FAK integrates growth-factor and integrin signals to promote cell migration

DJ Sieg, CR Hauck, D Ilic, CK Klingbeil, E Schaefer… - Nature cell …, 2000 - nature.com
DJ Sieg, CR Hauck, D Ilic, CK Klingbeil, E Schaefer, CH Damsky, DD Schlaepfer
Nature cell biology, 2000nature.com
Here we show that cells lacking focal adhesion kinase (FAK) are refractory to motility signals
from platelet-derived and epidermal growth factors (PDGF and EGF respectively), and that
stable re-expression of FAK rescues these defects. FAK associates with activated PDGF-and
EGF-receptor (PDGFR and EGFR) signalling complexes, and expression of the band-4.1-
like domain at the FAK amino terminus is sufficient to mediate an interaction with activated
EGFR. However, efficient EGF-stimulated cell migration also requires FAK to be targeted, by …
Abstract
Here we show that cells lacking focal adhesion kinase (FAK) are refractory to motility signals from platelet-derived and epidermal growth factors (PDGF and EGF respectively), and that stable re-expression of FAK rescues these defects. FAK associates with activated PDGF-and EGF-receptor (PDGFR and EGFR) signalling complexes, and expression of the band-4.1-like domain at the FAK amino terminus is sufficient to mediate an interaction with activated EGFR. However, efficient EGF-stimulated cell migration also requires FAK to be targeted, by its carboxy-terminal domain, to sites of integrin-receptor clustering. Although the kinase activity of FAK is not needed to promote PDGF-or EGF-stimulated cell motility, kinase-inactive FAK is transphosphorylated at the indispensable Src-kinase-binding site, FAK Y397, after EGF stimulation of cells. Our results establish that FAK is an important receptor-proximal link between growth-factor-receptor and integrin signalling pathways.
nature.com