Cell adhesion and migration play crucial roles in development of multicellular organisms, immune surveillance, wound repair and cancer metastasis. The Gβγ subunits of heterotrimeric G-proteins have been implicated in signalling activities that promote cell adhesion and migration but the molecular mechanisms are unclear. Using a mass-spectrometry based proteomic approach we identified a protein complex between Gβγ and Rap1a that is bridged by a novel Rap1 effector, Radil. Overexpression of constitutively active Rap1a, Gβγ or stimulation of cells with the GPCR ligand fMLP triggers recruitment of Radil to the plasma membrane. Exogenous expression of Radil promotes cell spreading through Rap1-dependent inside-out activation of integrins leading to enhanced cell-matrix adhesion. Structure function experiments demonstrated that the RA and PDZ domains of Radil are required for its ability to promote cell adhesion. Using phage-display and mass-spectrometry we identified the kinesin family protein KIF14 as a novel interacting partner for Radil. Both KIF14 and Radil colocalized on microtubules in a PDZ-dependent manner. Depletion of KIF14 or disruption of microtubules led to accumulation of Radil at the cell membrane. Functionally, KIF14 is a negative regulator of Radil signalling as its depletion increased cell spreading and integrin activation and both phenotypes are rescued by simultaneous knockdown of Radil. Knockdown of KIF14 affects focal adhesion dynamics, which we determined is due to delayed adhesion disassembly. Depletion of either KIF14 or Radil dramatically decreased breast cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro. Additionally, knockdown of Radil compromised the ability of cells to metastasize to the lung and reduced tu-mor growth in xenograft mouse models. Collectively, these studies describe a functional re-quirement for the Gβγ-Rap1a-Radil complex during GPCR signalling for the control of integrin-mediated cell adhesion, cell motility and cancer progression.

Cell adhesion and migration play crucial roles in development of multicellular organisms, immune surveillance, wound repair and cancer metastasis. The Gβγ subunits of heterotrimeric G-proteins have been implicated in signalling activities that promote cell adhesion and migration but the molecular mechanisms are unclear. Using a mass-spectrometry based proteomic approach we identified a protein complex between Gβγ and Rap1a that is bridged by a novel Rap1 effector, Radil. Overexpression of constitutively active Rap1a, Gβγ or stimulation of cells with the GPCR ligand fMLP triggers recruitment of Radil to the plasma membrane. Exogenous expression of Radil promotes cell spreading through Rap1-dependent inside-out activation of integrins leading to enhanced cell-matrix adhesion. Structure function experiments demonstrated that the RA and PDZ domains of Radil are required for its ability to promote cell adhesion. Using phage-display and mass-spectrometry we identified the kinesin family protein KIF14 as a novel interacting partner for Radil. Both KIF14 and Radil colocalized on microtubules in a PDZ-dependent manner. Depletion of KIF14 or disruption of microtubules led to accumulation of Radil at the cell membrane. Functionally, KIF14 is a negative regulator of Radil signalling as its depletion increased cell spreading and integrin activation and both phenotypes are rescued by simultaneous knockdown of Radil. Knockdown of KIF14 affects focal adhesion dynamics, which we determined is due to delayed adhesion disassembly. Depletion of either KIF14 or Radil dramatically decreased breast cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro. Additionally, knockdown of Radil compromised the ability of cells to metastasize to the lung and reduced tu-mor growth in xenograft mouse models. Collectively, these studies describe a functional re-quirement for the Gβγ-Rap1a-Radil complex during GPCR signalling for the control of integrin-mediated cell adhesion, cell motility and cancer progression.

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