A wound-induced keratin inhibits Src activity during keratinocyte migration and tissue repair

J Cell Biol. 2012 Apr 30;197(3):381-9. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201107078. Epub 2012 Apr 23.

Abstract

Injury to the epidermis triggers an elaborate homeostatic response resulting in tissue repair and recovery of the vital barrier function. The type II keratins 6a and 6b (K6a and K6b) are among the genes induced early on in wound-proximal keratinocytes and maintained during reepithelialization. Paradoxically, genetic ablation of K6a and K6b results in enhanced keratinocyte migration. In this paper, we show that this trait results from activation of Src kinase and key Src substrates that promote cell migration. Endogenous Src physically associated with keratin proteins in keratinocytes in a K6-dependent fashion. Purified Src bound K6-containing filaments via its SH2 domain in a novel phosphorylation-independent manner, resulting in kinase inhibition. K6 protein was enriched in the detergent-resistant membrane (DRM), a key site of Src inhibition, and DRMs from K6-null keratinocytes were depleted of both keratin and Src. We conclude that K6 negatively regulates Src kinase activity and the migratory potential of skin keratinocytes during wound repair. Our findings may also be important in related contexts such as cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Movement / physiology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Detergents / pharmacology
  • Epidermal Cells
  • Epidermis / metabolism
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Keratin-6 / physiology*
  • Keratinocytes / cytology
  • Keratinocytes / metabolism*
  • Keratins / physiology
  • Membrane Microdomains / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Octoxynol / pharmacology
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src) / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src) / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src) / metabolism*
  • Skin / cytology
  • Skin / metabolism
  • Wound Healing / physiology*

Substances

  • Detergents
  • Keratin-6
  • Krt17 protein, mouse
  • Keratins
  • Octoxynol
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src)