A tumor suppressor role for srGAP3 in mammary epithelial cells

A Lahoz, A Hall - Oncogene, 2013 - nature.com
A Lahoz, A Hall
Oncogene, 2013nature.com
Abstract srGAP3, a member of the Slit-Robo sub-family of Rho GTPase-activating proteins
(Rho GAPs), controls actin and microtubule dynamics through negative regulation of Rac.
Here, we describe a potential role for srGAP3 as a tumor suppressor in mammary epithelial
cells. We show that RNAi-mediated depletion of srGAP3 promotes Rac dependent,
anchorage-independent growth of partially transformed human mammary epithelial cells
(HMECs). Furthermore, srGAP3 expression is absent, or significantly reduced in 7/10 breast …
Abstract
srGAP3, a member of the Slit-Robo sub-family of Rho GTPase-activating proteins (Rho GAPs), controls actin and microtubule dynamics through negative regulation of Rac. Here, we describe a potential role for srGAP3 as a tumor suppressor in mammary epithelial cells. We show that RNAi-mediated depletion of srGAP3 promotes Rac dependent, anchorage-independent growth of partially transformed human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs). Furthermore, srGAP3 expression is absent, or significantly reduced in 7/10 breast cancer cell lines compared with normal HMECs. Re-expression of srGAP3 in a subset of these cell lines inhibits both anchorage-independent growth and cell invasion in a GAP-dependent manner, and this is accompanied by an increase in phosphorylation of the ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) family proteins and myosin light chain 2 (MLC2). Inhibition of the Rho regulated kinase, ROCK, reduces ERM and MLC2 phosphorylation and restores invasion. We conclude that srGAP3 has tumor suppressor-like activity in HMECs, likely through its activity as a negative regulator of Rac1.
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