title: Migration-stimulating factor displays HEXXH-dependent catalytic activity important for promoting tumor cell migration.
abstract: Like most extracellular matrix (ECM) components, fibronectin (Fn) is proteolyzed generating specific activities. Fibronectin proteinase (Fn-proteinase) represents such a cryptic activity located in the gelatin-binding domain (GBD) of Fn and displays a zinc metalloproteinase activity. The migration-stimulating factor (MSF) is a truncated Fn isoform generated by alternative mRNA splicing and corresponds to the N-terminal part of Fn that comprises the GBD. We show that several human mammary epithelial cells express MSF and constitutively produce Fn-proteinase activity. Furthermore, recombinant MSF produced by HEK-293 and MCF-7 cells possesses a constitutive Fn-proteinase activity. Mutating the putative zinc-binding motif, HEXXH, of the protein abolishes its activity thereby demonstrating its specificity. Using PCR, we showed that MSF is barely expressed in normal breast tissues, whereas its expression is significantly increased in tumors. Furthermore, an association between MSF expression and invasive capacity is observed in various breast adenocarcinoma cell lines. Indeed, when stably transfected in non-invasive MCF-7 cells, MSF promotes cell migration in a mechanism mostly dependent on its Fn-proteinase activity. In summary, our study shows that: (i) MSF displays constitutive Fn-proteinase activity; (ii) MSF expression is induced in human breast cancer; and (iii) MSF confers pro-migratory activity that depends mostly on its Fn-proteinase activity. These results suggest that MSF may be involved in tumor progression.
authors.affiliation: INSERM Unité 36, Collège de France, Paris, France. xavierhouard@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Houard
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Germain
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gervais
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michaud
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van den Brûle
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Foidart
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noël
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Monnot
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Corvol
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000502:physiology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002384:Catalysis; D002465:Cell Movement; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C067625:FN1 protein, human; D005353:Fibronectins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D000626:Aminopeptidases