Acquisition of a motile, invasive phenotype is a key step in malignant transformation. The Rho family GTPases Cdc42 and Rac1 play a central role in this process by regulating dynamic actin remodeling and vesicular trafficking, coordination of which is essential for cell movement and invasiveness. Cdc42 and Rac1 act by promoting formation of filopodia and lamellapodia, respectively, at the leading edge of a motile cell, and invadopodia at the ventral surface. My laboratory has identified a novel effector of Cdc42 and Rac1, the TRE17 oncogene (a.k.a. USP6), which we hypothesize coordinates actin remodeling and targeted vesicular trafficking. TRE17 has been implicated in tumorigenesis in both humans and mice, yet little is known of its molecular functions. We have identified two direct targets of TRE17, IQGAP1 and the Arf6 GTPase, both of which have previously been linked to motile and invasive behavior. Indeed, high IQGAP1 expression has been linked to invasiveness in carcinomas. IQGAP1 directly regulates actin remodeling, while Arf6 controls endocytosis and plasma membrane recycling. Our preliminary data further identifies calcium/calmodulin (Ca2+/CaM) as an allosteric regulator of TRE17. We hypothesize that TRE17 induces motile, invasive behavior through simultaneous regulation of actin remodeling through IQGAP1 and vesicular trafficking through Arf6, in a manner that is regulated by Ca2+. Through this work we hope to understand how these functions are coordinated during cell movement, and to elucidate the mechanism of TRE17 transformation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA081415-07
Application #
7027024
Study Section
Tumor Progression and Metastasis Study Section (TPM)
Program Officer
Woodhouse, Elizabeth
Project Start
2000-07-01
Project End
2010-05-31
Budget Start
2006-07-01
Budget End
2007-05-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$315,894
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Pringle, L M; Young, R; Quick, L et al. (2012) Atypical mechanism of NF-?B activation by TRE17/ubiquitin-specific protease 6 (USP6) oncogene and its requirement in tumorigenesis. Oncogene 31:3525-35
Erickson-Johnson, Michele R; Chou, Margaret M; Evers, Barbara R et al. (2011) Nodular fasciitis: a novel model of transient neoplasia induced by MYH9-USP6 gene fusion. Lab Invest 91:1427-33
Ye, Y; Pringle, L M; Lau, A W et al. (2010) TRE17/USP6 oncogene translocated in aneurysmal bone cyst induces matrix metalloproteinase production via activation of NF-kappaB. Oncogene 29:3619-29
Lau, Alan W; Pringle, Lashon M; Quick, Laura et al. (2010) TRE17/ubiquitin-specific protease 6 (USP6) oncogene translocated in aneurysmal bone cyst blocks osteoblastic maturation via an autocrine mechanism involving bone morphogenetic protein dysregulation. J Biol Chem 285:37111-20
Holloway, Beth A; Gomez de la Torre Canny, Sol; Ye, Ying et al. (2009) A novel role for MAPKAPK2 in morphogenesis during zebrafish development. PLoS Genet 5:e1000413
Lau, Alan W; Chou, Margaret M (2008) The adaptor complex AP-2 regulates post-endocytic trafficking through the non-clathrin Arf6-dependent endocytic pathway. J Cell Sci 121:4008-17
Robertson, Sarah E; Setty, Subba Rao Gangi; Sitaram, Anand et al. (2006) Extracellular signal-regulated kinase regulates clathrin-independent endosomal trafficking. Mol Biol Cell 17:645-57
Shen, Chuanlu; Ye, Ying; Robertson, Sarah E et al. (2005) Calcium/calmodulin regulates ubiquitination of the ubiquitin-specific protease TRE17/USP6. J Biol Chem 280:35967-73
Martinu, Lenka; Masuda-Robens, Jeffrey M; Robertson, Sarah E et al. (2004) The TBC (Tre-2/Bub2/Cdc16) domain protein TRE17 regulates plasma membrane-endosomal trafficking through activation of Arf6. Mol Cell Biol 24:9752-62
Baumeister, Mark A; Martinu, Lenka; Rossman, Kent L et al. (2003) Loss of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate binding by the C-terminal Tiam-1 pleckstrin homology domain prevents in vivo Rac1 activation without affecting membrane targeting. J Biol Chem 278:11457-64

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