While normal cells possess mechanisms that inhibit proliferation when conditions are inappropriate, tumor cells circumvent these mechanisms and continue proliferating. These regulatory mechanisms are triggered by diverse stimuli such as cell-cell contact, when cells reach a critical number and density. This contact- inhibition oftn becomes dysregulated during tumorigenesis and our long-term goals are to identify and characterize the mechanisms of how cell:cell contact triggers anti-proliferative/growth control signals. A central player in the regulation of these signals is Merlin, the protein product of the NF2 (neurofibromatosis type 2) tumor suppressor gene. Recent studies have indicated the NF2 allele is functionally inactivated in a broad range of tumors. Merlin is localized to regions of cel-cell contacts and a major manifestation of Merlin's loss of function is the development of tumors in vivo and loss of contact inhibition of cell proliferation. Merlin has been shown to function a a key regulator of multiple signal transduction pathways including those regulated by small G-proteins and the Hpo/Yap pathway. While these pathways play critical roles in regulation of cell proliferation, organ size control and tissue repair, it is still not clear which of these pathways mediates Merlin's tumor suppressive function/s. We recently identified the Angiomotins, members of the Motin protein family, as Merlin-interacting proteins that localize to tight and adherens junctions. Importantly, we determined that Merlin's ability to regulate mitogenic signaling is mediated through the Angiomotins and that the Angiomotins are required for tumorigenesis in an animal model of NF2. Our working hypotheses are that Merlin functions as a tumor suppressor by regulating signaling pathways that control cellular proliferation through interaction with the Angiomotins and that targeting the Angiomotins will result in inhibition of tumorigenesis. We will test these hypotheses employing cell-based and animal models of NF2 to identify the mechanisms underlying Merlin and Angiomotin-dependent regulation of cell proliferation, establish the roles of the Hpo/Yap pathway and Angiomotin in NF2 and determine whether Angiomotins can drive tumorigenesis in vivo. Given the involvement of NF2 mutations in a broad spectrum of cancers, these studies will have broad impact and 1) elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of cellular proliferation by cell:cell contact, 2) determine the functions of Merlin relevant to tumor suppression, 3) establish a role for the Hpo/YAP pathway and 4) validate the Angiomotins as novel targets for development of therapeutic interventions.

Public Health Relevance

Cancer cells are characterized by the breakdown of mechanisms that in normal cells ensure proliferation only under appropriate conditions. For example, under normal conditions cells will stop growing when they have reached a certain density in an organ while tumor cells will continue to proliferate. The mechanisms that mediate these signals generated by contacts between neighboring cells are poorly understood. Our goals are to identify these mechanisms and the proteins involved so that these can be targeted therapeutically. Given the involvement of these pathways in a wide spectrum of tumor types our studies will have broad impact on multiple types of cancer.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
4R01NS077952-04
Application #
8976866
Study Section
Clinical Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumors Study Section (CNBT)
Program Officer
Morris, Jill A
Project Start
2013-01-01
Project End
2017-12-31
Budget Start
2016-01-01
Budget End
2016-12-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
$378,000
Indirect Cost
$181,125
Name
Scripps Florida
Department
Type
DUNS #
148230662
City
Jupiter
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33458
Chinthalapudi, Krishna; Mandati, Vinay; Zheng, Jie et al. (2018) Lipid binding promotes the open conformation and tumor-suppressive activity of neurofibromin 2. Nat Commun 9:1338
Moleirinho, Susana; Hoxha, Sany; Mandati, Vinay et al. (2017) Regulation of localization and function of the transcriptional co-activator YAP by angiomotin. Elife 6:
Guerrant, William; Kota, Smitha; Troutman, Scott et al. (2016) YAP Mediates Tumorigenesis in Neurofibromatosis Type 2 by Promoting Cell Survival and Proliferation through a COX-2-EGFR Signaling Axis. Cancer Res 76:3507-19
Troutman, Scott; Moleirinho, Susana; Kota, Smitha et al. (2016) Crizotinib inhibits NF2-associated schwannoma through inhibition of focal adhesion kinase 1. Oncotarget 7:54515-54525
Moleirinho, Susana; Guerrant, William; Kissil, Joseph L (2014) The Angiomotins--from discovery to function. FEBS Lett 588:2693-703
Yi, Chunling; Shen, Zhewei; Stemmer-Rachamimov, Anat et al. (2013) The p130 isoform of angiomotin is required for Yap-mediated hepatic epithelial cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Sci Signal 6:ra77