hnRNPK S379 phosphorylation participates in migration regulation of triple negative MDA-MB-231 cells

Sci Rep. 2019 May 20;9(1):7611. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-44063-z.

Abstract

We have previously identified a novel Aurora-A-mediated Serine 379 (S379) phosphorylation of a poly(C)-binding protein, hnRNPK, the overexpression of which is frequently observed in various cancers. It is known that the oncogenic Aurora-A kinase promotes the malignancy of cancer cells. This study aims to investigate the unexplored functions of hnRNPK S379 phosphorylation using MDA-MB-231 cells, a triple negative breast cancer cell that has amplification of the Aurora-A kinase gene. Accordingly, we established two cell lines in which the endogenous hnRNPK was replaced with either S379D or S379A hnRNPK respectively. Notably, we found that a phosphorylation-mimic S379D mutant of hnRNPK suppressed cell migration and, conversely, a phosphorylation-defective S379A mutant promoted migration. Moreover, Twist was downregulated upon hnRNPK S379 phosphorylation, whereas β-catenin and MMP12 were increased when there was loss of hnRNPK S379 phosphorylation in MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, S379A hnRNPK increases stability of β-catenin in MDA-MB-231 cells. In conclusion, our results suggest that hnRNPK S379 phosphorylation regulates migration via the EMT signaling pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics*
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics
  • Female
  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Phosphorylation / genetics*
  • Serine / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • beta Catenin / genetics

Substances

  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K
  • beta Catenin
  • HNRNPK protein, human
  • Serine