The adaptor protein and Arf GTPase-activating protein Cat-1/Git-1 is required for cellular transformation

J Biol Chem. 2012 Sep 7;287(37):31462-70. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.353615. Epub 2012 Jul 17.

Abstract

Cat-1/Git-1 is a multifunctional protein that acts as a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for Arf GTPases, as well as serves as a scaffold for a number of different signaling proteins. Cat-1 is best known for its role in regulating cell shape and promoting cell migration. However, whether Cat-1 might also contribute to cellular transformation is currently unknown. Here we show that ∼95% of cervical tumor samples examined overexpress Cat-1, suggesting that the up-regulation of Cat-1 expression is a frequent occurrence in this type of cancer. We demonstrate further that knocking down Cat-1 from NIH3T3 fibroblasts expressing an activated form of Cdc42 (Cdc42 F28L), or from the human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell line, inhibits the ability of these cells to form colonies in soft agar, an in vitro measure of tumorgenicity. The requirement for Cat-1 when assaying the anchorage-independent growth of transformed fibroblasts and HeLa cells is dependent on its ability to bind paxillin, while being negatively impacted by its Arf-GAP activity. Moreover, the co-expression of Cat-1 and an activated form of Arf6 in fibroblasts was sufficient to induce their transformation. These findings highlight novel roles for Cat-1 and its interactions with the Arf GTPases and paxillin in oncogenic transformation.

MeSH terms

  • ADP-Ribosylation Factor 6
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factors / genetics
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factors / metabolism*
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / pathology
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism*
  • Fibroblasts / pathology
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / genetics
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / metabolism*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Paxillin / genetics
  • Paxillin / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / genetics
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • ADP-Ribosylation Factor 6
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • GIT1 protein, human
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • Git1 protein, mouse
  • PXN protein, human
  • Paxillin
  • Pxn protein, mouse
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factors
  • ARF6 protein, human
  • Arf6 protein, mouse
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein