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Paxilline inhibition of the alpha-subunit of the high-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel.

High conductance calcium-activated (maxi-K) channels are potently blocked by a family of indole diterpenes that includes paxilline. Paxilline stimulates binding of charybdotoxin (ChTX) to maxi-K channels in vascular smooth muscle and blocks these channels in electrophysiological experiments (Knaus et al., 1994b). These results suggested that paxilline blocked maxi-K channels at a site distance from the ChTX binding site located near the external entrance to the pore. Here we have examined block of the cloned alpha subunit (slo) of the maxi-K channel in excised membrane patches after internal application of paxilline. Paxilline caused a reversible inhibition of channel currents with slow washout kinetics. In the presence of 10 muM intracellular calcium, paxilline blocked currents elicited by brief voltage pulses with a Ki of 1.9 nM and a Hill coefficient near one. Changing the internal calcium by the fold caused a two to three fold change in the Ki for paxilline block, with less block occurring at high calcium concentrations. Paxilline reduced the maximum of the conductance-voltage relation in a calcium-sensitive manner with less block occurring at high calcium concentrations, and caused a 20 mV depolarizing shift in the midpoint for channel opening. The time-course of relief of paxilline block by elevated calcium was more rapid than washout of paxilline suggesting an allosteric interaction between calcium and paxilline.

Animals↗

Roles of microfilaments and microtubules in paxillin dynamics.

We investigated the roles of microfilaments and microtubules in the localization and tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin, a focal adhesion-associated signaling molecule, in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). Paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation is inhibited by cytochalasin D (CD), but slightly increased by colchicine and paclitaxol (taxol). CD also caused an overall disassembly of paxillin-containing focal adhesions (paxillin-FAs) and translocation of paxillin to the cytoplasm and perinuclear region with a diffuse distribution. Meanwhile, colchicine and taxol caused a disassembly of paxillin-FAs from cell periphery and lamellipodia, and their assembly in cell center. These results indicate that actin filaments are important in paxillin assembly in the FAs of the whole ECs and that microtubules are critical in paxillin assembly in cell periphery and lamellipodia; thus the microfilaments and microtubules play differential roles in the dynamics of paxillin assembly/disassembly. Our findings also suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation is an important element in paxillin dynamics at FAs.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Role of paxillin in metabolic oxidative stress-induced cytoskeletal reorganization: involvement of SAPK signal transduction pathway and PTP-PEST gene expression.

Previous studies have shown that glucose deprivation-induced cell death is associated with apoptosis, which is characterized by cellular membrane blebbing in multi-drug-resistant human breast carcinoma MCF-7/ADR cells. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of glucose deprivation-induced cytoskeletal reorganization, which is known to be responsible for the morphological alterations. An increase in the formation of focal adhesion and stress fibers was observed during the early period of glucose deprivation (1-2 h). However, a disappearance of focal adhesion complexes and a loss of stress fiber formation along with membrane blebbing were observed when glucose deprivation continued. These alterations were delayed in MCF-7/ADR cells transfected with bcl-2 and completely suppressed by treatment with an antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine. These results indicated that glucose deprivation-induced oxidative stress caused the cytoskeletal reorganization. The glucose deprivation-induced alteration of cytoskeletal organization was further investigated by studying a modification of paxillin, one of the focal adhesion proteins. Immunoblotting with anti-paxillin antibody showed that the paxillin band shifted from 68 kDa to about 80 kDa during 1-4 h of glucose deprivation. The mobility shift indicated the modification of paxillin. This possibility was further studied by an immunoprecipitation assay with anti-paxillin/anti-phosphotyrosine antibody and phosphoamino acid analysis (PAA). The immunoprecipitation study revealed that the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin was maintained for 2 h and then markedly decreased without a change in the total level of paxillin. The PAA study showed that paxillin is dephosphorylated on tyrosine concurrent with phosphorylation on serine/threonine. Expression of a dominant-negative mutant of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK1) suppressed glucose deprivation-induced JNK1 activation, PTP-PEST gene expression, and alteration of paxillin. Taken together, these results suggest that the alteration of the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of paxillin may be related to the cytoskeletal reorganization and these events are mediated by glucose deprivation-induced oxidative stress and the stress-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway.

Acetylcysteine↗

Mitosis specific serine phosphorylation and downregulation of one of the focal adhesion protein, paxillin.

Mitotic cells typically lack well-formed focal adhesions. As an approach to explore the dynamic process regulating the focal adhesion assembly, we examined states of focal adhesion proteins during mitosis of the cell cycle. We found that the amount of paxillin was significantly reduced during mitosis of the cell cycle, whereas other focal adhesion proteins including talin, vinculin and Focal Adhesion Kinase did not. Proteolytic degradation appeared to be involved in the mitotic reduction, but transcriptional and/or translational controls of the mRNA were not essential for this downregulation. Moreover, concurrent with the decreased protein level, phosphorylation status of paxillin altered during mitosis; mitotic paxillin was phosphorylated primarily on serine and dephosphorylated on tyrosine while interphase one was phosphorylated both on serine and tyrosine. We found that mitotic phosphorylation created an electrophoretically slow-migrating population of paxillin which was barely detected in interphase cells. This mitotic specific modification occurred with both alpha and beta isoforms of paxillin. We also examined the fate of paxillin protein by changing its protein amount. We found that majority of paxillin overexpressed was subjected to the specific modification but not to the downregulation in the mitotic arrested cells. On the other hand, paxillin exogenously expressed at a moderate level was subjected to both the mitotic modification and downregulation. Collectively, we concluded that paxillin's specific serine phosphorylation together with the proteolytic downregulation of a limited fraction of paxillin is taken place during the mitosis of the cell cycle.

Animals↗

The bovine papillomavirus E6 protein binds to the LD motif repeats of paxillin and blocks its interaction with vinculin and the focal adhesion kinase.

The bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) E6 oncoprotein can transform fibroblasts and induce anchorage-independent growth and disassembly of the actin stress fibers. We have previously shown that the E6 protein interacts with the focal adhesion protein, paxillin, suggesting a direct role of E6 in the disruption of the actin cytoskeleton. We have now mapped the E6 binding sites on paxillin to the LD motif repeats region, which has been implicated in mediating paxillin binding to two other focal adhesion proteins, vinculin and the focal adhesion kinase. The five LD motif repeats identified in paxillin do not contribute equally to its interaction with E6. The first LD repeat is most critical for paxillin binding to E6 both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the binding of recombinant wild-type E6 protein to paxillin blocked the interaction of several cellular proteins with paxillin, including vinculin and the focal adhesion kinase. A mutant E6 protein (H105) which does not bind to paxillin had no effect on the binding of these cellular proteins to paxillin. These data suggest that E6 disruption of the actin stress fibers occurs through blocking the interaction of paxillin with its cellular effectors such as vinculin and the focal adhesion kinase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Roles of Gab1 and SHP2 in paxillin tyrosine dephosphorylation and Src activation in response to epidermal growth factor.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces paxillin tyrosine dephosphorylation and Src activation, but the signaling pathways that mediate these responses were largely undefined. We found that Gab1, a docking protein for the SHP2 protein-tyrosine phosphatase in EGF-stimulated cells, was associated with paxillin. SHP2 dephosphorylated paxillin and caused dissociation of Csk, a negative regulator of Src, from paxillin but had no effect on paxillin-Src association. A lower level of Src Tyr-530 phosphorylation was detected in paxillin-associated Src in EGF-stimulated cells. Expression of an SHP2 binding defective mutant of Gab1 (Gab1FF) or a catalytically inactive mutant of SHP2 (SHP2DN) prevented paxillin tyrosine dephosphorylation and Src activation induced by EGF. Importantly, Gab1FF blocked paxillin-SHP2 complex formation, Src Tyr-530 dephosphorylation, Erk activation, and cell migration induced by EGF. Inhibition of Src tyrosine kinase activity abrogated EGF-stimulated Erk activation and cell migration. Together, these results reveal that Gab1 recruits SHP2 to dephosphorylate paxillin, leading to dissociation of Csk from the paxillin-Src complex and Src activation and that Src is an SHP2 effector involved in EGF-stimulated Erk activation and cell migration.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

EphB1-mediated cell migration requires the phosphorylation of paxillin at Tyr-31/Tyr-118.

Interactions between Eph receptors and their membrane-bound ligands (ephrins) are of critical importance for key developmental processes such as boundary formation or vascular development. Their downstream signaling pathways are intricate and heterogeneous at several levels, the combined effect being a highly complex and flexible system. Here we demonstrate that activated EphB1 induces tyrosine phosphorylation of the focal adhesion protein paxillin at Tyr-31 and Tyr-118 and is recruited to paxillin-focal adhesion kinase (FAK) complexes. Pretreatment with the specific Src inhibitor PP2, or expression of dominant-negative, kinase-dead c-Src abrogates EphB1-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin. Cells transfected with the paxillin mutant Y31F/Y118F displayed a reduced migration in response to ephrin B2 stimulation. Furthermore, expression of an LD4 deletion mutant (paxillin DeltaLD4) significantly reduces EphB1-paxillin association, paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation, as well as EphB1-dependent cell migration. Finally, mutation of the Nck-binding site of EphB1 (Y594F) interrupts the interaction between Nck, paxillin, and EphB1. These data suggest a model in which ligand-activated EphB1 forms a signaling complex with Nck, paxillin, and focal adhesion kinase and induces tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin in a c-Src-dependent manner to promote cell migration.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Phosphorylation of paxillin by p38MAPK is involved in the neurite extension of PC-12 cells.

Cell adhesions play an important role in neurite extension. Paxillin, a focal adhesion adaptor protein involved in focal adhesion dynamics, has been demonstrated to be required for neurite outgrowth. However, the molecular mechanism by which paxillin regulates neurite outgrowth is unknown. Here, we show that paxillin is phosphorylated by p38MAPK in vitro and in nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced PC-12 cells. Ser 85 (Ser 83 for endogenous paxillin) is identified as one of major phosphorylation sites by phosphopeptide mapping and mass spectrometry. Moreover, expression of the Ser 85 --> Ala mutant of paxillin (paxS85A) significantly inhibits NGF-induced neurite extension of PC-12 cells, whereas expression of wild-type (wt) paxillin does not influence neurite outgrowth. Further experiments indicate that cells expressing paxS85A exhibit small, clustered focal adhesions which are not normally seen in cells expressing wt paxillin. Although wt paxillin and paxS85A have the same ability to bind vinculin and focal adhesion kinase, wt paxillin more efficiently associates with Pyk2 than paxS85A. Thus, phosphorylation of paxillin is involved in NGF-induced neurite extension of PC-12 cells, probably through regulating focal adhesion organization.

Animals↗

Bombesin, vasopressin, and endothelin rapidly stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of the focal adhesion-associated protein paxillin in Swiss 3T3 cells.

Treatment of Swiss 3T3 cells with bombesin caused a striking increase (21-fold) in the tyrosine phosphorylation of the cytoskeleton-associated protein paxillin, as judged by anti-phosphotyrosine Western blots of anti-paxillin immunoprecipitates. Vasopressin and endothelin also stimulated paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation. Bombesin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin was detectable within 1 min and was concentration-dependent (half-maximum effect at 0.09 nM). Bombesin stimulation of paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation could be dissociated from both protein kinase C (PKC) activation and the mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. Activation of PKC in quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells using the tumor promoter phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) increased the tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin in a time-dependent manner but was less effective than bombesin and stimulated detectable phosphorylation only within 5 min, considerably slower than bombesin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin. Furthermore, the selective PKC inhibitor, GF109203X, or down-regulation of PKC using prolonged treatment with PDB markedly inhibited the stimulation of paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation by PDB but had little effect on the response to bombesin. In contrast, cytochalasin D, an agent that selectively disrupts the network of actin microfilaments, completely inhibited bombesin- and PDB-induced paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation. This is the first report to identify paxillin as a substrate for neuropeptide-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation.

3T3 Cells↗

Beta2 integrins are not required for tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin in human neutrophils.

Although many of the receptors mediating neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)) adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins have been identified, the signal transduction pathways leading to cell spreading are not clearly defined. Studies showing that protein tyrosine phosphorylation increases with PMN adhesion suggest that phosphorylation is critical for adhesion-dependent processes. In other cells, increased tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin are thought to play pivotal roles in ECM-mediated signaling. In the present study we compared the tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK and paxillin in PMNs plated onto thrombospondin (TSP) or laminin (LN). Increased tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin correlated with adhesion and spreading of PMNs plated onto LN or TSP. In PMNs adherent to LN, the kinetics of FAK phosphorylation preceded the kinetics of paxillin phosphorylation, suggesting that paxillin may be a downstream target of FAK. In contrast, FAK was not phosphorylated in PMNs spread on TSP. These findings suggested activation of different signaling pathways in TSP- vs LN-adherent PMNs. Others have proposed that paxillin phosphorylation requires beta2 integrins. Therefore, we used PMNs from a patient with leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD), lacking beta2 integrins, to determine whether these receptors were necessary for paxillin phosphorylation. LAD PMNs did not adhere to LN, and consequently, there was no tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK or paxillin. In contrast, paxillin, but not FAK, was phosphorylated in LAD PMNs adherent and spread on TSP. These results indicate that ECM-beta2 integrin-mediated signaling initiates the FAK/paxillin signaling pathway(s), while TSP-mediated signaling results in paxillin phosphorylation independent of FAK phosphorylation.

CD18 Antigens↗

Enhanced expression of the cytoskeletal-associated protein, paxillin, in experimental nephrotic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: In the model of aminonucleoside of Puromycin (PAN)-induced nephrotic syndrome we assessed changes in glomerular expression of three proteins that regulate cell adhesion to extracellular matrix: paxillin, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and Rho. METHODS: Following a single intravenous injection of PAN in Sprague-Dawley rats, proteinuria ensued and glomeruli were isolated at three stages: prior to onset of proteinuria (days 1 and 2), and when proteinuria peaked (day 9), subsided (day 29) or resolved (day 35). Glomerular protein lysates were analyzed by Western blot for expression of paxillin, FAK, and Rho. RESULTS: There was a progressive increase in glomerular paxillin level that peaked concomitantly with heavy proteinuria (day 9). Paxillin remained increased during the recovery phase of PAN-induced injury and when proteinuria resolved. Expression of FAK and Rho remained unchanged at all time points. To explore whether the increase in paxillin expression following administration of PAN was due to a direct effect on glomerular epithelial cells (GEC), cultured rat GECs were incubated with PAN for 3, 6, and 24 hours, and expression of paxillin was assessed in GEC lysates by Western blot analysis. No change in paxillin levels was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In PAN-induced nephrotic syndrome there is a preferential increase in paxillin expression that cannot be accouted for by an effect of PAN on GEC paxillin synthesis. We propose that the enhanced paxillin synthesis in the course of PAN-induced GEC injury reflects perturbations in contact between GEC and the GBM and may play a role in regulating adherence of GEC to the GBM.

Animals↗

Serine phosphorylation regulates paxillin turnover during cell migration.

BACKGROUND: Paxillin acts as an adaptor protein that localizes to focal adhesion. This protein is regulated during cell migration by phosphorylation on tyrosine, serine and threonine residues. Most of these phosphorylations have been implicated in the regulation of different steps of cell migration. The two major phosphorylation sites of paxillin in response to adhesion to an extracellular matrix are serines 188 and 190. However, the function of this phosphorylation event remains unknown. The purpose of this work was to determine the role of paxillin phosphorylation on residues S188 and S190 in the regulation of cell migration. RESULTS: We used NBT-II epithelial cells that can be induced to migrate when plated on collagen. To examine the role of paxillin serines 188/190 in cell migration, we constructed an EGFP-tagged paxillin mutant in which S188/S190 were mutated into unphosphorylatable alanine residues. We provide evidence that paxillin is regulated by proteasomal degradation following polyubiquitylation of the protein. During active cell migration on collagen, paxillin is protected from proteasome-dependent degradation. We demonstrate that phosphorylation of serines 188/190 is necessary for the protective effect of collagen. In an effort to understand the physiological relevance of paxillin protection from degradation, we show that cells expressing the paxillin S188/190A interfering mutant spread less, have reduced protrusive activity but migrate more actively. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate for the first time that serine-regulated degradation of paxillin plays a key role in the modulation of membrane dynamics and consequently, in the control of cell motility.

Journal Article↗

Rapid impact of beta-amyloid on paxillin in a neural cell line.

Beta-amyloid1-42 (Abeta) is a naturally occuring peptide whose accumulation in the brain is putatively coupled to Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. Deleterious effects of Abeta on neurons have been linked to the inappropriate activation of signaling pathways within the cell (reviewed in Yankner, 1996), including tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) (Zhang et al., 1994, 1996a,b). Here we have investigated the effects of Abeta on paxillin in a neural cell line. Paxillin, a substrate for FAK, is thought to act as a signal "integrator," functioning to link other proteins into multi-molecular signaling complexes (reviewed in Turner, 1994). Treatment of the rat central nervous system B103 cell line with aggregates of Abeta was found to induce the tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin within 30 min, nearly 24 hr prior to significant cell death. Particularly striking was a subsequent "mobilization" of paxillin to the cytoskeleton in Abeta-treated cells. The amount of paxillin associated with the cytoskeleton in Abeta-treated cells was increased 10-fold over controls. The Abeta-induced paxillin accumulation could be visualized immunocytochemically, with an increase in number and size of paxillin-labeled focal contacts upon treatment with Abeta. This effect was specific, in that vinculin, another focal contact protein, was unaffected by Abeta. Disruption of f-actin, which inhibits both Abeta-induced neurotoxicity (Furukawa and Mattson, 1995) and focal contact signaling in B103 cells (Zhang et al., 1996b) was found to block the cytoskeletal paxillin accumulation. The rapid tyrosine phosphorylation and cytoskeletal mobilization of paxillin links Abeta to the activation of focal contact signaling events that may influence neuronal cytoskeletal architecture, gene expression, synaptic plasticity and cell viability.

Actins↗

Epidermal growth factor stimulates serine/threonine phosphorylation of the focal adhesion protein paxillin in a MEK-dependent manner in normal rat kidney cells.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated proliferation of renal epithelial cells plays an important role in the recovery of kidney tubule epithelia following exposure to insult. Numerous studies have demonstrated that tyrosine phosphorylation of the focal adhesion protein paxillin mediates in part the effects of growth factors on cell growth, migration, and organization of the actin-based cytoskeleton. The experiments in this report were designed to determine the effect of EGF on paxillin phosphorylation in normal rat kidney (NRK) epithelial cells. Interestingly, treatment of NRK cells with EGF stimulated paxillin serine/threonine phosphorylation, which caused a reduction in the mobility of paxillin on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The EGF-stimulated mobility shift of paxillin was independent of an intact cytoskeleton, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) activation, protein kinase C (PKC) activation, and cellular adhesion. However, inhibitors of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase abrogated the EGF-stimulated change in paxillin mobility. In addition, the EGF-stimulated change in paxillin serine/threonine phosphorylation was not accompanied by a profound reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. These results identify paxillin as a component EGF signaling in renal epithelial cells and implicate members of the MAP kinase pathway as critical regulators of paxillin serine/threonine phosphorylation.

Actins↗

Association of Bovine Papillomavirus Type 1 E6 oncoprotein with the focal adhesion protein paxillin through a conserved protein interaction motif.

We have found that the E6 oncoprotein of Bovine Papillomavirus Type 1 (BE6) as well as the E6 protein of the cancer associated HPV-16 (16E6) interact with the focal adhesion protein paxillin. Mutational analysis of paxillin revealed that BE6 binds paxillin through small protein interaction motifs called LD motifs that have been previously identified as important in regulating association of paxillin with vinculin and focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and that BE6 can interact with at least two separate binding sites on paxillin. The LD motifs of paxillin that bind BE6 share homology with the E6 binding site of E6-AP, a ubiquitin ligase that together with 16E6 targets the degradation of the p53 tumor suppressor. Paxillin binding to BE6 excludes simultaneous binding to E6-AP. Mutational analysis of BE6 can distinguish the interaction of BE6 with E6-AP compared to paxillin and revealed that the interaction of BE6 with paxillin may be necessary for the induction of anchorage independent growth of cells by BE6.

Animals↗

Molecular cloning of human paxillin, a focal adhesion protein phosphorylated by P210BCR/ABL.

Paxillin is a 68-kDa focal adhesion protein that is phosphorylated on tyrosine residues in fibroblasts in response to transformation by v-src, treatment with platelet-derived growth factor, or cross-linking of integrins. Paxillin has been shown to have binding sites for the SH3 domain of Src and the SH2 domain of Crk in vitro and to coprecipitate with two other focal adhesion proteins, vinculin and focal adhesion kinase (p125fak). After preliminary studies showed that paxillin was a substrate for the hematopoietic oncogene p210BCR/ABL, we investigated the role of this protein in hematopoietic cell transformation and signal transduction. A full-length length cDNA encoding human paxillin was cloned, revealing multiple protein domains, including four tandem LIM domains, a proline-rich domain containing a consensus SH3 binding site, and three potential Crk-SH2 binding sites. The paxillin gene was localized to chromosome 12q24 by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. A chicken paxillin cDNA was also cloned and is predicted to encode a protein approximately 90% identical to human paxil-lin. Paxillin coprecipitated with p210BCR/ABL and multiple other cellular proteins in myeloid cell lines, suggesting the formation of multimeric complexes. In normal hematopoietic cells and myeloid cell lines, tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin and coprecipitation with other cellular proteins was rapidly and transiently induced by interleukin-3 and several other hematopoietic growth factors. The predicted structure of paxillin implicates this molecule in protein-protein interactions involved in signal transduction from growth factor receptors and the BCR/ABL oncogene fusion protein to the cytoskeleton.

3T3 Cells↗

Tyrosine phosphorylation and enhanced expression of paxillin during neuronal differentiation in vitro.

Tyrosine phosphorylation has been implicated as a means by which neurite outgrowth is regulated. Because paxillin is a tyrosine-phosphorylated protein that may play a role in regulating cell morphology, we examined its expression in neuronal cells and how its tyrosine phosphorylation is related to neurite outgrowth. Paxillin was identified in several neuronal cell lines with an increased level upon differentiation. In SH-SY5Y cells, paxillin was localized along with actin filaments where processes extended from the cell body and in neuritic growth cones. Furthermore, paxillin was tyrosine-phosphorylated in SH-SY5Y cells upon adhesion to laminin. Paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation paralleled that of focal adhesion kinase and occurred as cell spreading, and neurite formation was initiated. Colchicine blocked neurite outgrowth but had no effect on cell spreading or on paxillin or focal adhesion kinase tyrosine phosphorylation. In contrast, cytochalasin D eliminated neurite outgrowth, cell spreading, and the tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin and focal adhesion kinase. These results show that paxillin is tyrosine-phosphorylated upon integrin ligand binding in neuronal cells. Our findings suggest that paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation is linked to a remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton that leads to cell spreading and neurite formation and thus a differentiated neuronal phenotype.

Actins↗

Intact LIM 3 and LIM 4 domains of paxillin are required for the association to a novel polyproline region (Pro 2) of protein-tyrosine phosphatase-PEST.

The focal adhesion protein p130(Cas) was identified as a substrate for the protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP)-PEST, and the specificity of this interaction is mediated by a dual mechanism involving a Src homology 3 domain-mediated binding and PTP domain recognition. Recently, paxillin was also demonstrated to interact with PTP-PEST (Shen, Y., Schneider, G., Cloutier, J. F., Veillette, A., and Schaller, M. D. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 6474-6481). In the present study, we show that amino acids 344-397 of PTP-PEST are sufficient for the binding to paxillin. We demonstrate that a proline-rich segment of PTP-PEST (Pro 2), 355PPEPHPVPPILTPSPPSAFP374, is essential for this interaction in vivo. Furthermore, mutation of proline residues within the Pro 2 motif reveal that proline 362 is critical for the binding of paxillin. Conversely, using deletion and point mutants of paxillin, LIM 3 and 4 domains were both found to be necessary for binding of PTP-PEST. Finally, using a "substrate trapping" approach, we demonstrate that, unlike p130(Cas), paxillin is not a substrate for PTP-PEST. In conclusion, we show that a novel proline-rich motif found in PTP-PEST serves as a ligand for the LIM domains of paxillin. Interestingly, the focal adhesion targeting of paxillin is mediated by LIM 3. Thus, we propose that PTP-PEST, by a competition with the ligand of paxillin in the focal adhesion complex, could contribute to the removal of paxillin from the adhesion sites and consequently promote focal adhesion turnover.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗