2. Academic Validation
  3. Regulation of the PH-domain-containing tyrosine kinase Etk by focal adhesion kinase through the FERM domain

Regulation of the PH-domain-containing tyrosine kinase Etk by focal adhesion kinase through the FERM domain

  • Nat Cell Biol. 2001 May;3(5):439-44. doi: 10.1038/35074500.
R Chen 1,  O Kim,  M Li,  X Xiong,  J L Guan,  H J Kung,  H Chen,  Y Shimizu,  Y Qiu
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
PMID: 11331870 DOI: 10.1038/35074500
Abstract

Etk/BMX, a member of the Btk family of tyrosine kinases, is highly expressed in cells with great migratory potential, including endothelial cells and metastatic carcinoma cell lines. Here, we present evidence that Etk is involved in Integrin signalling and promotes cell migration. The activation of Etk by extracellular matrix proteins is regulated by FAK through an interaction between the PH domain of Etk and the FERM domain of FAK. The lack of Etk activation by extracellular matrix in FAK-null cells could be restored by co-transfection with wild-type FAK. Disrupting the interaction between Etk and FAK diminished the cell migration promoted by either kinase. Furthermore, inhibiting Etk expression in metastatic carcinoma cell lines with an antisense oligonucleotide blocks integrin-mediated migration of these cells. Taken together, our data indicate the essential role of the interaction of the PH domain of Etk and the FERM domain of FAK in Integrin signalling.

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