Annexin A6 and Late Endosomal Cholesterol Modulate Integrin Recycling and Cell Migration.

Annexins are a family of proteins that bind to phospholipids in a calcium-dependent manner. Earlier studies implicated annexin A6 (AnxA6) to inhibit secretion and participate in the organization of the extracellular matrix. We recently showed that elevated AnxA6 levels significantly reduced secretion of the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin (FN). Because FN is directly linked to the ability of cells to migrate, this prompted us to investigate the role of AnxA6 in cell migration. Up-regulation of AnxA6 in several cell models was associated with reduced cell migration in wound healing, individual cell tracking and three-dimensional migration/invasion assays. The reduced ability of AnxA6-expressing cells to migrate was associated with decreased cell surface expression of αVß3 and α5ß1 integrins, both FN receptors. Mechanistically, we found that elevated AnxA6 levels interfered with syntaxin-6 (Stx6)-dependent recycling of integrins to the cell surface. AnxA6 overexpression caused mislocalization and accumulation of Stx6 and integrins in recycling endosomes, whereas siRNA-mediated AnxA6 knockdown did not modify the trafficking of integrins. Given our recent findings that inhibition of cholesterol export from late endosomes (LEs) inhibits Stx6-dependent integrin recycling and that elevated AnxA6 levels cause LE cholesterol accumulation, we propose that AnxA6 and blockage of LE cholesterol transport are critical for endosomal function required for Stx6-mediated recycling of integrins in cell migration.

Disruption of the annexin A1/S100A11 complex increases the migration and clonogenic growth by dysregulating epithelial growth factor (EGF) signaling.

Endocytosis of activated growth factor receptors regulates spatio-temporal cellular signaling. In the case of the EGF receptor, sorting into multivesicular bodies (MVBs) controls signal termination and subsequently leads to receptor degradation in lysosomes. Annexin A1, a Ca(2+)-regulated membrane binding protein often deregulated in human cancers, interacts with the EGF receptor and is phosphorylated by internalized EGF receptor on endosomes. Most relevant for EGF receptor signal termination, annexin A1 is required for the formation of internal vesicles in MVBs that sequester ligand-bound EGF receptor away from the limiting membrane. To elucidate the mechanism underlying annexin A1-dependent EGF receptor trafficking we employed an N-terminally truncated annexin A1 mutant that lacks the EGF receptor phosphorylation site and the site for interaction with its protein ligand S100A11. Overexpression of this dominant-negative mutant induces a delay in EGF-induced EGF receptor transport to the LAMP1-positive late endosomal/lysosomal compartment and impairs ligand-induced EGF receptor degradation. Consistent with these findings, EGF-stimulated EGF receptor and MAP kinase pathway signaling is prolonged. Importantly, depletion of S100A11 also results in a delayed EGF receptor transport and prolonged MAP kinase signaling comparable to the trafficking defect observed in cells expressing the N-terminally truncated annexin A1 mutant. These results strongly suggest that the function of annexin A1 as a regulator of EGF receptor trafficking, degradation and signaling is critically mediated through an N-terminal interaction with S100A11 in the endosomal compartment. This interaction appears to be essential for lysosomal targeting of the EGF receptor, possibly by providing a physical scaffold supporting inward vesiculation in MVBs. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 12th European Symposium on Calcium.

Annexin A6-Linking Ca(2+) signaling with cholesterol transport.

Annexin A6 (AnxA6) belongs to a conserved family of Ca(2+)-dependent membrane-binding proteins. Like other annexins, the function of AnxA6 is linked to its ability to bind phospholipids in cellular membranes in a dynamic and reversible fashion, in particular during the regulation of endocytic and exocytic pathways. High amounts of AnxA6 sequester cholesterol in late endosomes, thereby lowering the levels of cholesterol in the Golgi and the plasma membrane. These AnxA6-dependent redistributions of cellular cholesterol pools give rise to reduced cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 (cPLA(2)) activity, retention of caveolin in the Golgi apparatus and a reduced number of caveolae at the cell surface. In addition to regulating cholesterol and caveolin distribution, AnxA6 acts as a scaffold/targeting protein for several signaling proteins, the best characterized being the Ca(2+)-dependent membrane targeting of p120GAP to downregulate Ras activity. AnxA6 also stimulates the Ca(2+)-inducible involvement of PKC in the regulation of HRas and possibly EGFR signal transduction pathways. The ability of AnxA6 to recruit regulators of the EGFR/Ras pathway is likely potentiated by AnxA6-induced actin remodeling. Accordingly, AnxA6 may function as an organizer of membrane domains (i) to modulate intracellular cholesterol homeostasis, (ii) to create a scaffold for the formation of multifactorial signaling complexes, and (iii) to regulate transient membrane-actin interactions during endocytic and exocytic transport. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 11th European Symposium on Calcium.

Differential Regulation of RasGAPs in Cancer.

Ever since their discovery as cellular counterparts of viral oncogenes more than 25 years ago, much progress has been made in understanding the complex networks of signal transduction pathways activated by oncogenic Ras mutations in human cancers. The activity of Ras is regulated by nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase activating proteins (GAPs), and much emphasis has been put into the biochemical and structural analysis of the Ras/GAP complex. The mechanisms by which GAPs catalyze Ras-GTP hydrolysis have been clarified and revealed that oncogenic Ras mutations confer resistance to GAPs and remain constitutively active. However, it is yet unclear how cells coordinate the large and divergent GAP protein family to promote Ras inactivation and ensure a certain biological response. Different domain arrangements in GAPs to create differential protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions are probably key factors determining the inactivation of the 3 Ras isoforms H-, K-, and N-Ras and their effector pathways. In recent years, in vitro as well as cell- and animal-based studies examining GAP activity, localization, interaction partners, and expression profiles have provided further insights into Ras inactivation and revealed characteristics of several GAPs to exert specific and distinct functions. This review aims to summarize knowledge on the cell biology of RasGAP proteins that potentially contributes to differential regulation of spatiotemporal Ras signaling.

Annexin A6-regulator of the EGFR/Ras signalling pathway and cholesterol homeostasis.

Annexin A6 (AnxA6) belongs to the highly conserved annexin protein family. Like other annexins, the function of AnxA6 is linked to its ability to bind phospholipids in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner, thereby interacting with cellular membranes in a dynamic, reversible and regulated fashion. Upon cell activation, AnxA6 is recruited to the plasma membrane, endosomes and caveolae/membrane rafts to interact with signalling proteins, the endocytic machinery and actin cytoskeleton to inhibit epidermal growth factor receptor and Ras signalling. In addition, AnxA6 associates with late endosomes to regulate cholesterol export leading to reduced cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 activity and caveolae formation. Accordingly, AnxA6 may function as an organizer of membrane domains (i) to create a scaffold for the formation of multifactorial signalling complexes, (ii) to regulate transient membrane-actin interactions during endocytic transport, and (iii) to modulate intracellular cholesterol homeostasis. Altogether, this will regulate critical physiological processes including proliferation, differentiation, inflammation and cell migration.