Overexpression of βIII-tubulin is associated with resistance to tubulin-binding agents (TBA) in a range of tumor types. We previously showed that small interfering RNA silencing of βIII-tubulin expression hypersensitized non-small cell lung cancer cells to TBAs. To determine whether βIII-tubulin mediates its effect on drug-induced mitotic arrest and cell death by differentially regulating microtubule behavior, the effects of βIII-tubulin knockdown on microtubule dynamics were analyzed in H460 non-small cell lung cancer cells stably expressing green fluorescent protein-βI-tubulin. Interphase cells were examined at three vincristine and paclitaxel concentrations that (a) inhibited cell proliferation, (b) induced 5% to 10% mitotic arrest, and (c) induced 30% to 40% mitotic arrest. In the absence of either drug, βIII-tubulin knockdown caused no significant change in microtubule dynamic instability. At 2 nmol/L vincristine (IC 50 ), overall microtubule dynamicity was significantly suppressed in βIII-tubulin knockdowns (−31.2%) compared with controls (−6.5%). Similar results were obtained with paclitaxel, suggesting that knockdown of βIII-tubulin induces hypersensitivity by enhancing stabilization of microtubule dynamics at low drug concentrations. At higher drug concentrations (≥40 nmol/L vincristine; ≥20 nmol/L paclitaxel), βIII-tubulin knockdown resulted in significantly reduced suppressive effects on microtubule dynamicity with little or no further increase in mitotic arrest, compared with control cells. Importantly, apoptosis was markedly increased by βIII-tubulin knockdown independent of further suppression of microtubule dynamics and mitotic arrest. These results show that βIII-tubulin knockdown enhances the effectiveness of TBAs through two mechanisms: suppression of microtubule dynamics at low drug concentrations and a mitosis-independent mechanism of cell death at higher drug concentrations. Mol Cancer Ther; 9(5); 1339-48. ©2010 AACR.

Cell migration plays a crucial role in numerous cellular functions, and alterations in the regulation of cell migration are required for invasive transformation of a tumor cell. While the mechanistic process of actin-based migration has been well documented, little is known as to the specific function of the nonmuscle actin isoforms in mammalian cells. Here, we present a comprehensive examination of γ-actin's role in cell migration using an RNAi approach. The partial suppression of γ-actin expression in SH-EP neuroblastoma cells resulted in a significant decrease in wound healing and transwell migration. Similarly, the knockdown of γ-actin significantly reduced speed of motility and severely affected the cell's ability to explore, which was, in part, due to a loss of cell polarity. Moreover, there was a significant increase in the size and number of paxillin-containing focal adhesions, coupled with a significant decrease in phosphorylated paxillin in γ-actin-knockdown cells. In addition, there was a significant increase in the phosphorylation of cofilin and myosin regulatory light chain, suggesting an overactivated Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) signaling pathway in γ-actin-knockdown cells. The alterations in the phosphorylation of paxillin and myosin regulatory light chain were unique to γ-actin and not β-actin knockdown. Inhibition of the ROCK pathway with the inhibitor Y-27632 restored the ability of γ-actin-knockdown cells to migrate. This study demonstrates γ-actin as a potential upstream regulator of ROCK mediated cell migration.

These data provide functional and associative clinical evidence of a novel form of drug resistance that involves interactions between gamma-actin and microtubules.