Ezrin is key regulator of Src-induced malignant phenotype in three-dimensional environment.

The oncogenic tyrosine kinase Src has a role in cancer development, especially by promoting invasive and metastatic behavior. It is, however, unclear which of the Src-regulated signaling cascades induce malignant phenotype in three-dimensional environment. One of Src substrates is ezrin, a cytoskeletal organiser and regulator of signal transduction.

Palladin interacts with SH3 domains of SPIN90 and Src and is required for Src-induced cytoskeletal remodeling.

Palladin and SPIN90 are widely expressed proteins, which participate in modulation of actin cytoskeleton by binding to a variety of scaffold and signaling molecules. Cytoskeletal reorganization can be induced by activation of signaling pathways, including the PDGF receptor and Src tyrosine kinase pathways. In this study we have analyzed the interplay between palladin, SPIN90 and Src and characterized the role of palladin and SPIN90 in PDGF and Src-induced cytoskeletal remodeling.

Src phosphorylates ezrin at tyrosine 477 and induces a phosphospecific association between ezrin and a kelch-repeat protein family member.

Ezrin, a linker between plasma membrane and actin cytoskeleton possesses morphogenic properties and can promote dissemination of tumor cells. Ezrin is phosphorylated on tyrosine, but a detailed picture of the signaling pathways involved in this modification is lacking. The transforming tyrosine kinase Src has various cytoskeletal substrates and is involved in regulation of cellular adhesion.

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylates merlin at serine 518 independently of p21-activated kinase and promotes merlin-ezrin heterodimerization.

Mutations in the NF2 tumor suppressor gene encoding merlin induce the development of tumors of the nervous system. Merlin is highly homologous to the ERM (ezrin-radixin-moesin) family of membrane/cytoskeleton linker proteins. However, the mechanism for the tumor suppressing activity of merlin is not well understood.

Ezrin is a substrate for Lck in T cells.

We evaluated the role of Lck tyrosine kinase, an early effector of T cell activation, in regulation of the membrane-cytoskeleton linker protein ezrin. Ezrin was constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated in wild-type and CD45-deficient Jurkat T cells, but not in Lck-deficient cells. However, phosphorylation was evident in cells, in which Lck activity had been restored by transfection.