Network-based identification of feedback modules that control RhoA activity and cell migration

摘要

Cancer cell migration enables metastatic spread causing most cancer deaths.Rho-family GTPases control cell migration,but being embedded in a highly interconnected feedback network,the control of their dynamical behavior during cell migration remains elusive.To address this question,wereconstructed the Rho-family GTPases signaling network involved in cell migration,and developed a Boolean network model to analyze the different states and emergent rewiring of the Rho-family GTPases signaling network at protrusions and during extracellular matrix-dependent cell migration.Extensive simulations and experimental validations revealed that the bursts of RhoA activity induced at protrusions by EGFare regulated by a negative-feedback module composed of Src,FAK,and CSK.Interestingly,perturbing this module interfered with cyclic Rho activation and extracellular matrix-dependent migration,suggesting that CSK inhibition can be a novel and effective intervention strategy for blocking extracellular matrix-dependent cancer cell migration,while Src inhibition might fail,depending on the genetic background of cells.Thus,this study provides new insights into the mechanisms that regulate the intricate activation states of Rho-family GTPases during extracellular matrix-dependent migration,revealing potential new targets for interfering with extracellular matrix-dependent cancer cell migration.