MicroRNA-200c represses migration and invasion of breast cancer cells by targeting actin-regulatory proteins FHOD1 and PPM1F

Mol Cell Biol. 2012 Feb;32(3):633-51. doi: 10.1128/MCB.06212-11. Epub 2011 Dec 5.

Abstract

MicroRNA-200c (miR-200c) has been shown to suppress epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is attributed mainly to targeting of ZEB1/ZEB2, repressors of the cell-cell contact protein E-cadherin. Here we demonstrated that modulation of miR-200c in breast cancer cells regulates cell migration, cell elongation, and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)-induced stress fiber formation by impacting the reorganization of cytoskeleton that is independent of the ZEB/E-cadherin axis. We identified FHOD1 and PPM1F, direct regulators of the actin cytoskeleton, as novel targets of miR-200c. Remarkably, expression levels of FHOD1 and PPM1F were inversely correlated with the level of miR-200c in breast cancer cell lines, breast cancer patient samples, and 58 cancer cell lines of various origins. Furthermore, individual knockdown/overexpression of these target genes phenocopied the effects of miR-200c overexpression/inhibition on cell elongation, stress fiber formation, migration, and invasion. Mechanistically, targeting of FHOD1 by miR-200c resulted in decreased expression and transcriptional activity of serum response factor (SRF), mediated by interference with the translocation of the SRF coactivator mycocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A). This finally led to downregulation of the expression and phosphorylation of the SRF target myosin light chain 2 (MLC2) gene, required for stress fiber formation and contractility. Thus, miR-200c impacts on metastasis by regulating several EMT-related processes, including a novel mechanism involving the direct targeting of actin-regulatory proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cardiac Myosins / biosynthesis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Fetal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Formins
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Myosin Light Chains / biosynthesis
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / metabolism
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / metabolism*
  • Serum Response Factor / biosynthesis
  • Stress Fibers / metabolism
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • FHOD1 protein, human
  • Fetal Proteins
  • Formins
  • MIRN200 microRNA, human
  • MRTFA protein, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Myosin Light Chains
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • Serum Response Factor
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • myosin light chain 2
  • PPM1F protein, human
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases
  • Cardiac Myosins