title: Identification of sequences required for the efficient localization of the focal adhesion kinase, pp125FAK, to cellular focal adhesions.
abstract: The integrin family of heterodimeric cell surface receptors play critical roles in multiple biological processes by mediating cellular adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Adhesion triggers intracellular signaling cascades, including tyrosine phosphorylation and elevation of [Ca2+]i. The Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK or pp125FAK), a protein tyrosine kinase that colocalizes with integrins in cellular focal adhesions, is a prime candidate for a mediator of integrin signaling events. Here we report an analysis of the domain structure of FAK in which we have identified a contiguous stretch of 159 amino acids within the COOH terminus essential for correct subcellular localization. When placed in the context of an unrelated cytosolic protein, this Focal Adhesion Targeting (FAT) sequence functions to efficiently mediate the focal adhesion localization of this fusion protein. Furthermore, this analysis suggests that pp125FAK cannot be activated oncogenically by mutation. This result could be explained if pp125FK either exhibits a narrow substrate specificity or is diametrically opposed by cellular phosphatases or other cellular processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22908.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hildebrand
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Schaller
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Parsons
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D011972:Receptor, Insulin; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases