and severely impairs vascular remodelling. Sema3a null mice show vascular defects as well. Thus during angiogenesis endothelial SEMA3 proteins endow the vascular system with the plasticity required for its reshaping by controlling integrin function.     

Integrins mediate functional pre- and postsynaptic maturation at a hippocampal synapse

Coordinated signalling between presynaptic terminals and their postsynaptic targets is essential for the development and function of central synapses. In addition to diffusible molecules, this bidirectional flow of information could involve direct interactions through cell-adhesion molecules. Here, we show that one class of cell-adhesion molecule, the integrins, are required for the functional maturation of hippocampal synapses in vitro. At immature synapses, a high probability of glutamate release (Pr) was correlated with the expression of postsynaptic NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors containing the NR2B subunit. The activity-dependent reduction in Pr and a switch in the subunit composition of synaptic NMDA receptors was prevented by chronic blockade with peptides containing the integrin-binding site Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD), or by a functional antibody against the beta3 integrin subunit. Active synapses, monitored by the uptake of antibodies against the intraluminal domain of synaptotagmin I, also had beta3 subunit immunoreactivity. Our results provide evidence that integrin-mediated signalling is essential for the orchestrated maturation of central excitatory synapses.     

Mechanical strain in actin networks regulates FilGAP and integrin binding to filamin A

Mechanical stresses elicit cellular reactions mediated by chemical signals. Defective responses to forces underlie human medical disorders such as cardiac failure and pulmonary injury. The actin cytoskeleton's connectivity enables it to transmit forces rapidly over large distances, implicating it in these physiological and pathological responses. Despite detailed knowledge of the cytoskeletal structure, the specific molecular switches that convert mechanical stimuli into chemical signals have remained elusive. Here we identify the actin-binding protein filamin A (FLNA) as a central mechanotransduction element of the cytoskeleton. We reconstituted a minimal system consisting of actin filaments, FLNA and two FLNA-binding partners: the cytoplasmic tail of β-integrin, and FilGAP. Integrins form an essential mechanical linkage between extracellular and intracellular environments, with β-integrin tails connecting to the actin cytoskeleton by binding directly to filamin. FilGAP is an FLNA-binding GTPase-activating protein specific for RAC, which in vivo regulates cell spreading and bleb formation. Using fluorescence loss after photoconversion, a novel, high-speed alternative to fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, we demonstrate that both externally imposed bulk shear and myosin-II-driven forces differentially regulate the binding of these partners to FLNA. Consistent with structural predictions, strain increases β-integrin binding to FLNA, whereas it causes FilGAP to dissociate from FLNA, providing a direct and specific molecular basis for cellular mechanotransduction. These results identify a molecular mechanotransduction element within the actin cytoskeleton, revealing that mechanical strain of key proteins regulates the binding of signalling molecules.     

Induction of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and -2 activity in mouse blastocyst by fibronectin-integrin interaction

Fibronectin, a major extracellular matrix, plays an important role in embryo implantation by mediating embryo adhesion and outgrowth. In this work, mouse blastocysts produced pro-matrix metalloproteinase-9, pro-matrix metalloproteinase-2 and 64 ku matrix metalloproteinase-2 when they were co-cultured with fibronectin. In contrast, mouse blastocysts did not produce these proteinases without fibronectin. Focal adhesion kinase is a fundamental molecule of integrin signaling pathway and its antisense oligodeoxynucleiotide inhibited blastocyst matrix metalloproteinases expression induced by fibronectin. The results indicated that fibronectin triggered matrix metalloproteinase-9 and -2 expression in mouse blastocyst through its integrin receptors and subsequent signaling pathway, which enhanced the synchronization of blastocyst invasiveness and uterine receptivity and ensured the accuracy of events relative to implantation in timing and spatiality.     

A discrete sequence in a platelet integrin is involved in ligand recognition

Platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (gpIIb-IIIa; alpha IIb-beta 3), the most prominent member of the integrin family of adhesion receptors on these cells, mediates platelet aggregation by binding fibrinogen and is critical in thrombosis and haemostasis. A short amino-acid sequence at the carboxy terminus of the gamma chain of fibrinogen is recognized by gpIIb-IIIa and peptides containing this sequence are selectively crosslinked to residues 294-314 of gpIIb. Here we show that an 11-residue peptide from this region of gpIIb inhibits platelet aggregation and binding of fibrinogen to platelets and to purified gpIIb-IIIa, and that it interacts directly with fibrinogen. These results implicate this segment of gpIIb-IIIa in the ligand-binding function of the receptor. Moreover, as this region is highly conserved among integrins, it may have a general function in ligand recognition by this broadly distributed family of adhesion receptors.     

Rapid leukocyte migration by integrin-independent flowing and squeezing

All metazoan cells carry transmembrane receptors of the integrin family, which couple the contractile force of the actomyosin cytoskeleton to the extracellular environment. In agreement with this principle, rapidly migrating leukocytes use integrin-mediated adhesion when moving over two-dimensional surfaces. As migration on two-dimensional substrates naturally overemphasizes the role of adhesion, the contribution of integrins during three-dimensional movement of leukocytes within tissues has remained controversial. We studied the interplay between adhesive, contractile and protrusive forces during interstitial leukocyte chemotaxis in vivo and in vitro. We ablated all integrin heterodimers from murine leukocytes, and show here that functional integrins do not contribute to migration in three-dimensional environments. Instead, these cells migrate by the sole force of actin-network expansion, which promotes protrusive flowing of the leading edge. Myosin II-dependent contraction is only required on passage through narrow gaps, where a squeezing contraction of the trailing edge propels the rigid nucleus.     

Regulated expression and binding of three VLA (beta 1) integrin receptors on T cells

Regulated adhesion of T cells to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins is likely to be essential in T cell migration. Constitutive binding of various other cell types to ECM components is mediated by members of the VLA (very late antigen) subfamily of integrins. We describe here the regulated binding of resting CD4+ human T cells to ECM through three VLA integrins: VLA-4 and VLA-5 binding to fibronectin (FN), and a novel pathway of VLA-6 binding to laminin (LN). Binding to ECM is regulated in two ways. First, unlike other VLA-mediated interactions, VLA binding activity of the T cells is rapidly and dramatically augmented with cell activation without change in level of expression of the VLA molecules. Second, binding is regulated with T-cell differentiation; memory T cells express three- to four-fold more VLA-4, VLA-5, and VLA-6 than do naive cells, and bind more efficiently through them to FN and LN.     

Interaction of plasma membrane fibronectin receptor with talin--a transmembrane linkage

Many observations suggest the presence of transmembrane linkages between the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. In fibroblasts both light and electron microscopic observations reveal a co-alignment between actin filaments at the cell surface and extracellular fibronectin. These associations are seen at sites of cell matrix interaction, frequently along stress fibres and sometimes where these bundles of microfilaments terminate at adhesion plaques (focal contacts). Non-morphological evidence also indicates a functional linkage between the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix. Addition of fibronectin to transformed cells induces flattening of the cells and a reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, with the concomitant appearance of arrays of stress fibres. Conversely, disruption of the actin cytoskeleton by treatment with cytochalasin B leads to release of fibronectin from the cell surface. As yet, there is no detailed knowledge of the molecules involved in this transmembrane linkage, although several proteins have been suggested as candidates in the chain of attachment between bundles of actin filaments and the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane: these include vinculin, alpha-actinin and talin, each one having been identified at regions where bundles of actin filaments interact with the plasma membrane and underlying cell-surface fibronectin. Recently, the cell-substrate attachment (CSAT) antigen has been identified as a plasma membrane receptor for fibronectin, raising the possibility that this glycoprotein complex may serve as a bridge between fibronectin and one or more of the underlying cytoskeletal components mentioned. Here we have investigated the interaction of the purified CSAT antigen with these cytoskeletal components, and we demonstrate an interaction specifically between the CSAT antigen and talin.