Vacuolin-1 inhibits endosomal trafficking and metastasis via CapZβ

Oncogene. 2021 Mar;40(10):1775-1791. doi: 10.1038/s41388-021-01662-3. Epub 2021 Feb 9.

Abstract

Metastasis is the fundamental cause of cancer mortality, but there are still very few anti-metastatic drugs available. Endosomal trafficking has been implicated in tumor metastasis, and we have previously found that small chemical vacuolin-1 (V1) potently inhibits autophagosome-lysosome fusion and general endosomal-lysosomal degradation. Here, we assessed the anti-metastatic activity of V1 both in vitro and in vivo. V1 significantly inhibits colony formation, migration, and invasion of various cancer cells in vitro. It also compromises the assembly-disassembly dynamics of focal adhesions (FAs) by inhibiting the recycling and degradation of integrins. In various experimental or transgenic mouse models, V1 significantly suppresses the metastasis and/or tumor growth of breast cancer or melanoma. We further identified capping protein Zβ (CapZβ) as a V1 binding protein and showed that it is required for the V1-mediated inhibition of migration and metastasis of cancer cells. Collectively, our results indicate that V1 targets CapZβ to inhibit endosomal trafficking and metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autophagosomes / drug effects
  • Biological Transport / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / secondary
  • CapZ Actin Capping Protein / genetics*
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Endosomes / drug effects
  • Female
  • Focal Adhesions / drug effects
  • Focal Adhesions / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Integrins / genetics
  • Lysosomes / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / genetics
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / pathology
  • Protein Binding / drug effects

Substances

  • CAPZB protein, human
  • CapZ Actin Capping Protein
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings
  • Integrins
  • vacuolin-1