Indispensable role of STIL in the regulation of cancer cell motility through the lamellipodial accumulation of ARHGEF7-PAK1 complex

Oncogene. 2020 Feb;39(9):1931-1943. doi: 10.1038/s41388-019-1115-9. Epub 2019 Nov 21.

Abstract

Cell motility is a tightly regulated phenomenon that supports the accurate formation of organ structure during development and homeostasis, including wound healing and inflammation. Meanwhile, cancer cells exhibit dysregulated motility, which causes spreading and invasion. The Dbl family RhoGEF ARHGEF7/β-PIX and its binding partner p21-activated kinase PAK1 are overexpressed in a variety of cancers and have been shown to be responsible for cancer cell migration. A key step in motility is the intracellular transport of ARHGEF7-PAK1 complex to the migrating front of cells, where lamellipodia protrusion and cytoskeletal remodeling efficiently occur. However, the molecular mechanisms of the intracellular transport of this complex are not fully understood. Here we revealed that SCL/TAL1-interrupting locus (STIL) is indispensable for the efficient migration of cancer cells. STIL forms a ternary complex with ARHGEF7 and PAK1 and accumulates with those proteins at the lamellipodia protrusion of motile cells. Knockdown of STIL impedes the accumulation of ARHGEF7-PAK1 complex within membrane ruffles and attenuates the phosphorylation of PAK1 substrates and cortical actin remodeling at the migrating front. Intriguingly, ARHGEF7 knockdown also diminishes STIL and PAK1 accumulation in membrane ruffles. Either STIL or ARHGEF7 knockdown impedes cell migration and Rac1 activity at the migrating front of cells. These results indicate that STIL is involved in the ARHGEF7-mediated positive-feedback activation of cytoskeletal remodeling through accumulating the ARHGEF7-PAK1 complex in lamellipodia. We conclude that its involvement is crucial for the polarized formation of Rac1-mediated leading edge, which supports the efficient migration of cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins
  • Apoptosis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Movement*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cytoskeleton
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Pseudopodia / physiology*
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • p21-Activated Kinases / genetics
  • p21-Activated Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • ARHGEF7 protein, human
  • Actins
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • STIL protein, human
  • PAK1 protein, human
  • p21-Activated Kinases