Oncogenic H-RAS induces metformin resistance in head and neck cancer by promoting glycolytic metabolism.

Metformin administration has recently emerged as a candidate strategy for the prevention of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the intricate relationship between genetic alterations in HNSCC and metformin sensitivity is still poorly understood, which prevents the stratifications of patients harboring oral premalignant lesions that may benefit from the chemopreventive activity of metformin. In this study, we investigate the impact of prevalent mutations in HNSCC in response to metformin. Notably, we found that the expression of oncogenic HRAS mutants confers resistance to metformin in isogenic HNSCC cell systems and that HNSCC cells harboring endogenous HRAS mutations display limited sensitivity to metformin. Remarkably, we found that metformin fails to reduce activation of the mTOR pathway in HRAS oncogene expressing HNSCC cells in vitro and in vivo, correlating with reduced tumor suppressive activity. Mechanistically, we found that this process depends on the ability of HRAS to enhance glycolytic metabolism, thereby suppressing the requirement of oxidative phosphorylation to maintain the cellular energetic balance. Overall, our study revealed that HNSCC cells with oncogenic HRAS mutations exhibit diminished metformin sensitivity, thus shedding light on a potential mechanism of treatment resistance. This finding may also help explain the limited clinical responses to metformin in cancers with RAS mutations. Ultimately, our study underscores the importance of understanding the impact of the genetic landscape in tailoring precision cancer preventive approaches in the context of HNSCC and other cancers that are characterized by the presence of a defined premalignant state and, therefore, amenable for cancer interception strategies.

Structural and dynamic changes in P-Rex1 upon activation by PIP3 and inhibition by IP4.

PIP3-dependent Rac exchanger 1 (P-Rex1) is abundantly expressed in neutrophils and plays central roles in chemotaxis and cancer metastasis by serving as a guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Rac. The enzyme is synergistically activated by PIP3 and heterotrimeric Gßγ subunits, but mechanistic details remain poorly understood. While investigating the regulation of P-Rex1 by PIP3, we discovered that Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 (IP4) inhibits P-Rex1 activity and induces large decreases in backbone dynamics in diverse regions of the protein. Cryo-electron microscopy analysis of the P-Rex1·IP4 complex revealed a conformation wherein the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain occludes the active site of the Dbl homology (DH) domain. This configuration is stabilized by interactions between the first DEP domain (DEP1) and the DH domain and between the PH domain and a 4-helix bundle (4HB) subdomain that extends from the C-terminal domain of P-Rex1. Disruption of the DH-DEP1 interface in a DH/PH-DEP1 fragment enhanced activity and led to a more extended conformation in solution, whereas mutations that constrain the occluded conformation led to decreased GEF activity. Variants of full-length P-Rex1 in which the DH-DEP1 and PH-4HB interfaces were disturbed exhibited enhanced activity during chemokine-induced cell migration, confirming that the observed structure represents the autoinhibited state in living cells. Interactions with PIP3-containing liposomes led to disruption of these interfaces and increased dynamics protein-wide. Our results further suggest that inositol phosphates such as IP4 help to inhibit basal P-Rex1 activity in neutrophils, similar to their inhibitory effects on phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase.

Structural and dynamic changes in P-Rex1 upon activation by PIP3 and inhibition by IP4.

PIP3-dependent Rac exchanger 1 (P-Rex1) is abundantly expressed in neutrophils and plays central roles in chemotaxis and cancer metastasis by serving as a guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Rac. The enzyme is synergistically activated by PIP3 and the heterotrimeric Gßγ subunits, but mechanistic details remain poorly understood. While investigating the regulation of P-Rex1 by PIP3, we discovered that Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 (IP4) inhibits P-Rex1 activity and induces large decreases in backbone dynamics in diverse regions of the protein. Cryo-electron microscopy analysis of the P-Rex1·IP4 complex revealed a conformation wherein the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain occludes the active site of the Dbl homology (DH) domain. This configuration is stabilized by interactions between the first DEP domain (DEP1) and the DH domain and between the PH domain and a 4-helix bundle (4HB) subdomain that extends from the C-terminal domain of P-Rex1. Disruption of the DH-DEP1 interface in a DH/PH-DEP1 fragment enhanced activity and led to a more extended conformation in solution, whereas mutations that constrain the occluded conformation led to decreased GEF activity. Variants of full-length P-Rex1 in which the DH-DEP1 and PH-4HB interfaces were disturbed exhibited enhanced activity during chemokine-induced cell migration, confirming that the observed structure represents the autoinhibited state in living cells. Interactions with PIP3-containing liposomes led to disruption of these interfaces and increased dynamics protein-wide. Our results further suggest that inositol phosphates such as IP4 help to inhibit basal P-Rex1 activity in neutrophils, similar to their inhibitory effects on phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase.

Gαs is dispensable for ß-arrestin coupling but dictates GRK selectivity and is predominant for gene expression regulation by ß2-adrenergic receptor.

ß-arrestins play a key role in G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) internalization, trafficking, and signaling. Whether ß-arrestins act independently of G protein-mediated signaling has not been fully elucidated. Studies using genome-editing approaches revealed that whereas G proteins are essential for mitogen-activated protein kinase activation by GPCRs., ß-arrestins play a more prominent role in signal compartmentalization. However, in the absence of G proteins, GPCRs may not activate ß-arrestins, thereby limiting the ability to distinguish G protein from ß-arrestin-mediated signaling events. We used ß2-adrenergic receptor (ß2AR) and its ß2AR-C tail mutant expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells wildtype or CRISPR-Cas9 gene edited for Gαs, ß-arrestin1/2, or GPCR kinases 2/3/5/6 in combination with arrestin conformational sensors to elucidate the interplay between Gαs and ß-arrestins in controlling gene expression. We found that Gαs is not required for ß2AR and ß-arrestin conformational changes, ß-arrestin recruitment, and receptor internalization, but that Gαs dictates the GPCR kinase isoforms involved in ß-arrestin recruitment. By RNA-Seq analysis, we found that protein kinase A and mitogen-activated protein kinase gene signatures were activated by stimulation of ß2AR in wildtype and ß-arrestin1/2-KO cells but absent in Gαs-KO cells. These results were validated by re-expressing Gαs in the corresponding KO cells and silencing ß-arrestins in wildtype cells. These findings were extended to cellular systems expressing endogenous levels of ß2AR. Overall, our results support that Gs is essential for ß2AR-promoted protein kinase A and mitogen-activated protein kinase gene expression signatures, whereas ß-arrestins initiate signaling events modulating Gαs-driven nuclear transcriptional activity.

Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK)-Hippo/YAP transduction signaling mediates the stimulatory effects exerted by S100A8/A9-RAGE system in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

BACKGROUND: Understanding the intricate signaling network involved in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a challenge for developing novel therapeutic approaches. Here, we aim to provide novel mechanistic insights on the function of the S100A8/A9-RAGE system in TNBC. METHODS: TNM plot analyzer, Kaplan-Meier plotter, Meta-analysis, GEPIA2 and GOBO publicly available datasets were used to evaluate the clinical significance of S100A8/A9 and expression levels of S100A8/A9, RAGE and Filamin family members in breast cancer (BC) subtypes. METABRIC database and Cox proportional hazard model defined the clinical impact of high RAGE expression in BC patients. Multiple bioinformatics programs identified the main enriched pathways within high RAGE expression BC cohorts. By lentiviral system, TNBC cells were engineered to overexpress RAGE. Western blotting, immunofluorescence, nucleus/cytoplasm fractionation, qRT-PCR, gene silencing and luciferase experiments were performed to identify signal transduction mediators engaged by RAGE upon stimulation with S100A8/A9 in TNBC cells. Proliferation, colony formation and transwell migration assays were carried out to evaluate the growth and migratory capacity of TNBC cells. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA and independent t-tests. RESULTS: We found a remarkable high expression of S100A8 and S100A9 in BC, particularly in HER2-positive and TNBC, with the latter associated to worst clinical outcomes. In addition, high RAGE expression correlated with a poor overall survival in BC. Next, we determined that the S100A8/A9-RAGE system triggers FAK activation by engaging a cytoskeleton mechanosensing complex in TNBC cells. Through bioinformatics analysis, we identified the Hippo pathway as the most enriched in BC patients expressing high RAGE levels. In accordance with these data, we demonstrated the involvement of S100A8/A9-RAGE-FAK signaling in the control of Hippo/YAP activities, and we established the crucial contribution of RAGE-FAK-YAP circuitry in the growth and migratory effects initiated by S100A8/A9 in TNBC cells. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides novel mechanistic insights on RAGE actions in TNBC. Moreover, our findings suggest that RAGE-FAK-YAP transduction pathway could be exploited as a druggable system halting the aggressive TNBC subtype.

Gßγ recruits and activates P-Rex1 via two independent binding interfaces.

Gßγ marks the inner side of the plasma membrane where chemotactic GPCRs activate Rac to lead the assembly of actin filaments that push the cell to move forward. Upon dissociation from heterotrimeric Gi, Gßγ recruits and activates P-Rex1, a Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor (RacGEF). This cytosolic chemotactic effector is kept inactive by intramolecular interactions. The mechanism by which Gßγ stimulates P-Rex1 has been debated. We hypothesized that Gßγ activates P-Rex1 by a two-step mechanism based on independent interaction interfaces to recruit and unroll this RacGEF. Using pulldown assays, we found that Gßγ binds P-Rex1-DH/PH as well as PDZ-PDZ domains. These domains and the DEP-DEP tandem interact among them and dissociate upon binding with Gßγ, arguing for a stimulatory allosteric effect. In addition, P-Rex1 catalytic activity is inhibited by its C-terminal domain. To discern P-Rex1 recruitment from activation, we studied Q-Rhox, a synthetic RhoGEF having the PDZ-RhoGEF catalytic DH/PH module, insensitive to Gßγ, swapped into P-Rex1. Gßγ recruited Q-Rhox to the plasma membrane, indicating that Gßγ/PDZ-PDZ interaction interface plays a role on P-Rex1 recruitment. In conclusion, we reconcile previous findings and propose a mechanistic model of P-Rex1 activation; accordingly, Gßγ recruits P-Rex1 via the Gßγ/PDZ-PDZ interface followed by a second contact involving the Gßγ/DH/PH interface to unleash P-Rex1 RacGEF activity at the plasma membrane.

Gαs directly drives PDZ-RhoGEF signaling to Cdc42.

Gα proteins promote dynamic adjustments of cell shape directed by actin-cytoskeleton reorganization via their respective RhoGEF effectors. For example, Gα13 binding to the RGS-homology (RH) domains of several RH-RhoGEFs allosterically activates these proteins, causing them to expose their catalytic Dbl-homology (DH)/pleckstrin-homology (PH) regions, which triggers downstream signals. However, whether additional Gα proteins might directly regulate the RH-RhoGEFs was not known. To explore this question, we first examined the morphological effects of expressing shortened RH-RhoGEF DH/PH constructs of p115RhoGEF/ARHGEF1, PDZ-RhoGEF (PRG)/ARHGEF11, and LARG/ARHGEF12. As expected, the three constructs promoted cell contraction and activated RhoA, known to be downstream of Gα13 Intriguingly, PRG DH/PH also induced filopodia-like cell protrusions and activated Cdc42. This pathway was stimulated by constitutively active Gαs (GαsQ227L), which enabled endogenous PRG to gain affinity for Cdc42. A chemogenetic approach revealed that signaling by Gs-coupled receptors, but not by those coupled to Gi or Gq, enabled PRG to bind Cdc42. This receptor-dependent effect, as well as CREB phosphorylation, was blocked by a construct derived from the PRG:Gαs-binding region, PRG-linker. Active Gαs interacted with isolated PRG DH and PH domains and their linker. In addition, this construct interfered with GαsQ227L's ability to guide PRG's interaction with Cdc42. Endogenous Gs-coupled prostaglandin receptors stimulated PRG binding to membrane fractions and activated signaling to PKA, and this canonical endogenous pathway was attenuated by PRG-linker. Altogether, our results demonstrate that active Gαs can recognize PRG as a novel effector directing its DH/PH catalytic module to gain affinity for Cdc42.

Gßγ signaling to the chemotactic effector P-REX1 and mammalian cell migration is directly regulated by Gαq and Gα13 proteins.

G protein-coupled receptors stimulate Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors that promote mammalian cell migration. Rac and Rho GTPases exert opposing effects on cell morphology and are stimulated downstream of Gßγ and Gα12/13 or Gαq, respectively. These Gα subunits might in turn favor Rho pathways by preventing Gßγ signaling to Rac. Here, we investigated whether Gßγ signaling to phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate-dependent Rac exchange factor 1 (P-REX1), a key Gßγ chemotactic effector, is directly controlled by Rho-activating Gα subunits. We show that pharmacological inhibition of Gαq makes P-REX1 activation by Gq/Gi-coupled lysophosphatidic acid receptors more effective. Moreover, chemogenetic control of Gi and Gq by designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) confirmed that Gi differentially activates P-REX1. GTPase-deficient GαqQL and Gα13QL variants formed stable complexes with Gßγ, impairing its interaction with P-REX1. The N-terminal regions of these variants were essential for stable interaction with Gßγ. Pulldown assays revealed that chimeric Gα13-i2QL interacts with Gßγ unlike to Gαi2-13QL, the reciprocal chimera, which similarly to Gαi2QL could not interact with Gßγ. Moreover, Gßγ was part of tetrameric Gßγ-GαqQL-RGS2 and Gßγ-Gα13-i2QL-RGS4 complexes, whereas Gα13QL dissociated from Gßγ to interact with the PDZ-RhoGEF-RGS domain. Consistent with an integrated response, Gßγ and AKT kinase were associated with active SDF-1/CXCL12-stimulated P-REX1. This pathway was inhibited by GαqQL and Gα13QL, which also prevented CXCR4-dependent cell migration. We conclude that a coordinated mechanism prioritizes Gαq- and Gα13-mediated signaling to Rho over a Gßγ-dependent Rac pathway, attributed to heterotrimeric Gi proteins.

cAMP-dependent activation of the Rac guanine exchange factor P-REX1 by type I protein kinase A (PKA) regulatory subunits.

Regulatory subunits of protein kinase A (PKA) inhibit its kinase subunits. Intriguingly, their potential as cAMP-dependent signal transducers remains uncharacterized. We recently reported that type I PKA regulatory subunits (RIα) interact with phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate-dependent Rac exchange factor 1 (P-REX1), a chemotactic Rac guanine exchange factor (RacGEF). Because P-REX1 is known to be phosphorylated and inhibited by PKA, its interaction with RIα suggests that PKA regulatory and catalytic subunits may fine-tune P-REX1 activity or those of its target pools. Here, we tested whether RIα acts as a cAMP-dependent factor promoting P-REX1-mediated Rac activation and cell migration. We observed that Gs-coupled EP2 receptors indeed promote endothelial cell migration via RIα-activated P-REX1. Expression of the P-REX1-PDZ1 domain prevented RIα/P-REX1 interaction, P-REX1 activation, and EP2-dependent cell migration, and P-REX1 silencing abrogated RIα-dependent Rac activation. RIα-specific cAMP analogs activated P-REX1, but lost this activity in RIα-knockdown cells, and cAMP pulldown assays revealed that P-REX1 preferentially interacts with free RIα. Moreover, purified RIα directly activated P-REX1 in vitro We also found that the RIα CNB-B domain is critical for the interaction with P-REX1, which was increased in RIα mutants, such as the acrodysostosis-associated mutant, that activate P-REX1 at basal cAMP levels. RIα and Cα PKA subunits targeted distinct P-REX1 molecules, indicated by an absence of phosphorylation in the active fraction of P-REX1. This was in contrast to the inactive fraction in which phosphorylated P-REX1 was present, suggesting co-existence of dual stimulatory and inhibitory effects. We conclude that PKA's regulatory subunits are cAMP-dependent signal transducers.

Cell adhesion controlled by adhesion G protein-coupled receptor GPR124/ADGRA2 is mediated by a protein complex comprising intersectins and Elmo-Dock.

Developmental angiogenesis and the maintenance of the blood-brain barrier involve endothelial cell adhesion, which is linked to cytoskeletal dynamics. GPR124 (also known as TEM5/ADGRA2) is an adhesion G protein-coupled receptor family member that plays a pivotal role in brain angiogenesis and in ensuring a tight blood-brain barrier. However, the signaling properties of GPR124 remain poorly defined. Here, we show that ectopic expression of GPR124 promotes cell adhesion, additive to extracellular matrix-dependent effect, coupled with filopodia and lamellipodia formation and an enrichment of a pool of the G protein-coupled receptor at actin-rich cellular protrusions containing VASP, a filopodial marker. Accordingly, GPR124-expressing cells also displayed increased activation of both Rac and Cdc42 GTPases. Mechanistically, we uncover novel direct interactions between endogenous GPR124 and the Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors Elmo/Dock and intersectin (ITSN). Small fragments of either Elmo or ITSN1 that bind GPR124 blocked GPR124-induced cell adhesion. In addition, Gßγ interacts with the C-terminal tail of GPR124 and promotes the formation of a GPR124-Elmo complex. Furthermore, GPR124 also promotes the activation of the Elmo-Dock complex, as measured by Elmo phosphorylation on a conserved C-terminal tyrosine residue. Interestingly, Elmo and ITSN1 also interact with each other independently of their GPR124-recognition regions. Moreover, endogenous phospho-Elmo and ITSN1 co-localize with GPR124 at lamellipodia of adhering endothelial cells, where GPR124 expression contributes to polarity acquisition during wound healing. Collectively, our results indicate that GPR124 promotes cell adhesion via Elmo-Dock and ITSN. This constitutes a previously unrecognized complex formed of atypical and conventional Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors for Rac and Cdc42 that is putatively involved in GPR124-dependent angiogenic responses.

Protein Kinase A (PKA) Type I Interacts with P-Rex1, a Rac Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor: EFFECT ON PKA LOCALIZATION AND P-Rex1 SIGNALING.

Morphology of migrating cells is regulated by Rho GTPases and fine-tuned by protein interactions and phosphorylation. PKA affects cell migration potentially through spatiotemporal interactions with regulators of Rho GTPases. Here we show that the endogenous regulatory (R) subunit of type I PKA interacts with P-Rex1, a Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor that integrates chemotactic signals. Type I PKA holoenzyme interacts with P-Rex1 PDZ domains via the CNB B domain of RIα, which when expressed by itself facilitates endothelial cell migration. P-Rex1 activation localizes PKA to the cell periphery, whereas stimulation of PKA phosphorylates P-Rex1 and prevents its activation in cells responding to SDF-1 (stromal cell-derived factor 1). The P-Rex1 DEP1 domain is phosphorylated at Ser-436, which inhibits the DH-PH catalytic cassette by direct interaction. In addition, the P-Rex1 C terminus is indirectly targeted by PKA, promoting inhibitory interactions independently of the DEP1-PDZ2 region. A P-Rex1 S436A mutant construct shows increased RacGEF activity and prevents the inhibitory effect of forskolin on sphingosine 1-phosphate-dependent endothelial cell migration. Altogether, these results support the idea that P-Rex1 contributes to the spatiotemporal localization of type I PKA, which tightly regulates this guanine exchange factor by a multistep mechanism, initiated by interaction with the PDZ domains of P-Rex1 followed by direct phosphorylation at the first DEP domain and putatively indirect regulation of the C terminus, thus promoting inhibitory intramolecular interactions. This reciprocal regulation between PKA and P-Rex1 might represent a key node of integration by which chemotactic signaling is fine-tuned by PKA.