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J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 280, Issue 22, 21680-21688, June 3, 2005
Actopaxin Interacts with TESK1 to Regulate Cell Spreading on Fibronectin*![]() ![]() From the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York 13210
Received for publication, January 20, 2005 , and in revised form, March 24, 2005.
The focal adhesion protein actopaxin contributes to integrin-actin associations and is involved in cell adhesion, spreading, and motility. Herein, we identify and characterize an association between actopaxin and the serine/threonine kinase testicular protein kinase 1 (TESK1), a ubiquitously expressed protein previously reported to regulate cellular spreading and focal adhesion formation via phosphorylation of cofilin. The interaction between actopaxin and TESK1 is direct and the binding sites were mapped to the carboxyl terminus of both proteins. The association between actopaxin and TESK1 is negatively regulated by adhesion to fibronectin, and a phosphomimetic actopaxin mutant that promotes cell spreading also exhibits impaired binding to TESK1. Binding of actopaxin to TESK1 inhibits TESK1 kinase activity in vitro. Expression of the carboxyl terminus of actopaxin has previously been reported to retard cell spreading. This effect was reversed following overexpression of TESK1 and was found to be dependent on an inability of actopaxin carboxyl terminus expressing cells to promote cofilin phosphorylation upon matrix adhesion and caused by retention of TESK1 by this actopaxin mutant. Thus, the association between actopaxin and TESK1, which is likely regulated by phosphorylation of actopaxin, regulates TESK1 activity and subsequent cellular spreading on fibronectin.
Integrin-mediated adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM)1 leads to extensive actin reorganization that is regulated predominantly by the Rho family of GTPases, Cdc42, Rac, and Rho, to stimulate formation of the actin-dependent structures filopodia, lamellipodia, and stress fibers, respectively (1). Activated Rho family members interact with numerous effectors, including the p21-associated kinase (PAK), the Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome protein (WASP), and the Rho-associated kinase (ROCK). PAK and ROCK share some common target proteins, including the LIM kinases (LIMK) (1). Closely related to the LIM family of kinases are TESK1 and TESK2 (testicular protein kinases), which were originally identified in testicular cells but have since been found to be ubiquitously expressed (25). Unlike LIMK, regulation of TESK1 activity by Rho GTPases has not been confirmed, although recent studies in Drosophila implicate a role in the Rac pathway associated with both eye development and spermatogenesis (6). However, this kinase has been shown to be activated upon matrix adhesion and is regulated by binding of 14-3-3 and Sprouty4 (7, 8).
TESK1, as is the case with LIMK, regulates integrin-dependent focal adhesion assembly and actin organization through phosphorylation of the amino terminus of the F-actin-severing protein cofilin (3). Phosphorylation on serine 3, which is reversed by the serine phosphatases slingshot and chronophin, has been shown to decrease cofilin activity by interfering with its ability to bind F-actin (911). Cofilin is a critical regulator of both growth factor and matrix-dependent actin reorganization, affecting lamellipodia formation, cell spreading, motility, and polarity (1216). For instance, cofilin's F-actin severing activity potentiates Arp2/3-mediated actin assembly that is required for epidermal growth factor-induced lamellipodia formation (17).
The focal adhesion protein actopaxin is the In this study we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen of a human placenta library using actopaxin as bait and identified TESK1 as a direct binding partner. We have established that an association between actopaxin and TESK1 negatively regulates TESK1 kinase activity and thus phosphorylation of cofilin. Furthermore, this association is negatively modulated by adhesion to fibronectin, most likely through phosphorylation of the amino terminus of actopaxin. Consequently, the association between TESK1 and actopaxin provides a mechanism for the regulation of cell spreading and potentially cell migration via modulation of cofilin activity.
Antibodies and MaterialsHuman plasma fibronectin was purchased from Sigma or BD Biosciences. Monoclonal antibody to the Xpress tag was purchased from Invitrogen. -Actinin and MOPC monoclonal antibodies were obtained from Sigma. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and ILK monoclonal antibodies were purchased from BD Transduction Laboratories. The 9E10 anti-Myc monclonal antibody developed by J. M. Bishop was obtained from the Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank developed under the auspices of the NICHD and maintained by The University of Iowa, Department of Biological Sciences, Iowa City, IA. Omni-probe (directed against region of Xpress epitope tag) and GFP polyclonal antibodies were obtained from Santa Cruz Biotechnology. Polyclonal antibody to cofilin phosphorylated upon serine 3 was provided by Dr. James Bamburg (Colorado State University) (28).
Yeast Two-hybrid AssayThe MoBiTec Grow'n'Glow Two-Hybrid System (MoBiTec, Goettingen, Germany) based on the Brent LexA Interaction Trap System was used to identify proteins that interact with actopaxin. Full-length rat actopaxin and the "nonspecific" protein bait, mouse p53 (aa 72390), were cloned into pEG202 (His3 selectable marker) as a COOH-terminal fusion to LexA. To moderate the inherent transactivation potential of full-length actopaxin, we utilized the low sensitivity Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain EGY188 that contains two copies of the LexA operator upstream of the LEU2 reporter integrated in the genome. A GFP reporter plasmid (pGNG1) with a URA3 selectable marker was used in place of a PlasmidsTo generate full-length human TESK1, PCR primer pairs were synthesized representing the 5' and 3' termini of the published TESK1 coding sequence incorporating EcoRI and XbaI restriction sites. A human heart cDNA library (Clontech) was used for PCR amplification. The product obtained was identical to that reported previously, except that nucleotides 31111, representing amino acids 1137, were absent. Notably this stretch of coding sequence represents human exon 2 suggesting the existence of a new TESK1 splice isoform. Full-length rat TESK1 and TESK2 Myc-tagged constructs were generously provided by Dr. Kensaku Mizuno (Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan) (2, 4). A pGEX-4T TESK1 carboxyl-terminal (aa 529626) fusion protein was generated for use in precipitation assays. A construct encoding TESK1 1528 with an amino-terminal GFP tag was created via PCR amplification. Actopaxin constructs were as described previously (18, 22, 27, 29). GFP-XAC (Xenopus actin depolymerizing factor/cofilin), hereafter referred to as GFP-cofilin, constructs were provided by Dr. James Bamburg (Colorado State University) (30). Cell Culture and TransfectionsHeLa cells were maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (Mediatech) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (Atlanta Biologicals). Transfections were performed with FuGENE 6 (Roche Applied Science) according to manufacturer's protocols. Binding AssaysGST binding assays were performed essentially as described previously (18). For in vivo binding experiments, cells were lysed in co-immunoprecipitation buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 0.5% Nonidet P-40, 100 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol, 1 mM MgCl2, 10 µg/ml leupeptin, 1 mM NaVO4, and 1 mM NaF). Lysates were centrifuged to remove cellular debris, and then Xpress-actopaxin was precipitated using Omni-probe antibody (anti-epitope tag of Xpress-actopaxin) and protein A/G beads (Santa Cruz Biotechnology). Immunoprecipitated proteins were subsequently solubilized in sample buffer and analyzed by Western blotting.
In Vitro Kinase AssaysKinase assays were performed essentially as described previously (3). HeLa cells expressing Myc-TESK1 were lysed in kinase immunoprecipitation buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 150 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol, 1% Nonidet P-40, 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, 10 µg/ml leupeptin), incubated on ice, and centrifuged to remove cellular debris. The resulting supernatant was incubated at 4 °C for 2 h with protein A/G beads and either control antibody (MOPC) or 9E10 anti-Myc antibody. Immune complexes were then washed three times in wash buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 150 mM NaCl, 0.5% Nonidet P-40) and twice in reaction buffer (50 mM HEPES, pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM NaF, 1 mM NaVO4, 5 mM MnCl2, 5 mM MgCl2). Immunoprecipitated Myc-TESK1 was then resuspended in reaction buffer and incubated at room temperature for 30 min in the presence of 5 µCi of [ Respreadings and ImmunofluorescenceThese assays were performed as described previously (27, 31). Area values obtained were compared with GFP-expressing control cells in the same experiment and further normalized against attached, unspread cells to quantitate comparative spreading capacities. For phosphocofilin staining, coverslips were fixed in cytoskeletal stabilization buffer (3.7% formaldehyde, 0.32 M sucrose, 10 mM MES, pH 6.1, 3 mM MgCl2, 138 mM KCl, 2 mM EGTA) for 15 min, then processed as described (27, 31).
Actopaxin Interacts with TESK1 in VitroTo identify actopaxin-binding proteins, a yeast two-hybrid screen was performed with full-length rat actopaxin fused to LexA as a bait. Ten positive clones were isolated from the screening of 1 x 106 recombinant colonies. To confirm the observed interactions, selected clones were subjected to an additional round of screening using either p53 as a nonspecific protein bait or actopaxin. Two of the plasmids that were positive for actopaxin binding and at the same time negative for p53 association encoded sequence representing the serine/threonine kinase testicular protein kinase 1 (TESK1) (data not shown). One plasmid insert contained DNA encoding aa 529626, comprising the carboxyl terminus of TESK1, as well as 80 nucleotides from the 3'-untranslated region. The second plasmid contained aa 544626 and 74 nucleotides from the 3'-untranslated region. It is notable that the principal difference between TESK1 and its family member TESK2 is the presence of this proline-rich carboxyl terminus extension within TESK1 (5). An association between actopaxin and TESK1 was first confirmed using GST binding assays. These studies were restricted to the analysis of exogenous TESK1 due to the lack of an available antibody to the endogenous form. Myc-tagged TESK1 and TESK2 were expressed in HeLa cells and actopaxin binding tested using GST-actopaxin fusion proteins. TESK1 was found to specifically bind full-length GST-actopaxin (Fig. 1A). In contrast, GST-actopaxin did not precipitate TESK2, consistent with the absence of the carboxyl-terminal extension of TESK1 in this isoform (Fig. 1A). The binding of ILK served as a positive control. Additional GST pull-down assays established the carboxyl-terminal actopaxin amino acids 223372 as the binding region for TESK1 (Fig. 1, B and C). This region of actopaxin consists of a portion of the intra-CH linker domain and the second CH domain. It also contains the binding sites for paxillin and ILK (18, 22). The yeast two-hybrid screen identified the carboxyl-terminal 98 residues of TESK1 as the site of interaction with actopaxin. A construct was created consisting of this portion of TESK1 (529626) fused to the carboxyl terminus of GFP. Pull-down assays confirmed the binding of GFP-TESK1 529626 to GST-actopaxin (Fig. 2A). Furthermore, a GST fusion construct of this region of TESK1 was created to verify binding with actopaxin. GST binding assays performed using HeLa cell lysates demonstrated binding of endogenous actopaxin to GST-TESK1 529626, while the GST-paxillin LD4 motif served as a positive control for actopaxin binding, as reported previously (Fig. 2B) (18). It has been suggested that ILK and actopaxin are obligate binding partners (32). However, ILK was not present in the GST-TESK1 precipitate, indicating that TESK1 can bind a pool of actopaxin that is not concurrently bound to ILK (Fig. 2B). Conversely, the presence of ILK and actopaxin in the LD4 pull-down shows that existing actopaxin/ILK associations were not disrupted in these lysates as paxillin LD4 only binds ILK indirectly through actopaxin (22, 33).
Actopaxin and TESK1 Interact in VivoThe association between TESK1 and actopaxin was demonstrated in vivo using co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Epitope-tagged versions of these proteins were co-expressed in HeLa cells and immunoprecipitated using a polyclonal antibody (Omni-probe) to the epitope-tag of actopaxin. Myc-TESK1, but not FAK, was co-immunoprecipitated with full-length Xpress-actopaxin (Fig. 3A). Consistent with the GST pull-down assays, TESK1 co-immunoprecipitated with the carboxyl terminus of actopaxin (aa 223372) (Fig. 3B). FAK served as a negative control, while ILK binding to the actopaxin carboxyl terminus was used as a positive control (Fig. 3B). These data demonstrate that actopaxin and TESK1 are associated in asynchronously growing cells. The Association between TESK1 and Actopaxin Is Negatively Regulated during Adhesion to FibronectinCell attachment and spreading on the ECM leads to the activation of integrins and, in turn, Rho GTPases and is a widely accepted model for lamellipodia extension associated with cell migration. To determine whether the interaction between TESK1 and actopaxin might be modulated during cell spreading, we performed co-immunoprecipitations of co-transfected proteins in HeLa cells that were growing asynchronously in culture versus cells that had been actively spreading upon 10 µg/ml fibronectin for 90 min. Actopaxin precipitated Myc-TESK1 less efficiently in spreading cells than unstimulated cells (Fig. 4A).
Adhesion-dependent phosphorylation of actopaxin affects cell spreading and migration. This post-translational modification of actopaxin may exert its effects by altering its association with various binding partners. To test whether this is the case for TESK1, HeLa cells were co-transfected with Myc-TESK1 and either wild type or phosphomimetic (S4/8D) Xpress-actopaxin constructs (27). Immunoprecipitations using an antibody to the actopaxin epitope-tag showed that the phosphomimetic S4/8D Xpress-actopaxin failed to precipitate Myc-TESK1, while the wild-type Xpress-actopaxin displayed robust binding (Fig. 4B). The specificity of this result was confirmed by the observation that ILK was precipitated by both Xpress-actopaxin constructs (Fig. 4B). As the sites of actopaxin phosphorylation are on the amino terminus of the protein, while the carboxyl terminus mediates TESK1 binding, the actopaxin phosphorylation-dependent abrogation of TESK1 binding may involve allosteric regulation between the amino and carboxyl terminus of actopaxin. Thus, we next co-transfected Myc-TESK1 with either full-length (aa 1372) or carboxyl-terminal (aa 223372) Xpress-actopaxin constructs. Notably, the carboxyl terminus of actopaxin contains the TESK1 binding site but lacks the phosphorylation sites (Fig. 1B). Both populations of cells were placed in suspension and then were allowed to adhere to 10 µg/ml fibronectin for 90 min, followed by immunoprecipitations of the actopaxin constructs. Binding of TESK1 to the carboxyl terminus of actopaxin was retained, while full-length actopaxin displayed a diminished association upon adhesion (Fig. 4C). In contrast, both Xpress-actopaxin constructs were able to precipitate ILK (Fig. 4C). These data suggest that an adhesion-dependent modification of the actopaxin amino terminus, such as phosphorylation, serves to regulate TESK1 binding to the carboxyl terminus of actopaxin.
Actopaxin Binding Inhibits TESK1 Kinase ActivityCell adhesion stimulates TESK1 kinase activity (3), which inversely correlates with actopaxin binding. Thus, we tested whether actopaxin binding affected TESK1 kinase activity, as has been observed previously for the associations between TESK1 and 14-3-3 and Sprouty4 (7, 8). Myc-TESK1 was immunoprecipitated, and in vitro kinase assays were performed in the presence of GST-actopaxin fusion proteins using MBP as a substrate. The ability of Myc-TESK1 to phosphorylate MBP was reduced by 4050% in the presence of both full-length (aa 1372) and carboxyl-terminal (aa 223372) GST-actopaxin fusion proteins as compared with GST alone (Fig. 5A,B). Both of these actopaxin fusion proteins bind TESK1 (Fig. 1B). Conversely, a GST fusion protein consisting of the amino terminus (aa 1222) of actopaxin, which does not bind TESK1, failed to inhibit TESK1 kinase activity (Fig. 1B and Fig. 5, A and B). Therefore, Myc-TESK1 kinase activity is reduced by interaction with actopaxin. Interestingly, the difference in activity of TESK1 in the presence versus the absence of actopaxin that we observed is equivalent to the relative changes in TESK1 activity that occurred upon adhesion to fibronectin (3), with a near doubling of kinase activity. A low level of phosphorylation of the actopaxin amino terminus (aa 1222) and full-length GST fusion proteins was also observed in these assays, suggesting TESK1 kinase activity may, in turn, regulate actopaxin function in vivo via direct phosphorylation (Fig. 5C).
Expression of the Carboxyl Terminus of Actopaxin Inhibits Adhesion-dependent Cofilin PhosphorylationSince the carboxyl terminus of actopaxin retains binding to TESK1 during adhesion and inhibits its kinase activity in vitro, this mutant can be used as a tool to evaluate the effects on cell function of alteration of the physiologic association between TESK1 and actopaxin. Specifically, we evaluated how introduction of this mutant influenced phosphorylation of the TESK1 substrate cofilin during cell spreading on fibronectin. HeLa cells were co-transfected with GFP-cofilin and either Xpress-actopaxin 223372 or Xpress- TESK1 Rescues the Spreading Defect in Cells Expressing the Actopaxin Carboxyl TerminusThe importance of the TESK1/actopaxin association in regulating cell morphology was examined by evaluating effects on cell spreading. Expression of Xpress-actopaxin 223372 impaired spreading of HeLa cells on fibronectin at the 90-min time point, as has been reported previously (Fig. 7A) (18). Co-expression of Myc-TESK1 partially rescued this spreading defect, while TESK1 had no apparent effect on spreading when overexpressed by itself, although there was a mild increase in cortical actin as visualized by rhodamine-phalloidin staining (Fig. 7A). Equivalent expression of proteins in these experiments was confirmed by Western blotting (Fig. 7B). We next performed quantitative analysis of spreading in these cells to confirm the TESK1-dependent rescue of the observed spreading defect caused by expression of Xpress-actopaxin 223372. Quantitation of cell areas showed that Xpress-actopaxin 223372 reduced the spreading of HeLa cells to 37% of that observed in GFP control cells (Fig. 7C). Co-expression of Myc-TESK1 significantly rescued the spreading of cells expressing Xpress-actopaxin 223372 (p < 0.01) (Fig. 7C). However, this rescue was incomplete, as cells expressing Myc-TESK1 with Xpress-actopaxin 223372 were still significantly less well spread than GFP control cells (Fig. 7C). An actopaxin mutant with an altered paxillin binding site has previously been shown to be mislocalized and to also inhibit cell spreading when expressed in HeLa cells (18). We confirmed this finding and also determined that overexpression of TESK1 is unable to rescue this phenotype, thereby indicating the specificity of the rescue of the Xpress-actopaxin 223372 spreading defect by TESK1 (Fig. 7C). The spreading defect of the paxillin binding site mutant caused by loss of actopaxin/paxillin association therefore operates through some alternate pathway, possibly involving mislocalization of other actopaxin binding partners.
Taken together, these results suggested that the spreading defect in Xpress-actopaxin 223372-expressing cells is dependent upon altered cofilin signaling. Previous reports have demonstrated that phosphocofilin is localized in a region of the cell closely juxtaposed to the extending lamellipodia in a transition zone where actin filaments become stabilized (13). Thus, we examined phosphocofilin localization in cells actively spreading upon fibronectin. GFP-transfected control cells exhibited modest phosphocofilin immunostaining concentrated toward the cell periphery, while Myc-TESK1 expression increased this phosphocofilin signal (Fig. 8). Consistent with our biochemical evaluation (Fig. 6), cells expressing Xpress-actopaxin 223372 had diminished phosphocofilin staining, which was notably absent from the periphery when compared with an adjacent non-transfected cell. Importantly, phosphocofilin staining was restored by co-expression of Myc-TESK1 with Xpress-actopaxin 223372 (Fig. 8). No apparent difference in total cofilin cell staining was observed (data not shown). These data support a role for actopaxin in regulating TESK1 signaling to cofilin.
We further tested a role for cofilin by evaluating the ability of phosphomimetic (S3E) cofilin constructs to rescue the spreading on fibronectin in these cells. Significantly, co-expression of a non-active S3E phosphomimetic cofilin construct with Xpress-actopaxin 223372 was able to partially rescue spreading, similar to that seen with Myc-TESK1 (Fig. 9). Conversely, expression of an S3A construct, which mimics a non-phosphorylated, active cofilin, decreased spreading to levels comparable with those seen in HeLa cells expressing Xpress-actopaxin 223372 (Fig. 9). Co-expression of the S3A cofilin construct with Xpress-actopaxin 223372 did not result in further inhibition of spreading (Fig. 9). These data demonstrate that expression of the carboxyl terminus of actopaxin severely inhibits cell spreading on fibronectin in part through alteration of cofilin phosphorylation, most likely mediated through the TESK1 kinase. The ability of TESK1 to only partially rescue this phenotype indicates the possible perturbation of other actopaxin interactions, for instance the association with actin.
A TESK1 Construct That Does Not Bind Actopaxin Increases Cell Spreading on FibronectinTo further examine the importance of the actopaxin/TESK1 interaction in the regulation of cell spreading, we created a GFP-TESK1 1528 construct, which lacks the actopaxin binding site but contains the kinase domain and the autophosphorylation and previously characterized regulatory sites. GST binding assays confirmed the lack of binding of actopaxin to this construct (Fig. 10A). We then expressed this construct in HeLa cells and respread them on 10 µg/ml fibronectin for 90 min. The cells were then processed for immunofluorescence microscopy. In contrast to full-length TESK1, which was found not to have an effect on spreading by itself, the GEF-TESK 1528 increased spreading above that seen in GFP control cells (Figs. 10B and 7C). An increase in cortical actin structures was observed, consistent with elevated TESK1 activity (Fig. 10B). We confirmed this effect by quantifying areas of respread cells. GFP-TESK1 1528 significantly increased spreading to 1.34 times that seen in control cells. Furthermore, this result was blocked by co-expression of cofilin S3A, indicating the effect is dependent on cofilin phosphorylation. Finally, expression of TESK1 1528 lacking the actopaxin binding site completely rescued spreading in HeLa cells expressing Xpress actopaxin 223372, confirming a role for TESK1 downstream of actopaxin in cell spreading (Fig. 10C).
Actopaxin performs a critical, evolutionarily conserved, role in stabilizing integrin-actin interactions at sites of cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix in muscle and non-muscle cells (18, 26). Herein, we detail a functional interaction between actopaxin and the serine/threonine kinase TESK1, which is an important modulator of integrin-mediated actin dynamics due to its ability to phosphorylate and thereby regulate the activity of the F-actin-severing protein cofilin (3). Using a combination of yeast two-hybrid analysis, GST pull-down, and co-immunoprecipitation assays we have localized the sites of interaction to within the carboxyl terminus of each molecule. In experiments designed to evaluate how the interaction between actopaxin and TESK1 may contribute to the regulation of actin dynamics we have determined that the association between TESK1 and actopaxin negatively regulates TESK1 kinase activity and further that the interaction is reduced in cells actively spreading on fibronectin. Dissociation of the actopaxin-TESK1 complex is likely to be regulated via a mechanism involving the phosphorylation of the amino terminus of actopaxin, since a phosphomimetic S4/8D actopaxin construct that promotes cell spreading in osteosarcoma cells (27) was found to exhibit impaired TESK1 binding, while the carboxyl terminus (Xpress-actopaxin 223372) alone bound constitutively to TESK1.
Actopaxin phosphorylation is stimulated upon cell adhesion and has been demonstrated to be MEK/Erk2-dependent (27). However, since actopaxin was also weakly phosphorylated by TESK1 in vitro, this kinase may also contribute to integrin-dependent phosphorylation of actopaxin perhaps via a feed-forward mechanism in which adhesion-stimulated phosphorylation of actopaxin results in TESK1 dissociation and activation and thus additional actopaxin phosphorylation. It is currently uncertain how phosphorylation of the actopaxin amino terminus regulates TESK1 binding to the carboxyl terminus but likely involves long distance allosteric changes. This model is supported by the loss of adhesion-dependent regulation of the TESK1 association exhibited by the carboxyl terminus of actopaxin. Although both LIMK, which is activated downstream of Rho-ROCK or Cdc42/Rac-PAK pathways, and TESK can phosphorylate cofilin (1), TESK1 has been suggested to be the primary regulator of adhesion-dependent cofilin phosphorylation, as supported by a significant loss of this signaling event in cells expressing kinase-dead TESK1 (3). This translates into an inability of these cells to spread efficiently on fibronectin (8). Interestingly, overexpression of the carboxyl terminus of actopaxin, which, as opposed to full-length actopaxin, maintains binding to TESK1 during adhesion, inhibits both cell spreading and cofilin phosphorylation. While it has previously been suggested that this spreading defect is due to perturbation of the F-actin binding site on actopaxin and thus disruption of the integrin-actin linkage (18), our current results, showing that the spreading defect can be partially rescued following overexpression of TESK1, provide evidence that cell spreading can also be controlled through actopaxin-mediated regulation of TESK signaling to cofilin. The introduction of an S3E phosphomimetic cofilin construct also reverts the spreading defect. As this mutant does not bind actin, its rescue is likely mediated through competition for binding partners with endogenous cofilin (9). This may potentially act through binding and sequestering the cofilin phosphatases slingshot or chronophin, with subsequent alteration of endogenous cofilin phosphorylation levels (10, 11).
The morphologic changes that occur when cells are spreading on extracellular matrix are considered analogous to lamellipodia formation at the leading edge of motile cells. Interestingly, while TESK1 promotes cell spreading via cofilin phosphorylation, it has been shown that cofilin dephosphorylation, and thus activation, is necessary for growth factor-initiated lamellipodia formation (34, 35). Precise compartmentalization of the pools of active and inactive cofilin explains these seemingly conflicting observations. Thus, the non-phosphorylated pool of active cofilin has been localized to the extreme leading edge of a cell where it facilitates lamellipodial extension through the creation of free F-actin barbed ends that are conducive to branching via the activity of the Arp2/3 complex (17). In contrast, a pool of phosphorylated cofilin is enriched a short distance away from the edge of the lamellipodia, where it functions to stabilize actin structures necessary to support further membrane protrusions (13). Consistent with a role for phosphocofilin in lamellipodia extension during cell spreading, we have found phosphocofilin to be enriched toward the cell periphery following integrin ligation. Importantly, the phosphocofilin staining was reduced in cells expressing Xpress-actopaxin 223372, consistent with the ability of this mutant to interfere with TESK1 activity and thus phosphorylation of cofilin.
Incorporating our data into the model of TESK1 regulation of cofilin function, we propose (Fig. 11) that actopaxin and TESK1 associate with one another in the cytosol of asynchronously growing adherent cells or cells held in suspension, and this serves to inhibit TESK1 kinase activity. Upon integrin-mediated attachment to the ECM, as occurs during cell spreading or at sites immediately proximal to the leading edge of an extending lamellipodium, actopaxin is recruited to the nascent focal complexes and becomes phosphorylated within its amino terminus. This likely promotes an intramolecular rearrangement between the amino and carboxyl terminus of actopaxin that reduces TESK1 binding, thereby relieving an inhibition of TESK1 kinase activity. TESK1 then phosphorylates the local pool of cofilin and thereby stabilizes actin filaments adjacent to focal complexes. Interestingly, nascent focal complexes have been shown to form at the transition zone between the extending lamellipodium, which is rich in cofilin and Arp2/3 activity and the more stable actin network of the lamella (3639).
The phosphoserine binding adaptor protein 14-3-3
Finally, it has previously been suggested that a stable association between actopaxin, PINCH, and ILK is obligatory and serves to stabilize these proteins (32). Interestingly, TESK1 binds a population of actopaxin distinct from that which binds ILK, indicating an alternate pool of actopaxin within the cell. Following recruitment to focal adhesions and release of TESK1, this pool of actopaxin may be more susceptible to degradation which, in turn, could contribute to focal adhesion turnover and cell migration (40, 41). It has also been shown that actopaxin (
* This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grant RO1 HL070244 (to C. E. T.). The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
1 The abbreviations used are: ECM, extracellular matrix; aa, amino acids; CH, calponin homology; Erk, extracellular signal-regulated kinase; FAK, focal adhesion kinase; ILK, integrin-linked kinase; LIMK, LIM kinase; MBP, myelin basic protein; TESK1 and TESK2, testicular protein kinases 1 and 2; XAC, Xenopus actin depolymerizing factor/cofilin; PAK, p21-associated kinase; ROCK, Rho-associated kinase; GFP, green fluorescent protein.
We thank Abby Racette for excellent technical assistance and members of the Turner laboratory for helpful suggestions and comments. We also thank Kensaku Mizuno (Tohoku University) for providing Myc-TESK1 and Myc-TESK2 constructs and James Bamburg (Colorado State University) for providing GFP-XAC constructs (wild-type, S3A, and S3E) and polyclonal antibody to cofilin phosphorylated on serine 3.
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