RHAMM Promotes Interphase Microtubule Instability and Mitotic Spindle Integrity through MEK1/ERK1/2 Activity

Authors

Cornelia Tolg, London Health Sciences Center, London, ON
Sara R. Hamilton, London Health Sciences Center, London, ON
Lyndsey Morningstar, London Health Sciences Center, London, ON
Jing Zhang, The University of Western Ontario
S. Zhang, London Health Sciences Center, London, ON
Kenneth V. Esguerra, The University of Western Ontario
Patrick G. Telmer, The University of Western Ontario
Len G. Luyt, The University of Western Ontario
Rene Harrison, University of Toronto
James B. McCarthy, University of Minnesota
Eva A. Turley, The University of Western Ontario

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-20-2010

Journal

Journal of Biological Chemistry

Volume

285

Issue

34

First Page

26461

Last Page

26474

URL with Digital Object Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M110.121491

Abstract

An oncogenic form of RHAMM (receptor for hyaluronan-mediated motility, mouse, amino acids 163-794 termed RHAMM(Delta163)) is a cell surface hyaluronan receptor and mitotic spindle protein that is highly expressed in aggressive human cancers. Its regulation of mitotic spindle integrity is thought to contribute to tumor progression, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this function have not previously been defined. Here, we report that intracellular RHAMM(Delta163) modifies the stability of interphase and mitotic spindle microtubules through ERK1/2 activity. RHAMM(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts exhibit strongly acetylated interphase microtubules, multi-pole mitotic spindles, aberrant chromosome segregation, and inappropriate cytokinesis during mitosis. These defects are rescued by either expression of RHAMM or mutant active MEK1. Mutational analyses show that RHAMM(Delta163) binds to alpha- and beta-tubulin protein via a carboxyl-terminal leucine zipper, but in vitro analyses indicate this interaction does not directly contribute to tubulin polymerization/stability. Co-immunoprecipitation and pulldown assays reveal complexes of RHAMM(Delta163), ERK1/2-MEK1, and alpha- and beta-tubulin and demonstrate direct binding of RHAMM(Delta163) to ERK1 via a D-site motif. In vitro kinase analyses, expression of mutant RHAMM(Delta163) defective in ERK1 binding in mouse embryonic fibroblasts, and blocking MEK1 activity collectively confirm that the effect of RHAMM(Delta163) on interphase and mitotic spindle microtubules is mediated by ERK1/2 activity. Our results suggest a model wherein intracellular RHAMM(Delta163) functions as an adaptor protein to control microtubule polymerization during interphase and mitosis as a result of localizing ERK1/2-MEK1 complexes to their tubulin-associated substrates.