MAGI-3 Competes With NHERF-2 to Negatively Regulate LPA2 Receptor Signaling in Colon Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a potent inducer of colon cancer and LPA receptor type 2 (LPA(2)) is overexpressed in colon tumors. LPA(2) interacts with membrane-associated guanylate kinase with inverted orientation-3 (MAGI-3) and the Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor 2 (NHERF-2), but the biological effects of these interactions are unknown. We investigated the roles of MAGI-3 and NHERF-2 in LPA(2)-mediated signaling in human colon cancer cells. METHODS: We overexpressed or knocked down MAGI-3 in HCT116 and SW480 cells. The effects of MAGI-3 and NHERF-2 in LPA-induced cell migration, invasion, inositol phosphate generation, and nuclear factor-kappa B activation were determined. Expression of MAGI-3 and NHERF-2 in human colon tumor tissues was analyzed using tissue microarray analysis. RESULTS: NHERF-2 promoted migration and invasion of colon cancer cells, whereas MAGI-3 inhibited these processes. MAGI-3 competed with NHERF-2 for binding to LPA(2) and phospholipase C-beta 3. However, NHERF-2 and MAGI-3 reciprocally regulated LPA(2)-induced phospholipase C activity. MAGI-3 increased the interaction of LPA(2) with G alpha(12), whereas NHERF-2 preferentially promoted interaction between LPA(2) and G alpha(q). MAGI-3 decreased the tumorigenic capacity of LPA(2) by attenuating the activities of nuclear factor-kappa B and c-Jun N-terminal kinase. MAGI-3 and NHERF-2 were expressed differentially in colon adenocarcinomas, consistent with their opposing effects. CONCLUSIONS: LPA(2) is dynamically regulated by 2 distinct PDZ proteins via modulation of G-protein coupling and receptor signaling. MAGI-3 is a negative regulator of LPA(2) signaling.