v-Src-mediated transformation suppresses the expression of focal adhesion protein vinexin

Expression of focal adhesion protein vinexin is reported to be altered in several cancer tissues; however, the mechanism of expressional change in vinexin is not known. Here we report the suppression of vinexin expression according to cellular transformation by v-Src. We found that vinexin expression was down-regulated both at the mRNA level and at the post-transcriptional level in v-Src-transformed cells. Both mTOR and MEK/ERK signals were involved in the suppression. Inhibition of these pathways by pharmacological treatment partially restored both vinexin protein and mRNA expression. Moreover, re-expression of vinexin in v-Src-transformed cells suppressed cell migration. Taken together, these observations suggest that cellular transformation by v-Src suppressed vinexin expression and that down-regulation of vinexin may be associated with oncogenic transformation.