Abstract
Selectins promote metastasis by mediating specific interactions between selectin ligands on tumor cells and selectin-expressing host cells in the microvasculature. Using affinity chromatography in conjunction with tandem mass spectrometry and bioinformatics tools, we identified mucin 16 (MUC16) as a novel selectin ligand expressed by metastatic pancreatic cancer cells. While up-regulated in many pancreatic cancers, the biological function of sialofucosylated MUC16 has yet to be fully elucidated. To address this, we employed blot rolling and cell-free flow-based adhesion assays using MUC16 immunopurified from pancreatic cancer cells and found that it efficiently binds E- and L- but not P-selectin. The selectin-binding determinants are sialofucosylated structures displayed on Oand N-linked glycans. Silencing MUC16 expression by RNAi markedly reduces pancreatic cancer cell binding to E- and L-selectin under flow. These findings provide a novel integrated perspective on the enhanced metastatic potential associated with MUC16 overexpression and the role of selectins in metastasis.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1349-1359 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | FASEB Journal |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2012 |
Keywords
- MUC16
- Metastasis
- Shear stress
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biotechnology
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics