c RNA polymerase I-mediated rRNA production is a key determinant of cell growth. Despite extensive studies, the signaling pathways that control RNA polymerase I-mediated rRNA production are not well understood. Here we provide original evidence showing that RNA polymerase I transcriptional activity is tightly controlled by integrin signaling. Furthermore, we show that a signaling axis consisting of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), Src, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, and mTOR mediates the effect of integrin signaling on rRNA transcription. Additionally, we show that in kindlin-2 knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts, overactivation of Ras, Akt, and Src can successfully rescue the defective RNA polymerase I activity induced by the loss of kindlin-2. Finally, through experiments with inhibitors of FAK, Src, and PI3K and rescue experiments in MEFs, we found that the FAK/Src/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to control rRNA transcription is linear. Collectively, these studies reveal, for the first time, a pivotal role of integrin signaling in regulation of RNA polymerase I transcriptional activity and shed light on the downstream signaling axis that participates in regulation of this key aspect of cell growth.
RNA polymerase I (Pol I) plays a central role in regulating cellular growth and proliferation (1). Eukaryotic cells contain hundreds of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) copies that occupy several different chromosomal locations (2). The production of rRNA can be divided into several steps, i.e., rRNA transcription, modification, and processing, all of which occur in the nucleolus (3, 4). The rate-limiting step is rRNA transcription (1, 5). On sensing of outside stimuli, a preinitiation complex comprised of the transcriptional factors upstream binding factor (UBF), SL1, TBP, Rrn3, and TTF assembles in the promoter region of rDNA. This complex then recruits RNA polymerase I to rDNA loci, and rRNA transcription starts (6-8). In mammalian cells, a single precursor rRNA transcript, 47S rRNA (14.3 kb), is transcribed from rDNA by the RNA polymerase I complex. This large polycistronic transcript encompasses 18S, 5.8S, and 28S rRNAs and includes several spacer regions, which are later processed into distinct rRNA species before assembly into preribosomal subunits (9).The transcriptional activity of Pol I is a fundamental determinant of cell proliferation capacity (3). In rapidly proliferating cells, rRNA production takes more than 50% of all nuclear transcriptional activity. In yeast cells, this percentage can reach more than 80% (10). As such, the tremendous energy consumption demands tight control.At the tissue level, cells attach to the extracellular matrix (ECM) through cell surface receptors termed integrins (11). Integrins are heterodimeric transmembrane receptors comprised of ␣ subunits and  subunits that bind to extracellular ligands, such as laminin, collagen, vitronectin, and fibronectin. Different combinations of the 18 ␣ subunits and 8  subunits confer specificity on the integrin-ECM interactions (12). After binding ...