TRPM7 regulates cell adhesion by controlling the calcium-dependent protease calpain

J Biol Chem. 2006 Apr 21;281(16):11260-70. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M512885200. Epub 2006 Jan 25.

Abstract

m-Calpain is a protease implicated in the control of cell adhesion through focal adhesion disassembly. The mechanism by which the enzyme is spatially and temporally controlled is not well understood, particularly because the dependence of calpain on calcium exceeds the submicromolar concentrations normally observed in cells. Here we show that the channel kinase TRPM7 localizes to peripheral adhesion complexes with m-calpain, where it regulates cell adhesion by controlling the activity of the protease. Our research revealed that overexpression of TRPM7 in cells caused cell rounding with a concomitant loss of cell adhesion that is dependent upon the channel of the protein but not its kinase activities. Knockdown of m-calpain blocked TRPM7-induced cell rounding and cell detachment. Silencing of TRPM7 by RNA interference, however, strengthened cell adhesion and increased the number of peripheral adhesion complexes in the cells. Together, our results suggest that the ion channel TRPM7 regulates cell adhesion through m-calpain by mediating the local influx of calcium into peripheral adhesion complexes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Blotting, Western
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calpain / metabolism*
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Movement
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Electrophysiology
  • Gene Silencing
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Ions
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Models, Biological
  • Mutation
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RNA / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • TRPM Cation Channels / metabolism
  • TRPM Cation Channels / physiology*

Substances

  • Ions
  • TRPM Cation Channels
  • RNA
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • TRPM7 protein, human
  • Calpain
  • m-calpain
  • Calcium