Cyclophilin A promotes cell migration via the Abl-Crk signaling pathway

Cyclophilin A (CypA) is over-expressed in a number of human cancer types, but the mechanisms by which CypA promotes oncogenic properties of cells are not understood. Here we demonstrate that CypA binds to and prevents the CrkII adaptor protein from switching to the inhibited state. CrkII is involved in cell motility and invasion by mediating signaling through its SH2 and SH3 domains. CrkII Tyr221 phosphorylation by the Abl or EGFR kinases induces an inhibited state of CrkII, by means of an intramolecular SH2-pTyr221 interaction, causing signaling interruption. We show that the CrkII phosphorylation site constitutes a binging site for CypA. Recruitment of CypA sterically restricts the accessibility of Tyr221 to kinases, thereby suppressing CrkII phosphorylation and promoting the active state. Structural, biophysical, and in vivo data show that CypA augments CrkII-mediated signaling. A strong stimulation of cell migration is observed in cancer cells wherein both CypA and CrkII are greatly up-regulated.