Nuclear actin dynamics and functions at a glance

Actin is well known for its cytoskeletal functions, where it helps to control and maintain cell shape and architecture, as well as regulating cell migration and intracellular cargo transport, among others. However, actin is also prevalent in the nucleus, where genome-regulating roles have been described, including it being part of chromatin-remodeling complexes. More recently, with the help of advances in microscopy techniques and specialized imaging probes, direct visualization of nuclear actin filament dynamics has helped elucidate new roles for nuclear actin, such as in cell cycle regulation, DNA replication and repair, chromatin organization and transcriptional condensate formation. In this Cell Science at a Glance article, we summarize the known signaling events driving the dynamic assembly of actin into filaments of various structures within the nuclear compartment for essential genome functions. Additionally, we highlight the physiological role of nuclear F-actin in meiosis and early embryonic development.

ROCK1/2 signaling contributes to corticosteroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease

Patients with corticosteroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) have a low one-year survival rate. Identification and validation of novel targetable kinases in patients who experience corticosteroid-refractory-aGVHD may help improve outcomes. Kinase-specific proteomics of leukocytes from patients with corticosteroid-refractory-GVHD identified rho kinase type 1 (ROCK1) as the most significantly upregulated kinase. ROCK1/2 inhibition improved survival and histological GVHD severity in mice and was synergistic with JAK1/2 inhibition, without compromising graft-versus-leukemia-effects. ROCK1/2-inhibition in macrophages or dendritic cells prior to transfer reduced GVHD severity. Mechanistically, ROCK1/2 inhibition or ROCK1 knockdown interfered with CD80, CD86, MHC-II expression and IL-6, IL-1β, iNOS and TNF production in myeloid cells. This was accompanied by impaired T cell activation by dendritic cells and inhibition of cytoskeletal rearrangements, thereby reducing macrophage and DC migration. NF-κB signaling was reduced in myeloid cells following ROCK1/2 inhibition. In conclusion, ROCK1/2 inhibition interferes with immune activation at multiple levels and reduces acute GVHD while maintaining GVL-effects, including in corticosteroid-refractory settings.

Nuclear actin polymerization rapidly mediates replication fork remodeling upon stress by limiting PrimPol activity

Cells rapidly respond to replication stress actively slowing fork progression and inducing fork reversal. How replication fork plasticity is achieved in the context of nuclear organization is currently unknown. Using nuclear actin probes in living and fixed cells, we visualized nuclear actin filaments in unperturbed S phase and observed their rapid extension in number and length upon genotoxic treatments, frequently taking contact with replication factories. Chemically or genetically impairing nuclear actin polymerization shortly before these treatments prevents active fork slowing and abolishes fork reversal. Defective fork remodeling is linked to deregulated chromatin loading of PrimPol, which promotes unrestrained and discontinuous DNA synthesis and limits the recruitment of RAD51 and SMARCAL1 to nascent DNA. Moreover, defective nuclear actin polymerization upon mild replication interference induces chromosomal instability in a PRIMPOL-dependent manner. Hence, by limiting PrimPol activity, nuclear F-actin orchestrates replication fork plasticity and is a key molecular determinant in the rapid cellular response to genotoxic treatments.

Quantitative real-time in-cell imaging reveals heterogeneous clusters of proteins prior to condensation

Our current understanding of biomolecular condensate formation is largely based on observing the final near-equilibrium condensate state. Despite expectations from classical nucleation theory, pre-critical protein clusters were recently shown to form under subsaturation conditions in vitro; if similar long-lived clusters comprising more than a few molecules are also present in cells, our understanding of the physical basis of biological phase separation may fundamentally change. Here, we combine fluorescence microscopy with photobleaching analysis to quantify the formation of clusters of NELF proteins in living, stressed cells. We categorise small and large clusters based on their dynamics and their response to p38 kinase inhibition. We find a broad distribution of pre-condensate cluster sizes and show that NELF protein cluster formation can be explained as non-classical nucleation with a surprisingly flat free-energy landscape for a wide range of sizes and an inhibition of condensation in unstressed cells.

Formin-mediated nuclear actin at androgen receptors promotes transcription

Steroid hormone receptors are ligand-binding transcription factors essential for mammalian physiology. The androgen receptor (AR) binds androgens mediating gene expression for sexual, somatic, and behavioral functions, and is involved in various conditions including androgen-insensitivity-syndrome (AIS) or prostate cancer ¹. Here we identified functional AIS-patient mutations in the formin and actin nucleator DAAM2. DAAM2 was enriched in the nucleus, where its localization correlated with that of the AR to form actin-dependent transcriptional droplets in response to dihydrotestosterone. DAAM2-AR-droplets ranged from 0.02 to 0.06 µm³ in size and associated with active RNA polymerase II. DAAM2 polymerized actin directly at the AR to promote droplet coalescence in a highly dynamic manner and nuclear actin polymerization is required for prostate-specific antigen expression in cancer cells. Our data uncover signal-regulated nuclear actin assembly at a steroid hormone receptor necessary for transcription.

Replication fork plasticity upon replication stress requires rapid nuclear actin polymerization

Cells rapidly respond to replication stress actively slowing fork progression and inducing fork reversal. How replication fork plasticity is achieved in the context of nuclear organization is currently unknown. Using nuclear actin probes in living and fixed cells, we visualized nuclear actin filaments in unperturbed S phase, rapidly extending in number and thickness upon genotoxic treatments, and taking frequent contact with replication factories. Chemically or genetically impairing nuclear actin polymerization shortly before these treatments prevents active fork slowing and abolishes fork reversal. Defective fork plasticity is linked to reduced recruitment of RAD51 and SMARCAL1 to nascent DNA. Conversely, PRIMPOL gains access to replicating chromatin, promoting unrestrained and discontinuous DNA synthesis, which is associated with increased chromosomal instability and decreased cellular resistance to replication stress. Hence, nuclear F-actin orchestrates replication fork plasticity and is a key molecular determinant in the rapid cellular response to genotoxic treatments.

Spatiotemporal Regulation of FMNL2 by N-Terminal Myristoylation and C-Terminal Phosphorylation Drives Rapid Filopodia Formation

The actin nucleating and polymerizing formin-like 2 (FMNL2) is upregulated in several cancers and has been shown to play important roles in cell migration, invasion, cell–cell adhesion and filopodia formation. Here, using structured illumination microscopy we show that FMNL2 promotes rapid and highly dynamic filopodia formation in epithelial cells while remaining on the tip of the growing filopodia. This filopodia tip localization depends fully on its N-terminal myristoylation. We further show that FMNL2-dependent filopodia formation requires its serine 1072 phosphorylation within the diaphanous-autoregulatory domain (DAD) by protein kinase C (PKC) α. Consistent with this, filopodia formation depends on PKC activity and PKCα localizes to the base of growing filopodia. Thus, a PKCα–FMNL2 signaling module spatiotemporally controls dynamic filopodia formation.

Vesicle-Associated Actin Assembly by Formins Promotes TGFβ-Induced ANGPTL4 Trafficking, Secretion and Cell Invasion

Vesicle trafficking has emerged as an important process driving tumor progression through various mechanisms. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ)-mediated secretion of Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is important for cancer development. Here, Formin-like 2 (FMNL2) is identified to be necessary for ANGPTL4 trafficking and secretion in response to TGFβ. Protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent phosphorylation of FMNL2 downstream of TGFβ stimulation is required for cancer cell invasion as well as ANGPTL4 vesicle trafficking and secretion. Moreover, using super resolution microscopy, ANGPTL4 trafficking is actin-dependent with FMNL2 directly polymerizing actin at ANGPTL4-containing vesicles, which are associated with Rab8a and myosin Vb. This work uncovers a formin-controlled mechanism that transiently polymerizes actin directly at intracellular vesicles to facilitate their mobility. This mechanism may be important for the regulation of cancer cell metastasis and tumor progression.

Stabilization of membrane topologies by proteinaceous remorin scaffolds

In plants, the topological organization of membranes has mainly been attributed to the cell wall and the cytoskeleton. Additionally, few proteins, such as plant-specific remorins have been shown to function as protein and lipid organizers. Root nodule symbiosis requires continuous membrane re-arrangements, with bacteria being finally released from infection threads into membrane-confined symbiosomes. We found that mutations in the symbiosis-specific SYMREM1 gene result in highly disorganized perimicrobial membranes. AlphaFold modelling and biochemical analyses reveal that SYMREM1 oligomerizes into antiparallel dimers and may form a higher-order membrane scaffolding structure. This was experimentally confirmed when expressing this and other remorins in wall-less protoplasts is sufficient where they significantly alter and stabilize de novo membrane topologies ranging from membrane blebs to long membrane tubes with a central actin filament. Reciprocally, mechanically induced membrane indentations were equally stabilized by SYMREM1. Taken together we describe a plant-specific mechanism that allows the stabilization of large-scale membrane conformations independent of the cell wall.

The lysophosphatidic acid-regulated signal transduction network in ovarian cancer cells and its role in actomyosin dynamics, cell migration and entosis

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) species accumulate in the ascites of ovarian high-grade serous cancer (HGSC) and are associated with short relapse-free survival. LPA is known to support metastatic spread of cancer cells by activating a multitude of signaling pathways via G-protein-coupled receptors of the LPAR family. Systematic unbiased analyses of the LPA-regulated signal transduction network in ovarian cancer cells have, however, not been reported to date. Methods: LPA-induced signaling pathways were identified by phosphoproteomics of both patient-derived and OVCAR8 cells, RNA sequencing, measurements of intracellular Ca²⁺ and cAMP as well as cell imaging. The function of LPARs and downstream signaling components in migration and entosis were analyzed by selective pharmacological inhibitors and RNA interference. Results: Phosphoproteomic analyses identified > 1100 LPA-regulated sites in > 800 proteins and revealed interconnected LPAR1, ROCK/RAC, PKC/D and ERK pathways to play a prominent role within a comprehensive signaling network. These pathways regulate essential processes, including transcriptional responses, actomyosin dynamics, cell migration and entosis. A critical component of this signaling network is MYPT1, a stimulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), which in turn is a negative regulator of myosin light chain 2 (MLC2). LPA induces phosphorylation of MYPT1 through ROCK (T853) and PKC/ERK (S507), which is majorly driven by LPAR1. Inhibition of MYPT1, PKC or ERK impedes both LPA-induced cell migration and entosis, while interference with ROCK activity and MLC2 phosphorylation selectively blocks entosis, suggesting that MYPT1 figures in both ROCK/MLC2-dependent and -independent pathways. We finally show a novel pathway governed by LPAR2 and the RAC-GEF DOCK7 to be indispensable for the induction of entosis. Conclusion: We have identified a comprehensive LPA-induced signal transduction network controlling LPA-triggered cytoskeletal changes, cell migration and entosis in HGSC cells. Due to its pivotal role in this network, MYPT1 may represent a promising target for interfering with specific functions of PP1 essential for HGSC progression.

Filamentous nuclear actin regulation of PML NBs during the DNA damage response is deregulated by prelamin A

Nuclear actin participates in a continuously expanding list of core processes within eukaryotic nuclei, including the maintenance of genomic integrity. In response to DNA damage, nuclear actin polymerises into filaments that are involved in the repair of damaged DNA through incompletely defined mechanisms. We present data to show that the formation of nuclear F-actin in response to genotoxic stress acts as a scaffold for PML NBs and that these filamentous networks are essential for PML NB fission and recruitment of microbodies to DNA lesions. Further to this, we demonstrate that the accumulation of the toxic lamin A precursor prelamin A induces mislocalisation of nuclear actin to the nuclear envelope and prevents the establishment of nucleoplasmic F-actin networks in response to stress. Consequently, PML NB dynamics and recruitment to DNA lesions is ablated, resulting in impaired DNA damage repair. Inhibition of nuclear export of formin mDia2 restores nuclear F-actin formation by augmenting polymerisation of nuclear actin in response to stress and rescues PML NB localisation to sites of DNA repair, leading to reduced levels of DNA damage.

BCAT1 redox function maintains mitotic fidelity

The metabolic enzyme branched-chain amino acid transaminase 1 (BCAT1) drives cell proliferation in aggressive cancers such as glioblastoma. Here, we show that BCAT1 localizes to mitotic structures and has a non-metabolic function as a mitotic regulator. Furthermore, BCAT1 is required for chromosome segregation in cancer and induced pluripotent stem cells and tumor growth in human cerebral organoid and mouse syngraft models. Applying gene knockout and rescue strategies, we show that the BCAT1 CXXC redox motif is crucial for controlling cysteine sulfenylation specifically in mitotic cells, promoting Aurora kinase B localization to centromeres, and securing accurate chromosome segregation. These findings offer an explanation for the well-established role of BCAT1 in promoting cancer cell proliferation. In summary, our data establish BCAT1 as a component of the mitotic apparatus that safeguards mitotic fidelity through a moonlighting redox functionality.

The 2020 AIB curriculum survey: The state of internationalizing students, faculty, and programs

Twenty years after the prior survey, the seventh international business curriculum survey was conducted in 2020 under the sponsorship of the Academy of International Business (AIB) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This paper reports the survey's findings and makes relevant comparisons with the results of the two previous curriculum surveys. This study is not only an update but also explores new directions of international business (IB) integration into the business schools' programs. Although the percentage of matrix structures and separate IB departments is higher in the 2020 survey than earlier, the majority of IB faculty are still scattered across functional departments without IB recognition. Essentially, with few exceptions, we found that European schools are consistently more international than their counterparts elsewhere. Business school deans also consider experiential learning very effective in equipping students with IB knowledge and are generally quite satisfied with the overall progress of their internationalization efforts. The survey findings contribute to understanding how IB is integrated into business schools and offer insights for identifying future opportunities.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1057/s41267-022-00547-1.

Within-host evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in an immunosuppressed COVID-19 patient as a source of immune escape variants

The origin of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern remains unclear. Here, we test whether intra-host virus evolution during persistent infections could be a contributing factor by characterizing the long-term SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics in an immunosuppressed kidney transplant recipient. Applying RT-qPCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of sequential respiratory specimens, we identify several mutations in the viral genome late in infection. We demonstrate that a late viral isolate exhibiting genome mutations similar to those found in variants of concern first identified in UK, South Africa, and Brazil, can escape neutralization by COVID-19 antisera. Moreover, infection of susceptible mice with this patient’s escape variant elicits protective immunity against re-infection with either the parental virus and the escape variant, as well as high neutralization titers against the alpha and beta SARS-CoV-2 variants, B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, demonstrating a considerable immune control against such variants of concern. Upon lowering immunosuppressive treatment, the patient generated spike-specific neutralizing antibodies and resolved the infection. Our results suggest that immunocompromised patients could be a source for the emergence of potentially harmful SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Here, in a longitudinal case study, Weigang et al. demonstrate that evolution of SARS-CoV-2 within a persistently infected immunosuppressed patient can result in the emergence of novel variants with reduced sensitivity to antibody neutralization.

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis cytotoxic necrotizing factor interacts with glycosaminoglycans

The Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor Y (CNFY) is produced by the gram-negative, enteric pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. The bacterial toxin belongs to a family of deamidases, which constitutively activate Rho GTPases, thereby balancing inflammatory processes. We identified heparan sulfate proteoglycans as essential host cell factors for intoxication with CNFY. Using flow cytometry, microscopy, knockout cell lines, pulsed electron-electron double resonance, and bio-layer interferometry, we studied the role of glucosaminoglycans in the intoxication process of CNFY. Especially the C-terminal part of CNFY, which encompasses the catalytic activity, binds with high affinity to heparan sulfates. CNFY binding with the N-terminal domain to a hypothetical protein receptor may support the interaction between the C-terminal domain and heparan sulfates, which seems sterically hindered in the full toxin. A second conformational change occurs by acidification of the endosome, probably allowing insertion of the hydrophobic regions of the toxin into the endosomal membrane. Our findings suggest that heparan sulfates play a major role for intoxication within the endosome, rather than being relevant for an interaction at the cell surface.

Measuring nuclear calcium and actin assembly in living cells

Nuclear calcium signalling has emerged as a critical mechanism regulating processes like chromatin organization and gene expression. Recently, we have shown that nuclear calcium elevation triggers rapid and transient actin filament assembly inside the nucleus. Here, we constructed and employed a nuclear-specific calcium sensor based upon the new generation of genetically encoded probes jGCaMP7f. By fusing a nuclear localization signal to jGCaMP7f, we achieved highly efficient nuclear-specific targeting. Comparing the jGCaMP7f-NLS probe with the previous GCaMP6f-NLS calcium sensor showed clearly that jGCaMP7f-NLS is more sensitive and reverses significantly quicker thereby reflecting rapid nuclear calcium transients in a closely physiological manner. We further confirm that nuclear calcium transients precede nuclear actin polymerization by several seconds. Our data show that calcium-triggered nuclear actin assembly in fibroblasts is independent of the actin nucleating Arp2/3 complex. Together, jGCaMP7f-NLS represents an easy to use, reliable and highly sensitive nuclear calcium sensor that allows to tightly interrogate real-time, spatiotemporal calcium signalling and calcium-elicited effects in the nucleus of living cells.

Characterization of a L136P mutation in Formin-like 2 (FMNL2) from a patient with chronic inflammatory bowel disease

Diaphanous related formins are highly conserved proteins regulated by Rho-GTPases that act as actin nucleation and assembly factors. Here we report the functional characterization of a non-inherited heterozygous FMNL2 p.L136P mutation carried by a patient who presented with severe very early onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We found that the FMNL2 L136P protein displayed subcellular mislocalization and deregulated protein autoinhibition indicating gain-of-function mechanism. Expression of FMNL2 L136P impaired cell spreading as well as filopodia formation. THP-1 macrophages expressing FMNL2 L136P revealed dysregulated podosome formation and a defect in matrix degradation. Our data indicate that the L136P mutation affects cellular actin dynamics in fibroblasts and immune cells such as macrophages.

Formin-mediated bridging of cell wall, plasma membrane, and cytoskeleton in symbiotic infections of Medicago truncatula

Legumes have maintained the ability to associate with rhizobia to sustain the nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis (RNS). In Medicago truncatula, the Nod factor (NF)-dependent intracellular root colonization by Sinorhizobium meliloti initiates from young, growing root hairs. They form rhizobial traps by physically curling around the symbiont.^1,2 Although alterations in root hair morphology like branching and swelling have been observed in other plants in response to drug treatments³ or genetic perturbations,4, 5, 6 full root hair curling represents a rather specific invention in legumes. The entrapment of the symbiont completes with its full enclosure in a structure called the “infection chamber” (IC),^1,2,7,8 from which a tube-like membrane channel, the “infection thread” (IT), initiates.^1,2,9 All steps of rhizobium-induced root hair alterations are aided by a tip-localized cytosolic calcium gradient,^10,11 global actin re-arrangements, and dense subapical fine actin bundles that are required for the delivery of Golgi-derived vesicles to the root hair tip.^7,12, 13, 14 Altered actin dynamics during early responses to NFs or rhizobia have mostly been shown in mutants that are affected in the actin-related SCAR/WAVE complex.15, 16, 17, 18 Here, we identified a polarly localized SYMBIOTIC FORMIN 1 (SYFO1) to be required for NF-dependent alterations in membrane organization and symbiotic root hair responses. We demonstrate that SYFO1 mediates a continuum between the plasma membrane and the cell wall that is required for the onset of rhizobial infections.

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The SYMBIOTIC FORMIN 1 (SYFO1) specifically regulates symbiotic root hair curling

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SYFO1 directly binds actin and polarizes in responding root hairs

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SYFO1 induces membrane protrusions in cell-wall-devoid protoplasts

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Cell wall association of SYFO1 is indispensable for its function in root hairs

Zygotic Nuclear F-Actin Safeguards Embryonic Development

After fertilization, sperm and oocyte nuclei are rapidly remodeled to form swollen pronuclei (PN) in mammalian zygotes, and the proper formation and function of PN are key to producing totipotent zygotes. However, how mature PN are formed has been unclear. We find that filamentous actin (F-actin) assembles in the PN of mouse zygotes and is required for fully functional PN. The perturbation of nuclear actin dynamics in zygotes results in the misregulation of genes related to genome integrity and abnormal development of mouse embryos. We show that nuclear F-actin ensures DNA damage repair, thus preventing the activation of a zygotic checkpoint. Furthermore, optogenetic control of cofilin nuclear localization reveals the dynamically regulated F-actin nucleoskeleton in zygotes, and its timely disassembly is needed for developmental progression. Nuclear F-actin is a hallmark of totipotent zygotic PN, and the temporal regulation of its polymerized state is necessary for normal embryonic development.

Emerging Properties and Functions of Actin and Actin Filaments Inside the Nucleus

Recent years have provided considerable insights into the dynamic nature of the cell nucleus, which is constantly reorganizing its genome, controlling its size and shape, as well as spatiotemporally orchestrating chromatin remodeling and transcription. Remarkably, it has become clear that the ancient and highly conserved cytoskeletal protein actin plays a crucial part in these processes. However, the underlying mechanisms, regulations, and properties of actin functions inside the nucleus are still not well understood. Here we summarize the diverse and distinct roles of monomeric and filamentous actin as well as the emerging roles for actin dynamics inside the nuclear compartment for genome organization and nuclear architecture.

Cyclase-associated protein 2 (CAP2) controls MRTF-A localization and SRF activity in mouse embryonic fibroblasts

Recent studies identified cyclase-associated proteins (CAPs) as important regulators of actin dynamics that control assembly and disassembly of actin filaments (F-actin). While these studies significantly advanced our knowledge of their molecular functions, the physiological relevance of CAPs largely remained elusive. Gene targeting in mice implicated CAP2 in heart physiology and skeletal muscle development. Heart defects in CAP2 mutant mice were associated with altered activity of serum response factor (SRF), a transcription factor involved in multiple biological processes including heart function, but also skeletal muscle development. By exploiting mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from CAP2 mutant mice, we aimed at deciphering the CAP2-dependent mechanism relevant for SRF activity. Reporter assays and mRNA quantification by qPCR revealed reduced SRF-dependent gene expression in mutant MEFs. Reduced SRF activity in CAP2 mutant MEFs was associated with altered actin turnover, a shift in the actin equilibrium towards monomeric actin (G-actin) as well as and reduced nuclear levels of myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A), a transcriptional SRF coactivator that is shuttled out of the nucleus and, hence, inhibited upon G-actin binding. Moreover, pharmacological actin manipulation with jasplakinolide restored MRTF-A distribution in mutant MEFs. Our data are in line with a model in which CAP2 controls the MRTF-SRF pathway in an actin-dependent manner. While MRTF-A localization and SRF activity was impaired under basal conditions, serum stimulation induced nuclear MRTF-A translocation and SRF activity in mutant MEFs similar to controls. In summary, our data revealed that in MEFs CAP2 controls basal MRTF-A localization and SRF activity, while it was dispensable for serum-induced nuclear MRTF-A translocation and SRF stimulation.

Extracellular MIF, but not its homologue D-DT, promotes fibroblast motility independently of its receptor complex CD74/CD44

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and its homologue D-dopachrome tautomerase (D-DT) are widely expressed pro-inflammatory cytokines with chemokine-like functions that coordinate a wide spectrum of biological activities, such as migration. Here, we biotin-tagged intracellular MIF/D-DT in vivo to identify important cytosolic interactors and found a plethora of actin cytoskeleton-associated proteins. Although the receptor complex between CD74 and CD44 (CD74/CD44) is essential for signalling transduction in fibroblasts via extracellular MIF/D-DT, our interactome data suggested direct effects. We, thus, investigated whether MIF/D-DT can modulate cell migration independently of CD74/CD44. To distinguish between receptor- and non-receptor-mediated motility, we used fibroblasts that are either deficient or that express CD74/CD44 proteins, and treated them with recombinant MIF/D-DT. Interestingly, only MIF could stimulate chemokinesis in the presence or absence of CD74/CD44. The pro-migratory effects of MIF depended on lipid raft/caveolae-mediated but not clathrin-mediated endocytosis, on its tautomerase activity and, probably, on its thiol protein oxidoreductase activity. As MIF treatment restrained actin polymerisation in vitro, our findings establish a new intracellular role for MIF/D-DT in driving cell motility through modulation of the actin cytoskeleton.

Optogenetic Control of Myocardin-Related Transcription Factor A Subcellular Localization and Transcriptional Activity Steers Membrane Blebbing and Invasive Cancer Cell Motility

The myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A) controls the transcriptional activity of the serum response factor (SRF) in a tightly controlled actin-dependent manner. In turn, MRTF-A is crucial for many actin-dependent processes including adhesion, migration, and contractility and has emerged as a novel target for anti-tumor strategies. MRTF-A rapidly shuttles between cytoplasmic and nuclear compartment via dynamic actin interactions within its N-terminal RPEL domain. Here, optogenetics is used to spatiotemporally control MRTF-A nuclear localization by blue light using the light-oxygen-voltage-sensing domain 2-domain based system LEXY (light-inducible nuclear export system). It is found that light-regulated nuclear export of MRTF-A occurs within 10-20 min. Importantly, MRTF-A-LEXY shuttling is independent of perturbations of actin dynamics. Furthermore, light-regulation of MRTF-A-LEXY is reversible and repeatable for several cycles of illumination and its subcellular localization correlates with SRF transcriptional activity. As a consequence, optogenetic control of MRTF-A subcellular localization determines subsequent cytoskeletal dynamics such as non-apoptotic plasma membrane blebbing as well as invasive tumor-cell migration through 3D collagen matrix. This data demonstrates robust optogenetic regulation of MRTF as a powerful tool to control SRF-dependent transcription as well as cell motile behavior.

Comparative host-coronavirus protein interaction networks reveal pan-viral disease mechanisms

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a grave threat to public health and the global economy. SARS-CoV-2 is closely related to the more lethal but less transmissible coronaviruses SARS-CoV-1 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Here, we have carried out comparative viral-human protein-protein interaction and viral protein localization analyses for all three viruses. Subsequent functional genetic screening identified host factors that functionally impinge on coronavirus proliferation, including Tom70, a mitochondrial chaperone protein that interacts with both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 ORF9b, an interaction we structurally characterized using cryo-electron microscopy. Combining genetically validated host factors with both COVID-19 patient genetic data and medical billing records identified molecular mechanisms and potential drug treatments that merit further molecular and clinical study.

A tight grip on differentiation: Nuclear constriction by microtubules regulates hematopoietic stem cells

Maintenance of the mature blood cells requires controlled cell fate decisions by hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). While our knowledge of the gene expression changes that facilitate differentiation has made a leap forward, less is known about the cellular triggers that induce them. Biedzinski et al (2020) now uncover a new intracellular mechanism that drives myeloid differentiation: Microtubule bundles squeeze the nucleus of HSPCs and form large invaginations, thus causing changes in chromatin organization. These microtubule-induced nuclear shape changes result in gene expression profiles that favor myeloid differentiation.

Postmitotic expansion of cell nuclei requires nuclear actin filament bundling by α-actinin 4

The actin cytoskeleton operates in a multitude of cellular processes including cell shape and migration, mechanoregulation, and membrane or organelle dynamics. However, its filamentous properties and functions inside the mammalian cell nucleus are less well explored. We previously described transient actin assembly at mitotic exit that promotes nuclear expansion during chromatin decondensation. Here, we identify non‐muscle α‐actinin 4 (ACTN4) as a critical regulator to facilitate F‐actin reorganization and bundling during postmitotic nuclear expansion. ACTN4 binds to nuclear actin filament structures, and ACTN4 clusters associate with nuclear F‐actin in a highly dynamic fashion. ACTN4 but not ACTN1 is required for proper postmitotic nuclear volume expansion, mediated by its actin‐binding domain. Using super‐resolution imaging to quantify actin filament numbers and widths in individual nuclei, we find that ACTN4 is necessary for postmitotic nuclear actin reorganization and actin filament bundling. Our findings uncover a nuclear cytoskeletal function for ACTN4 to control nuclear size and chromatin organization during mitotic cell division.

Actin chromobody imaging reveals sub-organellar actin dynamics

The actin cytoskeleton plays multiple critical roles in cells, from cell migration to organelle dynamics. The small and transient actin structures regulating organelle dynamics are challenging to detect with fluorescence microscopy, making it difficult to determine whether actin filaments are directly associated with specific membranes. To address these limitations, we developed fluorescent-protein-tagged actin nanobodies, termed 'actin chromobodies' (ACs), targeted to organelle membranes to enable high-resolution imaging of sub-organellar actin dynamics.

The Global Phosphorylation Landscape of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

The causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has infected millions and killed hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, highlighting an urgent need to develop antiviral therapies. Here we present a quantitative mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics survey of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Vero E6 cells, revealing dramatic rewiring of phosphorylation on host and viral proteins. SARS-CoV-2 infection promoted casein kinase II (CK2) and p38 MAPK activation, production of diverse cytokines, and shutdown of mitotic kinases, resulting in cell cycle arrest. Infection also stimulated a marked induction of CK2-containing filopodial protrusions possessing budding viral particles. Eighty-seven drugs and compounds were identified by mapping global phosphorylation profiles to dysregulated kinases and pathways. We found pharmacologic inhibition of the p38, CK2, CDK, AXL, and PIKFYVE kinases to possess antiviral efficacy, representing potential COVID-19 therapies.

MASTL promotes cell contractility and motility through kinase-independent signaling

Microtubule-associated serine/threonine-protein kinase-like (MASTL) is a mitosis-accelerating kinase with emerging roles in cancer progression. However, possible cell cycle-independent mechanisms behind its oncogenicity remain ambiguous. Here, we identify MASTL as an activator of cell contractility and MRTF-A/SRF (myocardin-related transcription factor A/serum response factor) signaling. Depletion of MASTL increased cell spreading while reducing contractile actin stress fibers in normal and breast cancer cells and strongly impairing breast cancer cell motility and invasion. Transcriptome and proteome profiling revealed MASTL-regulated genes implicated in cell movement and actomyosin contraction, including Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 2 (GEF-H1, ARHGEF2) and MRTF-A target genes tropomyosin 4.2 (TPM4), vinculin (VCL), and nonmuscle myosin IIB (NM-2B, MYH10). Mechanistically, MASTL associated with MRTF-A and increased its nuclear retention and transcriptional activity. Importantly, MASTL kinase activity was not required for regulation of cell spreading or MRTF-A/SRF transcriptional activity. Taken together, we present a previously unknown kinase-independent role for MASTL as a regulator of cell adhesion, contractility, and MRTF-A/SRF activity.

T cell receptor-triggered nuclear actin network formation drives CD4+ T cell effector functions

T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signaling triggers selective cytokine expression to drive T cell proliferation and differentiation required for immune defense and surveillance. The nuclear signaling events responsible for specificity in cytokine gene expression upon T cell activation are largely unknown. Here, we uncover formation of a dynamic actin filament network in the nucleus that regulates cytokine expression for effector functions of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes. TCR engagement triggers the rapid and transient formation of a nuclear actin filament network via nuclear Arp2/3 complex, induced by elevated nuclear Ca²⁺ levels and regulated via N-Wasp and NIK. Specific interference with TCR-induced formation of nuclear actin filaments impairs production of effector cytokines and prevents generation of antigen-specific antibodies but does not interfere with immune synapse formation and cell proliferation. Ca²⁺-regulated actin polymerization in the nucleus allows CD4⁺ T cells the rapid conversion of TCR signals into effector functions required for T cell help.

Nuclear actin filaments in DNA repair dynamics

Recent development of innovative tools for live imaging of actin filaments (F-actin) enabled the detection of surprising nuclear structures responding to various stimuli, challenging previous models that actin is substantially monomeric in the nucleus. We review these discoveries, focusing on double-strand break (DSB) repair responses. These studies revealed a remarkable network of nuclear filaments and regulatory mechanisms coordinating chromatin dynamics with repair progression and led to a paradigm shift by uncovering the directed movement of repair sites.

Centrosomal Actin Assembly Is Required for Proper Mitotic Spindle Formation and Chromosome Congression

Cytoskeletal cross talk between actin filaments and microtubules is a common mechanism governing the assembly of cellular structures, i.e., during filopodia formation or cilia organization. However, potential actin-microtubule interactions during mammalian cell divisions are less well understood. At mitotic entry, centrosomes propagate the formation of the mitotic spindle, thereby aligning individual chromosomes to the metaphase plate, a process coined chromosome congression. Here, we identify actin filament assembly spatially defined at centrosomes contemporaneously with spindle microtubules forming during prometaphase. We show that pharmacological Arp2/3 complex inhibition as well as overexpression of the Arp2/3 complex inhibitory protein Arpin decreased spindle actin. As a consequence, mitotic spindle formation is impaired, which resulted in disorganized chromosome congression and ultimately mitotic defects in non-transformed cells. Thus centrosomal Arp2/3 complex activity plays a role in the maintenance of genomic integrity during mitosis.

Cell type-selective pathways and clinical associations of lysophosphatidic acid biosynthesis and signaling in the ovarian cancer microenvironment

The peritoneal fluid of ovarian carcinoma patients promotes cancer cell invasion and metastatic spread with lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) as a potentially crucial mediator. However, the origin of LPA in ascites and the clinical relevance of individual LPA species have not been addressed. Here, we show that the levels of multiple acyl‐LPA species are strongly elevated in ascites versus plasma and are associated with short relapse‐free survival. Data derived from transcriptome and secretome analyses of primary ascite‐derived cells indicate that (a) the major route of LPA synthesis is the consecutive action of a secretory phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) and autotaxin, (b) that the components of this pathway are coordinately upregulated in ascites, and (c) that CD163+CD206+ tumor‐associated macrophages play an essential role as main producers of PLA₂G7 and autotaxin. The latter conclusion is consistent with mass spectrometry‐based metabolomic analyses of conditioned medium from ascites cells, which showed that tumor‐associated macrophages, but not tumor cells, are able to produce 20:4 acyl‐LPA in lipid‐free medium. Furthermore, our transcriptomic data revealed that LPA receptor (LPAR) genes are expressed in a clearly cell type‐selective manner: While tumor cells express predominantly LPAR1‐3, macrophages and T cells also express LPAR5 and LPAR6 at high levels, pointing to cell type‐selective LPA signaling pathways. RNA profiling identified cytokines linked to cell motility and migration as the most conspicuous class of LPA‐induced genes in macrophages, suggesting that LPA exerts protumorigenic properties at least in part via the tumor secretome.

Dynamizing nuclear actin filaments

While it is long known that actin is part of the nuclear proteome, its properties and functions as regulated, functional and dynamically assembled actin filaments are only recently emerging. Thus, newly uncovered roles for intranuclear actin filaments are opening new perspectives on how the nucleus and its genomic content may be organized in particular with regard to a given stage of the cell cycle. Here, we summarize recent studies on actin filament polymerization and turnover within the nuclear compartment of mammalian cells. We emphasize and discuss novel findings, in which transient and dynamic nuclear actin filaments have been visualized in physiological contexts, and focus on aspects of signalling mechanisms, chromatin reorganization and DNA repair. Further, a better understanding of the spatiotemporal control of nuclear actin-regulating factors in mammalian cells will ultimately provide a more detailed view on how the nuclear F-actin cytoskeleton contributes to genome organization and nuclear architecture.

Interplay of cell-cell contacts and RhoA/MRTF-A signaling regulates cardiomyocyte identity

Cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions guide organ development and homeostasis by controlling lineage specification and maintenance, but the underlying molecular principles are largely unknown. Here, we show that in human developing cardiomyocytes cell-cell contacts at the intercalated disk connect to remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton by regulating the RhoA-ROCK signaling to maintain an active MRTF/SRF transcriptional program essential for cardiomyocyte identity. Genetic perturbation of this mechanosensory pathway activates an ectopic fat gene program during cardiomyocyte differentiation, which ultimately primes the cells to switch to the brown/beige adipocyte lineage in response to adipogenesis-inducing signals. We also demonstrate by in vivo fate mapping and clonal analysis of cardiac progenitors that cardiac fat and a subset of cardiac muscle arise from a common precursor expressing Isl1 and Wt1 during heart development, suggesting related mechanisms of determination between the two lineages.

A Rac1-FMNL2 signaling module affects cell-cell contact formation independent of Cdc42 and membrane protrusions

De novo formation of epithelial cell-cell contacts relies on actin-based protrusions as well as tightly controlled turnover of junctional actin once cells encounter each other and adhesion complexes assemble. The specific contributions of individual actin regulators on either protrusion formation or junctional actin turnover remain largely unexplored. Based on our previous findings of Formin-like 2 (FMNL2)-mediated control of junctional actin dynamics, we investigated its potential role in membrane protrusions and impact on newly forming epithelial contacts. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated loss of FMNL2 in human MCF10A cells combined with optogenetic control of Rac1 activity confirmed its critical function in the establishment of intercellular contacts. While lamellipodial protrusion rates remained unaffected, FMNL2 knockout cells were characterized by impaired filopodia formation similar to depletion of the Rho GTPase Cdc42. Silencing of Cdc42, however, failed to affect FMNL2-mediated contact formation. Hence, we propose a cell-cell contact-specific and Rac1-mediated function of FMNL2 entirely independent of Cdc42. Consistent with this, direct visualizations of native epithelial junction formation revealed a striking and specifically Rac1- and not Cdc42-dependent recruitment of FMNL2 to newly forming junctions as well as established cell-cell contacts within epithelial sheets.

Mitochondrial rescue prevents glutathione peroxidase-dependent ferroptosis

Research into oxidative cell death is producing exciting new mechanisms, such as ferroptosis, in the neuropathologies of cerebral ischemia and hemorrhagic brain insults. Ferroptosis is an oxidative form of regulated necrotic cell death featuring glutathione (GSH) depletion, disrupted glutathione peroxidase-4 (GPX4) redox defense and detrimental lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Further, our recent findings identified mitochondrial damage in models of oxidative glutamate toxicity, glutathione peroxidase depletion, and ferroptosis. Despite knowledge on the signaling pathways of ferroptosis increasing, the particular role of mitochondrial damage requires more in depth investigation in order to achieve effective treatment options targeting mitochondria. In the present study, we applied RSL3 to induce ferroptosis in neuronal HT22 cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts. In both cell types, RSL3 mediated concentration-dependent inhibition of GPX4, lipid peroxidation, enhanced mitochondrial fragmentation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and reduced mitochondrial respiration. Ferroptosis inhibitors, such as deferoxamine, ferrostatin-1 and liproxstatin-1, but also CRISPR/Cas9 Bid knockout and the BID inhibitor BI-6c9 protected against RSL3 toxicity. We found compelling new information that the mitochondria-targeted ROS scavenger mitoquinone (MitoQ) preserved mitochondrial integrity and function, and cell viability despite significant loss of GPX4 expression and associated increases in general lipid peroxidation after exposure to RSL3. Our data demonstrate that rescuing mitochondrial integrity and function through the inhibition of BID or by the mitochondria-targeted ROS scavenger MitoQ serves as a most effective strategy in the prevention of ferroptosis in different cell types. These findings expose mitochondria as promising targets for novel therapeutic intervention strategies in oxidative cell death.

A transient pool of nuclear F-actin at mitotic exit controls chromatin organization

Re-establishment of nuclear structure and chromatin organization after cell division is integral for genome regulation or development and is frequently altered during cancer progression. The mechanisms underlying chromatin expansion in daughter cells remain largely unclear. Here, we describe the transient formation of nuclear actin filaments (F-actin) during mitotic exit. These nuclear F-actin structures assemble in daughter cell nuclei and undergo dynamic reorganization to promote nuclear protrusions and volume expansion throughout early G1 of the cell cycle. Specific inhibition of this nuclear F-actin assembly impaired nuclear expansion and chromatin decondensation after mitosis and during early mouse embryonic development. Biochemical screening for mitotic nuclear F-actin interactors identified the actin-disassembling factor cofilin-1. Optogenetic regulation of cofilin-1 revealed its critical role for controlling timing, turnover and dynamics of F-actin assembly inside daughter cell nuclei. Our findings identify a cell-cycle-specific and spatiotemporally controlled form of nuclear F-actin that reorganizes the mammalian nucleus after mitosis.

MRTF transcription and Ezrin-dependent plasma membrane blebbing are required for entotic invasion

Entosis is a nonapoptotic form of cell death initiated by actomyosin-dependent homotypic cell-in-cell invasion that can be observed in malignant exudates during tumor progression. We previously demonstrated formin-mediated actin dynamics at the rear of the invading cell as well as nonapoptotic plasma membrane (PM) blebbing in this cellular motile process. Although the contractile actin cortex involved in bleb-driven motility is well characterized, a role for transcriptional regulation in this process has not been studied. Here, we explore the impact of the actin-controlled MRTF-SRF (myocardin-related transcription factor-serum response factor) pathway for sustained PM blebbing and entotic invasion. We find that cortical blebbing is tightly coupled to MRTF nuclear shuttling to promote the SRF transcriptional activity required for entosis. Furthermore, PM blebbing triggered SRF-mediated up-regulation of the metastasis-associated ERM protein Ezrin. Notably, Ezrin is sufficient and important to sustain bleb dynamics for cell-in-cell invasion when SRF is suppressed. Our results highlight the critical role of the actin-regulated MRTF transcriptional pathway for bleb-associated invasive motility, such as during entosis.

Immunosuppression in Honeybee Queens by the Neonicotinoids Thiacloprid and Clothianidin

Queen health is crucial to colony survival of honeybees, since reproduction and colony growth rely solely on the queen. Queen failure is considered a relevant cause of colony losses, yet few data exist concerning effects of environmental stressors on queens. Here we demonstrate for the first time that exposure to field-realistic concentrations of neonicotinoid pesticides can severely affect the immunocompetence of queens of western honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). In young queens exposed to thiacloprid (200 µg/l or 2000 µg/l) or clothianidin (10 µg/l or 50 µg/l), the total hemocyte number and the proportion of active, differentiated hemocytes was significantly reduced. Moreover, functional aspects of the immune defence namely the wound healing/melanisation response, as well as the antimicrobial activity of the hemolymph were impaired. Our results demonstrate that neonicotinoid insecticides can negatively affect the immunocompetence of queens, possibly leading to an impaired disease resistance capacity.

Actin visualization at a glance

Actin functions in a multitude of cellular processes owing to its ability to polymerize into filaments, which can be further organized into higher-order structures by an array of actin-binding and regulatory proteins. Therefore, research on actin and actin-related functions relies on the visualization of actin structures without interfering with the cycles of actin polymerization and depolymerization that underlie cellular actin dynamics. In this Cell Science at a Glance and the accompanying poster, we briefly evaluate the different techniques and approaches currently applied to analyze and visualize cellular actin structures, including in the nuclear compartment. Referring to the gold standard F-actin marker phalloidin to stain actin in fixed samples and tissues, we highlight methods for visualization of actin in living cells, which mostly apply the principle of genetically fusing fluorescent proteins to different actin-binding domains, such as LifeAct, utrophin and F-tractin, as well as anti-actin-nanobody technology. In addition, the compound SiR-actin and the expression of GFP-actin are also applicable for various types of live-cell analyses. Overall, the visualization of actin within a physiological context requires a careful choice of method, as well as a tight control of the amount or the expression level of a given detection probe in order to minimize its influence on endogenous actin dynamics.

Mutant p53 promotes tumor progression and metastasis by the endoplasmic reticulum UDPase ENTPD5

Mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene are the most frequent genetic alteration in cancer and are often associated with progression from benign to invasive stages with metastatic potential. Mutations inactivate tumor suppression by p53, and some endow the protein with novel gain of function (GOF) properties that actively promote tumor progression and metastasis. By comparative gene expression profiling of p53-mutated and p53-depleted cancer cells, we identified ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 5 (ENTPD5) as a mutant p53 target gene, which functions as a uridine 5'-diphosphatase (UDPase) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to promote the folding of N-glycosylated membrane proteins. A comprehensive pan-cancer analysis revealed a highly significant correlation between p53 GOF mutations and ENTPD5 expression. Mechanistically, mutp53 is recruited by Sp1 to the ENTPD5 core promoter to induce its expression. We show ENTPD5 to be a mediator of mutant p53 GOF activity in clonogenic growth, architectural tissue remodeling, migration, invasion, and lung colonization in an experimental metastasis mouse model. Our study reveals folding of N-glycosylated membrane proteins in the ER as a mechanism underlying the metastatic progression of tumors with mutp53 that could provide new possibilities for cancer treatment.

SCAI promotes DNA double-strand break repair in distinct chromosomal contexts

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are highly cytotoxic DNA lesions, whose accurate repair by non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR) is crucial for genome integrity and is strongly influenced by the local chromatin environment. Here, we identify SCAI (suppressor of cancer cell invasion) as a 53BP1-interacting chromatin-associated protein that promotes the functionality of several DSB repair pathways in mammalian cells. SCAI undergoes prominent enrichment at DSB sites through dual mechanisms involving 53BP1-dependent recruitment to DSB-surrounding chromatin and 53BP1-independent accumulation at resected DSBs. Cells lacking SCAI display reduced DSB repair capacity, hypersensitivity to DSB-inflicting agents and genome instability. We demonstrate that SCAI is a mediator of 53BP1-dependent repair of heterochromatin-associated DSBs, facilitating ATM kinase signalling at DSBs in repressive chromatin environments. Moreover, we establish an important role of SCAI in meiotic recombination, as SCAI deficiency in mice leads to germ cell loss and subfertility associated with impaired retention of the DMC1 recombinase on meiotic chromosomes. Collectively, our findings uncover SCAI as a physiologically important component of both NHEJ- and HR-mediated pathways that potentiates DSB repair efficiency in specific chromatin contexts.

Abstract P2-08-22: The ASCO-recommended biomarkers urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its inhibitor PAI-1 define a subgroup of patients with very low risk of recurrence under routine conditions

Background:

ASCO Tumor Marker Guidelines 2007 recommended clinical routine use of the invasion markers uPA and PAI-1 for risk assessment in node-negative breast cancer patients (Harris et al. JCO 2007; 25:5287), and in some countries, e.g. Germany and France, risk assessment using these markers is broadly used. We wanted to evaluate the impact of uPA/PAI-1 on identifying patients with low risk of recurrence also in the daily routine in order to demonstrate that >25 years since their first description, these markers are still valuable.

Material and Methods:

We identified a cohort of 227 patients who were tested for uPA and PAI-1 in the clinical routine before 2012. Fresh frozen tissue of the primary tumor was obtained at biopsy or operation and processed for testing by a commercially available ELISA (FEMTELLE®, Sekisui Diagnostics GmbH) as previously described (Thomssen et al. JNCI 2009;101:1028). Tumor and patient characteristics were documented and all patients were regularly followed. Tumor concentrations below 3 ng/mg protein for uPA and below 14 ng/mg protein for PAI-1 were considered indicating low risk of recurrence (Harbeck et al. EJC 2013; 49:1825). Disease-free survival was defined as survival free from metastasis and loco-regional recurrence.

Results:

In our cohort, 86 patients had low tumor levels of uPA/PAI-1 (37.9 %). The median follow-up was 38.9 months (0.4 – 113.5 months). Adjuvant chemotherapy was delivered to 25 of 86 patients (29.1%) in the low risk group and to 85 of 141 patients (60.3%) in the high risk group; if steroid hormone receptor status was positive, generally adjuvant endocrine therapy for five years was advised. Using immunohistochemical subtyping, 73 of 86 patients with low uPA/PAI-1 values were luminal-like, 9 patients had a HER2-positive tumor and 3 patients had a triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). In patients with uPA or PAI-1 or both elevated, 105 of 141 patients had a luminal-like cancer, 12 patients were HER2 positive and 22 had TNBC; 1 case unknown. At 60 months of follow-up, patients with low uPA and/or PAI-1 tumor values had not experienced any recurrence, while in the high risk group 7 recurrences were observed although adequate adjuvant therapy was delivered (log-rank p=0.07). In node-negative pts with low uPA/PAI-1 values (n=72; pN0 70, cN0 2), no recurrences were observed, in 104 high risk patients 5 recurrences were observed (p=0.057).

Conclusions:

This observation confirms that also in daily routine, patients with a very low risk of recurrence can be identified by testing for uPA/PAI1. This group of pts comprises nearly 40% of pts and in these patients further evaluation with expensive predictive tests can be avoided and - above all - potentially toxic adjuvant chemotherapy can be spared.

Citation Format: Thomssen C, Kantelhardt E-J, Grosse R, Papendick N, Steer S, Buchmann J, Wickenhauser C, Vetter M. The ASCO-recommended biomarkers urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its inhibitor PAI-1 define a subgroup of patients with very low risk of recurrence under routine conditions. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-08-22.

Filamin A interacts with the coactivator MKL1 to promote the activity of the transcription factor SRF and cell migration

Megakaryoblastic leukemia 1 (MKL1) is a coactivator of serum response factor (SRF) that promotes the expression of genes associated with cell proliferation, motility, adhesion, and differentiation-processes that also involve dynamic cytoskeletal changes in the cell. MKL1 is inactive when bound to monomeric globular actin (G-actin), but signals that activate the small guanosine triphosphatase RhoA cause actin polymerization and MKL1 dissociation from G-actin. We found a new mechanism of MKL1 activation that is mediated through its binding to filamin A (FLNA), a protein that binds filamentous actin (F-actin). The interaction of FLNA and MKL1 was required for the expression of MKL1 target genes in primary fibroblasts, melanoma, mammary and hepatocellular carcinoma cells. We identified the regions of interaction between MKL1 and FLNA, and cells expressing an MKL1 mutant that was unable to bind FLNA exhibited impaired cell migration and reduced expression of MKL1-SRF target genes. Induction and repression of MKL1-SRF target genes correlated with increased or decreased MKL1-FLNA interaction, respectively. Lysophosphatidic acid-induced RhoA activation in primary human fibroblasts promoted the association of endogenous MKL1 with FLNA, whereas exposure to an actin polymerization inhibitor dissociated MKL1 from FLNA and decreased MKL1-SRF target gene expression in melanoma cells. Thus, FLNA functions as a positive cellular transducer linking actin polymerization to MKL1-SRF activity, counteracting the known repressive complex of MKL1 and monomeric G-actin.

Formin-like 2 Promotes β1-Integrin Trafficking and Invasive Motility Downstream of PKCα

Regulated turnover of integrin receptors is essential for cell adhesion and migration. Pathways selectively regulating β1-integrin recycling are implicated in cancer invasion and metastasis, yet proteins required for the internalization of this pro-invasive integrin remain to be identified. Here, we uncover formin-like 2 (FMNL2) as a critical regulator of β1-integrin internalization downstream of protein kinase C (PKC). PKCα associates with and phosphorylates FMNL2 at S1072 within its Diaphanous autoregulatory region, leading to the release of formin autoinhibition. Phosphorylation of FMNL2 triggers its rapid relocation and promotes its interaction with the cytoplasmic tails of the α-integrin subunits for β1-integrin endocytosis. FMNL2 drives β1-integrin internalization and invasive motility in a phosphorylation-dependent manner, while a FMNL2 mutant defective in actin assembly interferes with β1-integrin endocytosis and cancer cell invasion. Our data establish a role for FMNL2 in the regulation of β1-integrin and provide a mechanistic understanding of the function of FMNL2 in cancer invasiveness.

Junctional actin assembly is mediated by Formin-like 2 downstream of Rac1

Epithelial integrity is vitally important, and its deregulation causes early stage cancer. De novo formation of an adherens junction (AJ) between single epithelial cells requires coordinated, spatial actin dynamics, but the mechanisms steering nascent actin polymerization for cell-cell adhesion initiation are not well understood. Here we investigated real-time actin assembly during daughter cell-cell adhesion formation in human breast epithelial cells in 3D environments. We identify formin-like 2 (FMNL2) as being specifically required for actin assembly and turnover at newly formed cell-cell contacts as well as for human epithelial lumen formation. FMNL2 associates with components of the AJ complex involving Rac1 activity and the FMNL2 C terminus. Optogenetic control of Rac1 in living cells rapidly drove FMNL2 to epithelial cell-cell contact zones. Furthermore, Rac1-induced actin assembly and subsequent AJ formation critically depends on FMNL2. These data uncover FMNL2 as a driver for human epithelial AJ formation downstream of Rac1.