Molecular mechanism of cofilin dephosphorylation by ouabain

Cell Signal. 2006 Nov;18(11):2033-40. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2006.03.014. Epub 2006 Apr 7.

Abstract

We previously reported that phosphorylated cofilin-triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) complex interacts with Na,K-ATPase and enhances the pump activity through the phosphorylation of cofilin via Rho-mediated signaling pathway. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the dephosphorylation of cofilin may be induced through Na,K-ATPase inhibition by ouabain. The phosphorylation level of cofilin by ouabain which decreases in a time- and dose-dependent manner in various human cell lines, remains unchanged by pretreatment with Src inhibitor, PP2; epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, AG1478; Raf-1 kinase (Raf) inhibitor, GW5074; and ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor, PD98059, and by transfection of Ras dominant negative mutant (RasN17). This suggests that ouabain dephosphorylates cofilin through the Src/EGFR/Ras/Raf/MEK pathway. Ouabain activates Ras/Raf/MEK pathway, but down-regulates Rho kinase (ROCK)/LIM kinase (LIMK)/cofilin pathway, implying that there may be a cross-talk by ouabain between the Ras/Raf/MEK and the ROCK/LIMK/cofilin pathways. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry suggest that ouabain-induced active form of cofilin may be involved in cytoskeletal reorganization and cell volume regulation. Thus, these findings demonstrate a new molecular mechanism for the dephosphorylation of cofilin through the inhibition of Na,K-ATPase by ouabain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Depolymerizing Factors / drug effects
  • Actin Depolymerizing Factors / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Down-Regulation
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System*
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Ouabain / pharmacology*
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Actin Depolymerizing Factors
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Ouabain