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J. Cell Biol.,
Volume 143, Number 4, November 16, 1998 1087-1099

* Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1BD, United Kingdom; and Human squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) frequently express elevated levels of epidermal growth
factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR overexpression in
SCC-derived cell lines correlates with their ability to invade in an in vitro invasion assay in response to EGF,
whereas benign epidermal cells, which express low levels of EGFR, do not invade. EGF-induced invasion of
SCC-derived A431 cells is inhibited by sustained expression of the dominant negative mutant of c-Jun, TAM67, suggesting a role for the transcription factor
AP-1 (activator protein-1) in regulating invasion. Significantly, we establish that sustained TAM67 expression inhibits growth factor-induced cell motility and
the reorganization of the cytoskeleton and cell-shape changes essential for this process: TAM67 expression
inhibits EGF-induced membrane ruffling, lamellipodia
formation, cortical actin polymerization and cell rounding. Introduction of a dominant negative mutant of Rac
and of the Rho inhibitor C3 transferase into A431 cells
indicates that EGF-induced membrane ruffling and lamellipodia formation are regulated by Rac, whereas
EGF-induced cortical actin polymerization and cell
rounding are controlled by Rho. Constitutively activated mutants of Rac or Rho introduced into A431 or
A431 cells expressing TAM67 (TA cells) induce equivalent actin cytoskeletal rearrangements, suggesting that
the effector pathways downstream of Rac and Rho required for these responses are unimpaired by sustained
TAM67 expression. However, EGF-induced translocation of Rac to the cell membrane, which is associated with its activation, is defective in TA cells. Our data establish a novel link between AP-1 activity and EGFR
activation of Rac and Rho, which in turn mediate the
actin cytoskeletal rearrangements required for cell motility and invasion.
Onyx Pharmaceuticals,
Richmond, California 94806
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