Phosphorylation of DARPP-32 regulates breast cancer cell migration downstream of the receptor tyrosine kinase DDR1

Exp Cell Res. 2006 Dec 10;312(20):4011-8. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2006.09.003. Epub 2006 Sep 9.

Abstract

Cell migration plays a central role in processes such as development, wound healing and cancer metastasis. Here we describe a novel interaction between DDR1, a receptor tyrosine kinase activated by collagen, and the phosphoprotein DARPP-32 in mammary epithelial cells. DARPP-32 expression was readily detected in non-transformed mammary cell lines, but was strongly reduced or even absent in breast tumor cell lines, such as MCF7. Transfection of MCF7 cells with DARPP-32 resulted in severely impaired cell migration, while DARPP-32 transfection into the DDR1-deficient breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 did not alter migration. Co-expression of both DDR1 and DARPP-32 in MDA-MB-231 cells inhibited migration, thereby supporting a critical role of the DDR1/DARPP-32 complex in motility. Mutational substitution of the phosphorylation sites Thr-34 or Thr-75 on DARPP-32 revealed that phosphorylation of Thr-34 is necessary for the ability of DARPP-32 to impair breast tumor cell migration. Thus, DARPP-32 signaling downstream of DDR1 is a potential new target for effective anti-metastatic breast cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement*
  • Discoidin Domain Receptor 1
  • Dopamine and cAMP-Regulated Phosphoprotein 32 / metabolism*
  • Epithelial Cells / physiology
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Dopamine and cAMP-Regulated Phosphoprotein 32
  • DDR1 protein, human
  • Discoidin Domain Receptor 1
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases