N-glycosylation-defective splice variants of neuropilin-1 promote metastasis by activating endosomal signals

Nat Commun. 2019 Aug 16;10(1):3708. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-11580-4.

Abstract

Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) is an essential transmembrane receptor with a variety of cellular functions. Here, we identify two human NRP1 splice variants resulting from the skipping of exon 4 and 5, respectively, in colorectal cancer (CRC). Both NRP1 variants exhibit increased endocytosis/recycling activity and decreased levels of degradation, leading to accumulation on endosomes. This increased endocytic trafficking of the two NRP1 variants, upon HGF stimulation, is due to loss of N-glycosylation at the Asn150 or Asn261 site, respectively. Moreover, these NRP1 variants enhance interactions with the Met and β1-integrin receptors, resulting in Met/β1-integrin co-internalization and co-accumulation on endosomes. This provides persistent signals to activate the FAK/p130Cas pathway, thereby promoting CRC cell migration, invasion and metastasis. Blocking endocytosis or endosomal Met/β1-integrin/FAK signaling profoundly inhibits the oncogenic effects of both NRP1 variants. These findings reveal an important role for these NRP1 splice variants in the regulation of endocytic trafficking for cancer cell dissemination.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing / genetics
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Crk-Associated Substrate Protein / metabolism
  • Endosomes / metabolism*
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • Glycosylation
  • HCT116 Cells
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Integrin beta1 / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / genetics
  • Neuropilin-1 / genetics*
  • Neuropilin-1 / metabolism
  • Protein Transport
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Crk-Associated Substrate Protein
  • Integrin beta1
  • NRP1 protein, human
  • Neuropilin-1
  • MET protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 1
  • PTK2 protein, human