Requirement of kinesin-mediated membrane transport of WAVE2 along microtubules for lamellipodia formation promoted by hepatocyte growth factor

Exp Cell Res. 2008 Jul 1;314(11-12):2313-22. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2008.04.009. Epub 2008 May 2.

Abstract

Lamellipodia formation necessary for epithelial cell migration and invasion is accomplished by rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton at the leading edge through membrane transport of WAVE2. However, how WAVE2 is transported to the cell periphery where lamellipodia are formed remains to be established. We report here that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) promoted lamellipodia formation and intracellular transport of WAVE2 to the cell periphery, depending on Rac1 activity, in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Immunoblot analyses indicating the coimmunoprecipitation of WAVE2 with kinesin heavy chain KIF5B, one of the motor proteins, and IQGAP1 suggest that KIF5B and IQGAP1 formed a complex with WAVE2 in serum-starved cells and increased in their amount after HGF stimulation. Both downregulation of KIF5B by the small interfering RNA and depolymerization of microtubules with nocodazole abrogated the HGF-induced lamellipodia formation and WAVE2 transport. Therefore, we propose here that the promotion of lamellipodia formation by HGF in MDA-MB-231 cells is Rac1-dependent and requires KIF5B-mediated transport of WAVE2 and IQGAP1 to the cell periphery along microtubules.

MeSH terms

  • Biological Transport / physiology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Kinesins / genetics
  • Kinesins / metabolism*
  • Microtubules / metabolism*
  • Nocodazole / metabolism
  • Pseudopodia / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Tubulin Modulators / metabolism
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein Family / genetics
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein Family / metabolism*
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • ras GTPase-Activating Proteins / genetics
  • ras GTPase-Activating Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • IQ motif containing GTPase activating protein 1
  • KIF5B protein, human
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tubulin Modulators
  • WASF2 protein, human
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein Family
  • ras GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor
  • Kinesins
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein
  • Nocodazole