Wnt-5a-induced phosphorylation of DARPP-32 inhibits breast cancer cell migration in a CREB-dependent manner

J Biol Chem. 2009 Oct 2;284(40):27533-43. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M109.048884. Epub 2009 Aug 3.

Abstract

Tumor cell migration plays a central role in the process of cancer metastasis. We recently identified dopamine and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein of 32 kDa (DARPP-32) as an antimigratory phosphoprotein in breast cancer cells. Here we link this effect of DARPP-32 to Wnt-5a signaling by demonstrating that recombinant Wnt-5a triggers cAMP elevation at the plasma membrane and Thr34-DARPP-32 phosphorylation in MCF-7 cells. In agreement, both protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitors and siRNA-mediated knockdown of Frizzled-3 receptor or Galpha(s) expression abolished Wnt-5a-induced phosphorylation of DARPP-32. Furthermore, Wnt-5a induced DARPP-32-dependent inhibition of MCF-7 cell migration. Phospho-Thr-34-DARPP-32 interacted with protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) and potentiated the Wnt-5a-mediated phosphorylation of CREB, a well-known PP1 substrate, but had no effect on CREB phosphorylation by itself. Moreover, inhibition of the Wnt-5a/DARPP-32/CREB pathway, by expression of dominant negative CREB (DN-CREB), diminished the antimigratory effect of Wnt-5a-induced phospho-Thr-34-DARPP-32. Phalloidin-staining revealed that that the presence of phospho-Thr-34-DARPP-32 in MCF-7 cells results in reduced filopodia formation. In accordance, the activity of the Rho GTPase Cdc42, known to be crucial for filopodia formation, was reduced in MCF-7 cells expressing phospho-Thr-34-DARPP-32. The effects of DARPP-32 on cell migration and filopodia formation could be reversed in T47D breast cancer cells that were depleted of their endogenous DARPP-32 by siRNA targeting. Consequently, Wnt-5a activates a Frizzled-3/Galpha(s)/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway that triggers a DARPP-32- and CREB-dependent antimigratory response in breast cancer cells, representing a novel mechanism whereby Wnt-5a can inhibit breast cancer cell migration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement*
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / metabolism*
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Dopamine and cAMP-Regulated Phosphoprotein 32 / metabolism*
  • Frizzled Receptors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Phosphorylation
  • Phosphothreonine / metabolism
  • Protein Phosphatase 1 / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Pseudopodia / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
  • Wnt-5a Protein

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Dopamine and cAMP-Regulated Phosphoprotein 32
  • FZD3 protein, human
  • Frizzled Receptors
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • PAGR1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • WNT5A protein, human
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Wnt-5a Protein
  • Phosphothreonine
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Protein Phosphatase 1