Post-translational modification of the membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) cytoplasmic tail impacts ovarian cancer multicellular aggregate dynamics.

Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP, MMP-14) is a transmembrane collagenase highly expressed in metastatic ovarian cancer and correlates with poor survival. Accumulating evidence shows that the cytoplasmic tail of MT1-MMP is subjected to phosphorylation, and this post-translational modification regulates enzymatic activity at the cell surface. To investigate the potential role of MT1-MMP cytoplasmic residue Thr phosphorylation in regulation of metastasis-associated behaviors, ovarian cancer cells that express low endogenous levels of MT1-MMP were engineered to express wild-type MT1-MMP, a phosphomimetic mutant (T567E), or a phosphodeficient mutant (T567A). Results show that Thr modulation influences behavior of both individual cells and multicellular aggregates (MCAs). The acquisition of either wild-type or mutant MT1-MMP expression results in altered cohesion of epithelial sheets and the formation of more compact MCAs relative to parental cells. Cells expressing MT1-MMP-T567E phosphomimetic mutants exhibit enhanced cell migration. Furthermore, MCAs formed from MT1-MMP-T567E-expressing cells adhere avidly to both intact peritoneal explants and three-dimensional collagen gels. Interaction of these MCAs with peritoneal mesothelium disrupts mesothelial integrity, exposing the submesothelial collagen matrix on which MT1-MMP-T567E MCAs rapidly disperse. Together, these findings suggest that post-translational regulation of the Thr in the MT1-MMP cytoplasmic tail may function as a regulatory mechanism to impact ovarian cancer metastatic success.