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Title: Restriction of Receptor Movement Alters Cellular Response: Physical Force Sensing by EphA2

Journal Article · · Science
OSTI ID:986245

Activation of the EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase by ephrin-A1 ligands presented on apposed cell surfaces plays important roles in development and exhibits poorly understood functional alterations in cancer. We reconstituted this intermembrane signaling geometry between live EphA2-expressing human breast cancer cells and supported membranes displaying laterally mobile ephrin-A1. Receptor-ligand binding, clustering, and subsequent lateral transport within this junction were observed. EphA2 transport can be blocked by physical barriers nanofabricated onto the underlying substrate. This physical reorganization of EphA2 alters the cellular response to ephrin-A1, as observed by changes in cytoskeleton morphology and recruitment of a disintegrin and metalloprotease 10. Quantitative analysis of receptor-ligand spatial organization across a library of 26 mammary epithelial cell lines reveals characteristic differences that strongly correlate with invasion potential. These observations reveal a mechanism for spatio-mechanical regulation of EphA2 signaling pathways.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Life Sciences Division
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC02-05CH11231; U54 CA143836, P50 CA 58207, U54 CA 112970
OSTI ID:
986245
Report Number(s):
LBNL-3804E; TRN: US201017%%163
Journal Information:
Science, Vol. 327, Issue 5971; Related Information: Journal Publication Date: March 12, 2010
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English