title: Novel mechanism of PTEN regulation by its phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate binding motif is critical for chemotaxis.
abstract: In chemotaxing cells, localization of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P3) to the leading edge of the cell sets the direction and regulates the formation of pseudopods at the anterior. We show that the lipid phosphatase activity of PTEN mediates chemotaxis and that the sharp localization of PI(3,4,5)P3 requires localization of PTEN to the rear of the cell. Our data suggest that a phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) binding motif at the N terminus of PTEN serves the dual role of localizing the enzyme to the membrane and regulating its activity. Mutations in this motif enhance catalytic activity but render the enzyme inactive in vivo by preventing membrane association. The key role of this motif may explain the heretofore puzzling tumor-suppressing mutations occurring within the PI(4,5)P2 binding motif. On the other hand, the localization of PTEN does not depend on its phosphatase activity, the actin cytoskeleton, or the intracellular level of PI(3,4,5)P3, suggesting that events controlling localization are upstream of phosphoinositide signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iijima
authors.forename: Yi Elaine
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hongbo R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vazquez
authors.forename: Peter N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Devreotes
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000502:physiology*; D004023:Dictyostelium; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D019269:Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Diphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D019269:Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Diphosphate; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases