Annexin A6 inhibits Ras signalling in breast cancer cells

Oncogene. 2009 Jan 22;28(3):363-77. doi: 10.1038/onc.2008.386. Epub 2008 Oct 13.

Abstract

Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is associated with enhanced activation of wild-type (hyperactive) Ras in breast cancer. Little is known about the regulation of Ras inactivation and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs), such as p120GAP, in cells with hyperactive Ras. Recently, we showed that in EGFR-overexpressing A431 cells, which lack endogenous Annexin A6 (AnxA6), ectopic expression of AnxA6 stimulates membrane recruitment of p120GAP to modulate Ras signalling. We now demonstrate that, AnxA6 is downregulated in a number of EGFR-overexpressing and estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer cells. In these cells, AnxA6 overexpression promotes Ca(2+)- and EGF-inducible membrane targeting of p120GAP. In ER-negative MDA-MB-436 cells, overexpression of p120GAP, but not CAPRI or a p120GAP mutant lacking the AnxA6-binding domain inhibits Ras/MAPK activity. AnxA6 knockdown in MDA-MB-436 increases Ras activity and cell proliferation in anchorage-independent growth assays. Furthermore, AnxA6 co-immunoprecipitates with H-Ras in a Ca(2+)- and EGF-inducible manner and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy confirmed that AnxA6 is in close proximity of active (G12V), but not inactive (S17N) H-Ras. Thus, association of AnxA6 with H-Ras-containing protein complexes may contribute to regulate p120GAP/Ras assembly in EGFR-overexpressing and ER-negative breast cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Annexin A6 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Annexin A6 / metabolism*
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Cyclin D1
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / drug effects
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / metabolism
  • p120 GTPase Activating Protein / genetics
  • p120 GTPase Activating Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Annexin A6
  • CCND1 protein, human
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • p120 GTPase Activating Protein
  • Cyclin D1
  • ErbB Receptors
  • HRAS protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • Calcium