A tumor suppressor role for srGAP3 in mammary epithelial cells

Oncogene. 2013 Oct;32(40):4854-60. doi: 10.1038/onc.2012.489. Epub 2012 Oct 29.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Female
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / physiology*
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor*
  • Humans
  • Mammary Glands, Human / metabolism*
  • Mammary Glands, Human / pathology

Substances

  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • SRGAP3 protein, human