Direct interaction between AR and PAK6 in androgen-stimulated PAK6 activation

PLoS One. 2013 Oct 10;8(10):e77367. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077367. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

A p21-activated kinase 6 (PAK6) was previously identified to be an androgen receptor (AR) interacting protein through a yeast two-hybrid screening. We used hormone responsive prostate cancer LAPC4 and LNCap cell lines as models to study the signaling events associated with androgen stimulation and PAK6. An androgen-stimulated PAK6 kinase activation was observed in LAPC4 cells expressing endogenous PAK6 and in LNCap cells ectopically expressing a wild type PAK6. This activation was likely mediated through a direct interaction between AR and PAK6 since siRNA knock-down of AR in LAPC4 cells downregulated androgen-stimulated PAK6 activation. In addition, LNCap cells expressing a non-AR-interacting PAK6 mutant exhibited dampened androgen-stimulated kinase activation. As a consequence of androgen-stimulated activation, PAK6 was phosphorylated at multiple serine/threonine residues including the AR-interacting domain of PAK6. Furthermore, androgen-stimulation promoted prostate cancer cell motility and invasion were demonstrated in LNCap cells ectopically expressing PAK6-WT. In contrast, LNCap expressing non-AR-interacting mutant PAK6 did not respond to androgen stimulation with increased cell motility and invasion. Our results demonstrate that androgen-stimulated PAK6 activation is mediated through a direct interaction between AR and PAK6 and PAK6 activation promotes prostate cancer cells motility and invasion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Androgens / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Down-Regulation
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prostate / metabolism
  • Prostate / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
  • Receptors, Androgen / genetics
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism*
  • p21-Activated Kinases / chemistry
  • p21-Activated Kinases / genetics
  • p21-Activated Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Androgens
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • PAK6 protein, human
  • p21-Activated Kinases