P70 S6 kinase in the control of actin cytoskeleton dynamics and directed migration of ovarian cancer cells

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is highly metastatic with a poor prognosis. The serine/threonine kinase, p70 S6 kinase (p70 S6K), which is a downstream effector of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway, is frequently activated in ovarian cancer. Here, we show that p70 S6K is a critical regulator of the actin cytoskeleton in the acquisition of the metastatic phenotype. This regulation is through two important activities: p70 S6K acts as an actin filament cross-linking protein and as a Rho family GTPase-activating protein. Ectopic expression of constitutively active p70 S6K in ovarian cancer cells induced a marked reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and promoted directional cell migration. Using cosedimentation and differential sedimentation assays, p70 S6K was found to directly bind to and cross-link actin filaments. Immunofluorescence studies showed p70 S6K colocalized with cytochalasin D-sensitive actin at the leading edge of motile cells. The p70 S6K did not affect the kinetics of spontaneous actin polymerization, but could stabilize actin filaments by the inhibition of cofilin-induced actin depolymerization. In addition, we showed that p70 S6K stimulated the rapid activation of both Rac1 and Cdc42, and their downstream effector p21-activated kinase (PAK1), but not RhoA. Depletion of p70 S6K expression or inhibition of its activity resulted in significant inhibition of actin cytoskeleton reorganization and reduced migration, with a concomitant reduction in Rac1, Cdc42 and PAK1 activation, confirming that the effect was p70 S6K specific. Similarly, the actin cytoskeleton reorganization/migratory phenotype could be reversed by expression of dominant negative Rac1 and Cdc42, or inhibition of PAK1. These results reveal a new direction for understanding the oncogenic roles of p70 S6K in tumor progression. © 2011 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved.