Activated R-Ras, Rac1, PI 3-kinase and PKC∈ can each restore cell spreading inhibited by isolated integrin β1 cytoplasmic domains

Attachment of many cell types to extracellular matrix proteins triggers cell spreading, a process that strengthens cell adhesion and is a prerequisite for many adhesion-dependent processes including cell migration, survival, and proliferation. Cell spreading requires integrins with intact beta cytoplasmic domains, presumably to connect integrins with the actin cytoskeleton and to activate signaling pathways that promote cell spreading. Several signaling proteins are known to regulate cell spreading, including R-Ras, PI 3-kinase, PKC epsilon and Rac1; however, it is not known whether they do so through a mechanism involving integrin beta cytoplasmic domains. To study the mechanisms whereby cell spreading is regulated by integrin beta cytoplasmic domains, we inhibited cell spreading on collagen I or fibrinogen by expressing tac-beta1, a dominant-negative inhibitor of integrin function, and examined whether cell spreading could be restored by the coexpression of either V38R-Ras, p110 alpha -CAAX, myr-PKC epsilon, or L61Rac1. Each of these activated signaling proteins was able to restore cell spreading as assayed by an increase in the area of cells expressing tac-beta1. R-Ras and Rac1 rescued cell spreading in a GTP-dependent manner, whereas PKC epsilon required an intact kinase domain. Importantly, each of these signaling proteins required intact beta cytoplasmic domains on the integrins mediating adhesion in order to restore cell spreading. In addition, the rescue of cell spreading by V38R-Ras was inhibited by LY294002, suggesting that PI 3-kinase activity is required for V38R-Ras to restore cell spreading. In contrast, L61Rac1 and myr-PKC epsilon each increased cell spreading independent of PI 3-kinase activity. Additionally, the dominant-negative mutant of Rac1, N17Rac1, abrogated cell spreading and inhibited the ability of p110 alpha -CAAX and myr-PKC epsilon to increase cell spreading. These studies suggest that R-Ras, PI 3-kinase, Rac1 and PKC epsilon require the function of integrin beta cytoplasmic domains to regulate cell spreading and that Rac1 is downstream of PI 3-kinase and PKC epsilon in a pathway involving integrin beta cytoplasmic domain function in cell spreading.