Features of Ras activation by a mislocalized oncogenic tyrosine kinase: FLT3 ITD signals through K-Ras at the plasma membrane of acute myeloid leukemia cells.

Köthe S, Müller JP, Böhmer SA, Tschongov T, Fricke M, Koch S, Thiede C, Requardt RP, Rubio I, Böhmer FD (2013) Features of Ras activation by a mislocalized oncogenic tyrosine kinase: FLT3 ITD signals through K-Ras at the plasma membrane of acute myeloid leukemia cells. J Cell Sci 126(Pt 20), 4746-4755.

Abstract

FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 with internal tandem duplication (FLT3 ITD) is an important oncoprotein in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Owing to its constitutive kinase activity FLT3 ITD partially accumulates at endomembranes, a feature shared with other disease-associated, mutated receptor tyrosine kinases. Because Ras proteins also transit through endomembranes we have investigated the possible existence of an intracellular FLT3-ITD/Ras signaling pathway by comparing Ras signaling of FLT3 ITD with that of wild-type FLT3. Ligand stimulation activated both K- and N-Ras in cells expressing wild-type FLT3. Live-cell Ras-GTP imaging revealed ligand-induced Ras activation at the plasma membrane (PM). FLT3-ITD-dependent constitutive activation of K-Ras and N-Ras was also observed primarily at the PM, supporting the view that the PM-resident pool of FLT3 ITD engaged the Ras/Erk pathway in AML cells. Accordingly, specific interference with FLT3-ITD/Ras signaling at the PM using PM-restricted dominant negative K-RasS17N potently inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. In conclusion, Ras signaling is crucial for FLT3-ITD-dependent cell transformation and FLT3 ITD addresses PM-bound Ras despite its pronounced mislocalization to endomembranes.

Leibniz-HKI-Autor*innen

Sina Gerbach

Identifier

doi: 10.1242/jcs.131789

PMID: 23943874