Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: EC:2.7.10.2 (focal adhesion kinase)
44,029 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Heparanase is an endo-beta-glucuronidase responsible for the cleavage of heparan sulfate, participating in extracellular matrix degradation and remodeling. Traditionally, heparanase activity was well correlated with the metastatic potential of a large number of tumor-derived cell types. More recently, heparanase up-regulation was detected in essentially all human tumors examined, correlating, in some cases, with poor postoperative survival and increased tumor vascularity. The role of heparanase in primary tumor progression is, however, poorly understood. Here, we overexpressed the human heparanase gene in a human glioma cell line, U87. We found that heparanase overexpression induces cell invasion, as might be expected. Surprisingly, elevated heparanase expression levels correlated with decreased proliferation rates and increased cell spreading and formation of a tight monolayer rather than large cell aggregates. This phenotypic appearance was accompanied by beta1-integrin activation, FAK and Akt phosphorylation, and Rac activation. In a xenograft tumor model, relatively moderate heparanase expression levels significantly enhanced tumor development and tumor vascularity, whereas high heparanase expression levels inhibited tumor growth. These results indicate that heparanase activates signal transduction pathways and, depending on its expression levels, may modulate tumor progression.
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PMID:Heparanase affects adhesive and tumorigenic potential of human glioma cells. 1463 98

Progression of human colon cancer is often associated with elevated expression and activity of the Src family tyrosine kinase (SFK). SFK is ordinarily in equilibrium between inactive and primed states by a balance of negative regulatory kinase Csk and its counteracting tyrosine phosphatase(s), both of which act on the regulatory C-terminal tyrosine of SFK. To evaluate the contribution of the regulatory system of SFK in cancer progression, we here modulated the equilibrium status of SFK by introducing wild-type or dominant-negative Csk in human epithelial colon cancer cells, HCT15 and HT29. Overexpression of wild-type Csk induced decreased SFK activation, increased cell-cell contacts mediated by E-cadherin, decreased the number of focal contacts and decreased cell adhesion/migration and in vitro invasiveness. Conversely, expression of a dominant-negative Csk resulted in elevated SFK activation, enhanced phosphorylation of FAK and paxilllin, enhanced cell scattering, an increased number of focal contacts, dramatic rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton and increased cell adhesion/migration and in vitro invasiveness. In these scattered cells, however, localization, expression and phosphorylation of either E-cadherin or beta-catenin were not significantly affected, suggesting that the E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell contact is indirectly regulated by SFK. Furthermore, all these events occurred absolutely dependent on integrin-mediated cell adhesion. These findings demonstrate that Csk defines the ability of integrin-SFK-mediated cell adhesion signaling that influences the metastatic potential of cancer cells.
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PMID:Csk defines the ability of integrin-mediated cell adhesion and migration in human colon cancer cells: implication for a potential role in cancer metastasis. 1471 34

The nonreceptor tyrosine kinase c-Src is activated in most invasive cancers. Activated c-Src binds to FAK in the focal adhesion complex, resulting in the activation of the c-Src/FAK signaling cascade, which regulates cytoskeletal functions. However, the mechanisms by which c-Src/FAK signaling is regulated during conditions of anchorage-independent growth, a hallmark of tumor progression, are not clearly known. Here, an in vivo approach to measure c-Src activity was studied using phospho-specific antibodies against phosphorylated Y418 of c-Src (Src[pY418]), an autophosphorylation site of c-Src, and phosphorylated Y577 of FAK (FAK[pY577]), a known substrate of c-Src. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches to modulate c-Src activity, we showed that the levels of Src[pY418] and FAK[pY577], and the formation of a c-Src/FAK[pY577] complex correlated with the activation state of c-Src in adherent cells. Interestingly, both the in vivo level of Src[pY418] and in vitro c-Src kinase activity were increased in carcinoma cells following disruption of Ca(2+)-dependent cell-matrix adhesion. In contrast, the level of FAK[pY577] and its association with c-Src were reduced in suspended cells. The amount of FAK[pY577] in suspended cells was recovered following attachment of rounded cells to fibronectin-coated polystyrene beads, indicating that cell spreading was not required for phosphorylation of FAK. Moreover, cells expressing activated c-Src showed sustained Src[Y418] phosphorylation, but required Ca(2+)-dependent cell adhesion for phosphorylation of FAK[Y577] and association of c-Src with FAK[pY577]. These findings indicate an important role of integrin-based cell-matrix adhesion in regulating c-Src/FAK signaling under decreased anchorage conditions.
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PMID:Disruption of Ca2+-dependent cell-matrix adhesion enhances c-Src kinase activity, but causes dissociation of the c-Src/FAK complex and dephosphorylation of tyrosine-577 of FAK in carcinoma cells. 1472 52

The programmed cell death occurs as part of normal mammalian development. The induction of developmental cell death is a highly regulated process and can be suppressed by a variety of extracellular stimuli. Recently, the ability of trophic factors to promote survival have been attributed, at least in part, to the phosphatidylinositide 3'-OH kinase (PI3K)/Protein Kinase B (PKB, also named Akt) cascade. Several targets of the PI3K/PKB signaling pathway have been identified that may underlie the ability of this regulatory cascade to promote cell survival. PKB possesses a N-terminal Pleckstrin Homology (PH) domain that binds specifically and with high affinity to PtIns(3,4,5)P(3) and PtIns(3,4)P(2), the PI3K second messengers. PKB is then recruited to the plasma membrane by virtue of its interaction with 3'-OH phosphatidylinositides and activated. Recent evidence indicates that PKB is active in various types of human cancer; constitutive PKB signaling activation is believed to promote proliferation and increased cell survival, thereby contributing to cancer progression. Thus, it has been shown that induction of PKB activity is augmented by the TCL1/MTCP1 oncoproteins through a physical association requiring the PKB PH domain. Here we present the three-dimensional solution structure of the PH domain of the human protein PKB (isoform beta). PKBbeta-PH is an electrostatically polarized molecule that adopts the same fold and topology as other PH-domains, consisting of a beta-sandwich of seven strands capped on one top by an alpha-helix. The opposite face presents three variable loops that appear poorly defined in the NMR structure. Measurements of (15)N spin relaxation times and heteronuclear (15)N[(1)H]NOEs showed that this poor definition is due to intrinsic flexibility, involving complex motions on different time scales. Chemical shift mapping studies correctly defined the binding site of Ins(1,3,4,5)P(4) (the head group of PtIns(3,4,5)P(3)), as was previously proposed from a crystallographic study. More interestingly, these studies allowed us to define a putative alternative low-affinity binding site for Ins(1,4,5)P(3). The binding of this sugar to PKBbeta-PH might also involve non-specific association that could explain the stabilization of the protein in solution in the presence of Ins(1,4,5)P(3).
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PMID:Solution structure and backbone dynamics of the pleckstrin homology domain of the human protein kinase B (PKB/Akt). Interaction with inositol phosphates. 1475 58

Akt/PKB is a crucial regulator of diverse cellular processes and contributes to cancer progression. Activation of Akt is essentially dependent on phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase signaling. Here, we describe a novel mediator of Akt that is independent of PI 3-kinase. This mediator, PIKE-A, is a PIKE isoform and contains GTPase, pleckstrin homology, ArfGAP, and ankyrin repeats domains. PIKE-A directly binds to activated Akt but not PI 3-kinase in a guanine nucleotide-dependent way and stimulates the kinase activity of Akt. Overexpression of PIKE-A enhances Akt activity and promotes cancer cell invasion, whereas dominant-negative PIKE-A and PIKE-A knockdown markedly inhibit these processes. Our results demonstrate that PIKE-A is a physiologic regulator of Akt and an oncogenic effector of cell invasion.
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PMID:PIKE (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase enhancer)-A GTPase stimulates Akt activity and mediates cellular invasion. 1476 76

Grb7 is an adaptor molecule that mediates signal transduction from multiple cell surface receptors to various downstream signaling pathways. Grb7 and its related family member Grb10 and Grb14 share a conserved molecular architecture including an amino-terminal proline-rich region, a central segment termed the GM region (for Grb and Mig) which includes a PH domain and shares sequence homology with the Caenorhabditis elegans protein, Mig-10, and a carboxyl-terminal SH2 domain. Grb7/10/14 family proteins are phosphorylated on serine/threonine as well as tyrosine residues, although the functional significance of such phosphorylation is incompletely understood. Grb7/10/14 family proteins are mainly localized in the cytoplasm, but have been observed at the plasma membrane, focal contacts, or mitochondria under certain conditions. A large number of receptor tyrosine kinases and other signaling molecules can associate with Grb7/10/14 family proteins, mostly through the SH2 domains, although the functional consequences of such interactions have not been well characterized in most cases. Recent studies have suggested that various isoforms of Grb10 play important roles in mediating insulin/insulin-like growth factor regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis, whereas Grb7 mediates signaling pathways from FAK and EphB1 receptor to regulate cell migration, which is also implicated in tumor progression. This review will discuss the current understanding of Grb7 mediated signal transduction pathways and their role in the regulation of various cellular functions.
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PMID:Grb7 in intracellular signaling and its role in cell regulation. 1476 59

Phenotypic and genotypic analyses of cutaneous melanoma have identified the endothelin B receptor (ET(B)R) as tumor progression marker, thus representing a potential therapeutic target. Here, we demonstrate that activation of ET(B)R by endothelin-1 (ET-1) and ET-3 leads to loss of expression of the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin and associated catenin proteins and gain of N-cadherin expression. Exposure of melanoma cells to ET-1 leads to a 60% inhibition in intercellular communication by inducing phosphorylation of gap junctional protein connexin 43. Additionally, activation of the ET(B)R pathway increases alpha(v)beta(3) and alpha(2)beta(1) integrin expression and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, membrane type-1-MMP activation, and tissue inhibitor MMP-2 secretion. The ET(B)R pathway results into the downstream activation of focal adhesion kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathways, which lead to enhanced cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, and MMP-dependent invasion. The small molecule A-192621, an orally bioavailable nonpeptide ET(B)R antagonist, significantly inhibits melanoma growth in nude mice. These findings demonstrate that ET-1 and ET-3 through ET(B)R activation trigger signaling pathways involved in events associated with disruption of normal host-tumor interactions and progression of cutaneous melanoma. Pharmacological interruption of ET(B)R signaling may represent a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of this malignancy.
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PMID:Endothelin B receptor blockade inhibits dynamics of cell interactions and communications in melanoma cell progression. 1497 17

Tissue factor (TF), apart from activating the extrinsic pathway of the blood coagulation, is a principal regulator of embryonic and oncogenic angiogenesis, inflammation, leukocyte reverse transmigration, and tumor progression. It has become clear that these events are mediated by intracellular signal transduction elicited by TF/factor VIIa (FVIIa) interaction, but the details of this signaling remain largely obscure. In this study, we show that FVIIa/TF-interaction produces STAT5 phosphorylation, STAT5 nuclear translocation and transactivation of a STAT5 reporter construct. FVIIa-dependent STAT5 activation was dependent on FVIIa proteolytic activity but not on generation of the downstream coagulation factors Xa and thrombin, nor on the TF cytoplasmic domain. FVIIa-induced STAT5 phosphorylation was dependent on functional G12/G13 class G proteins and Jak2 activity, but not Jak1 or Tyk2. Finally, we show that FVIIa leads to cell survival through a Jak2/STAT5-dependent production of the antiapoptotic STAT5 target Bcl(XL) as well as Jak2-dependent activation of the antiapoptotic protein PKB. In conclusion, our results show that FVIIa induces cell survival through STAT5-dependent Bcl(XL) production and Jak2-dependent activation of PKB. Finally, we demonstrated for the first time that TF/FVIIa-signal transduction is dependent on G12/G13 class G proteins.
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PMID:FVIIa:TF induces cell survival via G12/G13-dependent Jak/STAT activation and BclXL production. 1501 32

Cannabinoids, the active components of marijuana and their endogenous counterparts were reported as useful analgetic agents to accompany primary cancer treatment by preventing nausea, vomiting, and pain and by stimulating appetite. Moreover, they have been shown to inhibit cell growth and to induce apoptosis in tumor cells. Here, we demonstrate that anandamide, Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), HU-210, and Win55,212-2 promote mitogenic kinase signaling in cancer cells. Treatment of the glioblastoma cell line U373-MG and the lung carcinoma cell line NCI-H292 with nanomolar concentrations of THC led to accelerated cell proliferation that was completely dependent on metalloprotease and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activity. EGFR signal transactivation was identified as the mechanistic link between cannabinoid receptors and the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 as well as prosurvival protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) signaling. Depending on the cellular context, signal cross-communication was mediated by shedding of proAmphiregulin (proAR) and/or proHeparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (proHB-EGF) by tumor necrosis factor alpha converting enzyme (TACE/ADAM17). Taken together, our data show that concentrations of THC comparable with those detected in the serum of patients after THC administration accelerate proliferation of cancer cells instead of apoptosis and thereby contribute to cancer progression in patients.
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PMID:Cannabinoids induce cancer cell proliferation via tumor necrosis factor alpha-converting enzyme (TACE/ADAM17)-mediated transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor. 1502 28

The late stages of human breast cancer development are poorly understood complex processes associated with the expression of genes by cancers that promote specific tumorigenic activities, such as angiogenesis. Here, we describe the identification of periostin as a mesenchyme-specific gene whose acquired expression by human breast cancers leads to a significant enhancement in tumor progression and angiogenesis. Undetectable in normal human breast tissues, periostin was found to be overexpressed by the vast majority of human primary breast cancers examined. Tumor cell lines engineered to overexpress periostin showed a phenotype of accelerated growth and angiogenesis as xenografts in immunocompromised animals. The underlying mechanism of periostin-mediated induction of angiogenesis was found to derive in part from the up-regulation of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor Flk-1/KDR by endothelial cells through an integrin alpha(v)beta(3)-focal adhesion kinase-mediated signaling pathway. These findings demonstrate the presence of a novel mechanism by which tumor angiogenesis is acquired with the expression of a mesenchyme-specific gene as a crucial step in late stages of tumorigenesis.
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PMID:Acquired expression of periostin by human breast cancers promotes tumor angiogenesis through up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 expression. 1508 92


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