RACK1-mediated integration of adhesion and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) signaling and cell migration are defective in cells expressing an IGF-I receptor mutated at tyrosines 1250 and 1251

The scaffolding protein receptor for activated C kinase (RACK1) has been proposed to mediate the integration of insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) and adhesion signaling. Here we investigated the mechanism of this integration of signaling, by using an IGF-IR mutant (Y1250F/Y1251F) that is deficient in anti-apoptotic and transforming function. RACK1 was found to associate with the IGF-IR only in adherent cells and did not associate with the IGF-IR in nonadherent cells, lymphocytic cells, or cells expressing the Y1250F/Y1251F mutant. In R-cells transiently expressing the Y1250F/Y1251F mutant RACK1 became constitutively associated with beta1 integrin and did not associate with Shc, Src, or Shp2. This was accompanied by the loss of formation of a complex containing the IGF-IR, RACK1, and beta1 integrin; loss of migratory capacity; enhanced Src and FAK activity; enhanced Akt phosphorylation; and decreased p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity. Shc was not phosphorylated in response to IGF-IR in cells expressing the Y1250F/Y1251F mutant and remained associated with protein phosphatase 2A. Similar alterations in signaling were observed in cells that were stimulated with IGF-IR in nonadherent cultures. Our data suggest that disruption of RACK1 scaffolding function in cells expressing the Y1250F/Y1251F mutant results in the loss of adhesion signals that are necessary to regulate Akt activity and to promote turnover of focal adhesions and cell migration.