Rab34 regulates adhesion, migration, and invasion of breast cancer cells

Oncogene. 2018 Jul;37(27):3698-3714. doi: 10.1038/s41388-018-0202-7. Epub 2018 Apr 6.

Abstract

The small GTPase Rab34 regulates spatial distribution of the lysosomes, secretion, and macropinocytosis. In this study, we found that Rab34 is over-expressed in aggressive breast cancer cells, implying a potential role of Rab34 in breast cancer. Silencing Rab34 by shRNA inhibits cell migration, invasion, and adhesion of breast cancer cells. Rab34 specifically binds to the cytoplasmic tail of integrin β3, and depletion of Rab34 promotes the degradation of integrin β3. Interestingly, EGF induces the translocation of Rab34 to the membrane ruffle, which is greatly enhanced by the expression of Src kinase. Accordingly, Rab34 is tyrosine phosphorylated by Src at Y247 residue. A mutant mimicking phosphorylated form of Rab34 (Rab34Y247D) promotes cell migration and invasion. Importantly, the tyrosine phosphorylation of Rab34 is inhibited in cells in suspension, and increased with the cells re-adhesion. In addition, Rab34Y247D promotes cell adhesion, and enhances integrin β3 endocytosis and recycling. The results uncover a role of Rab34 in migration and invasion of breast cancer cells and its involvement in cancer metastasis, and provide a novel mechanism of tyrosine phosphorylation of Rab34 in regulating cell migration, invasion, and adhesion through modulating the endocytosis, stability, and recycling of integrin β3.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Adhesion / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics*
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Integrin beta3 / metabolism
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Transport / genetics
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Integrin beta3
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RAB34 protein, human
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • src-Family Kinases
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins