Phosphorylation of caspase-7 by p21-activated protein kinase (PAK) 2 inhibits chemotherapeutic drug-induced apoptosis of breast cancer cell lines

J Biol Chem. 2011 Jun 24;286(25):22291-9. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.236596. Epub 2011 May 9.

Abstract

p21-activated kinase (PAK) 2, a member of the PAK family of serine/threonine protein kinases, plays an important role in physiological processes such as motility, survival, mitosis, and apoptosis. However, the role of PAK2 in resistance to chemotherapy is unclear. Here we report that PAK2 is highly expressed in human breast cancer cell lines and human breast invasive carcinoma tissue compared with a human non-tumorigenic mammary epithelial cell line and adjacent normal breast tissue, respectively. Interestingly, we found that PAK2 can bind with caspase-7 and phosphorylate caspase-7 at the Ser-30, Thr-173, and Ser-239 sites. Functionally, the phosphorylation of caspase-7 decreases its activity, thereby inhibiting cellular apoptosis. Our data indicate that highly expressed PAK2 mediates chemotherapeutic resistance in human breast invasive ductal carcinoma by negatively regulating caspase-7 activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Base Sequence
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Ductal / enzymology
  • Carcinoma, Ductal / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Ductal / pathology
  • Caspase 7 / chemistry
  • Caspase 7 / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm* / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Transport
  • p21-Activated Kinases / deficiency
  • p21-Activated Kinases / genetics
  • p21-Activated Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • p21-Activated Kinases
  • Caspase 7