Calumenin-15 facilitates filopodia formation by promoting TGF-β superfamily cytokine GDF-15 transcription.

Filopodia, which are actin-rich finger-like membrane protrusions, have an important role in cell migration and tumor metastasis. Here we identify 13 novel calumenin (Calu) isoforms (Calu 3-15) produced by alternative splicing, and find that Calu-15 promotes filopodia formation and cell migration. Calu-15 shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm through interacting with importin α, Ran GTPase, and Crm1. The phosphorylation of the threonine at position 73 (Thr-73) by casein kinase 2 (CK2) is essential for the nuclear import of Calu-15, and either Thr-73 mutation or inhibition of CK2 interrupts its nuclear localization. In the nucleus, Calu-15 increases the transcription of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily, via binding to its promoter region. Furthermore, Calu-15 induces filopodia formation mediated by GDF-15. Together, we identify that Calu-15, a novel isoform of Calu with phosphorylation-dependent nuclear localization, has a critical role in promoting filopodia formation and cell migration by upregulating the GDF-15 transcription.