Our recent publication, PD-LI promotes rear retraction during persistent cell migration by altering integrin β4 dynamics, was highlighted by Sánchez-Álvarez and del Pozo in a JCB this week! You can find their spotlight here.
Dr. Walker presents at the MIT Gylcobio Club
Recent graduate, Dr. Melanie Walker, met with the MIT Glycobio Club on April 6th to discuss her recent publication O-linked α2,3 sialylation defines stem cell populations in breast cancer. Dr. Walker and the MIT trainees had a wonderful exchange on the implications of her work and future projects. These students were able to provide current lab members with a deeper insight into the glycobio field. We appreciate Dr. Walker taking the time to share her work with others and continuing to leave an impact on the field. We would also like to thank the MIT Glycobio Club for organizing this meeting and inviting Dr. Walker and current lab members for open discussion.
AACR Presentations
Recent Mercurio Lab work was a part of two presentations at the annual American Association for Cancer Research meeting.
Graduate student Emmet Karner presented on ferroptosis resistance in epithelial populations of TNBCs mediated by laminin 332 and integrin beta4. His abstract can be found here.
aTyr Pharma presented on our collaborative work highlighting a fully humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the VEGF-NRP2 pathway sensitizing highly aggressive and chemoresistant TNBC subtypes to chemotherapy. Their abstract can be found here.
Mandy's paper on PD-L1 regulation of integrin dynamics is published!
ABSTRACT
Although the immune checkpoint function of PD-L1 has dominated its study, we report that PD-L1 has an unanticipated intrinsic function in promoting the dynamics of persistent cell migration. PD-L1 concentrates at the rear of migrating carcinoma cells where it facilitates retraction, resulting in the formation of PD-L1–containing retraction fibers and migrasomes. PD-L1 promotes retraction by interacting with and localizing the β4 integrin to the rear enabling this integrin to stimulate contractility. This mechanism involves the ability of PD-L1 to maintain cell polarity and lower membrane tension at the cell rear compared with the leading edge that promotes the localized interaction of PD-L1 and the β4 integrin. This interaction enables the β4 integrin to engage the actin cytoskeleton and promote RhoA-mediated contractility. The implications of these findings with respect to cell-autonomous functions of PD-L1 and cancer biology are significant.
Wang M, Xiong C, Mercurio AM. PD-LI promotes rear retraction during persistent cell migration by altering integrin β4 dynamics. Journal of Cell Biology. 2022 March 28.
Back Together Again!
The Mercurio Lab was excited to finally have an in-person meeting! We had the chance to hear two of our graduate students, Emmet and Ayush, present their great work. We absolutely cherish the opportunity to come together after such a long time.
