JNK signaling activity regulates cell-cell adhesions via TM4SF5-mediated p27(Kip1) phosphorylation.

Transmembrane 4L six family member 5 (TM4SF5) can regulate cell-cell adhesion and cellular morphology via cytoplasmic p27(Kip1)-mediated changes in RhoA activity. However, how TM4SF5 causes cytosolic p27(Kip1) stabilization remains unknown. In this study we found that TM4SF5-mediated Ser10 phosphorylation of p27(Kip1) required for cytosolic localization was not always correlated with Akt activity. Inhibition or suppression of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in TM4SF5-expressing cells decreased Ser10 phosphorylation of p27(Kip1) and rescued expression levels and localization of adherence junction molecules to cell-cell contacts. These observations suggest involvement of JNKs in TM4SF5-mediated p27(Kip1) Ser10 phosphorylation and localization during epithelial-mesenchymal transition.