Regulation of endocytosis, nuclear translocation, and signaling of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 by E-cadherin

Mol Biol Cell. 2005 Jan;16(1):14-23. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e04-09-0845. Epub 2004 Oct 27.

Abstract

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors (FGFRs) signal to modulate diverse cellular functions, including epithelial cell morphogenesis. In epithelial cells, E-cadherin plays a key role in cell-cell adhesion, and its function can be regulated through endocytic trafficking. In this study, we investigated the location, trafficking, and function of FGFR1 and E-cadherin and report a novel mechanism, based on endocytic trafficking, for the coregulation of E-cadherin and signaling from FGFR1. FGF induces the internalization of surface FGFR1 and surface E-cadherin, followed by nuclear translocation of FGFR1. The internalization of both proteins is regulated by common endocytic machinery, resulting in cointernalization of FGFR1 and E-cadherin into early endosomes. By blocking endocytosis, we show that this is a requisite, initial step for the nuclear translocation of FGFR1. Overexpression of E-cadherin blocks both the coendocytosis of E-cadherin and FGFR1, the nuclear translocation of FGFR1 and FGF-induced signaling to the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Furthermore, stabilization of surface adhesive E-cadherin, by overexpressing p120ctn, also blocks internalization and nuclear translocation of FGFR1. These data reveal that conjoint endocytosis and trafficking is a novel mechanism for the coregulation of E-cadherin and FGFR1 during cell signaling and morphogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus*
  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Catenins
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • DNA, Complementary / metabolism
  • Delta Catenin
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Endocytosis
  • Endosomes / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Protein Transport
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Time Factors
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • Catenins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor
  • FGFR1 protein, human
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1
  • Delta Catenin
  • CTNND1 protein, human