The cell adhesion molecule TMIGD1 binds to moesin and regulates tubulin acetylation and cell migration

BACKGROUND: The cell adhesion molecule transmembrane and immunoglobulin (Ig) domain containing1 (TMIGD1) is a novel tumor suppressor that plays important roles in regulating cell–cell adhesion, cell proliferation and cell cycle. However, the mechanisms of TMIGD1 signaling are not yet fully elucidated. RESULTS: TMIGD1 binds to the ERM family proteins moesin and ezrin, and an evolutionarily conserved RRKK motif on the carboxyl terminus of TMIGD1 mediates the interaction of TMIGD1 with the N-terminal ERM domains of moesin and ezrin. TMIGD1 governs the apical localization of moesin and ezrin, as the loss of TMIGD1 in mice altered apical localization of moesin and ezrin in epithelial cells. In cell culture, TMIGD1 inhibited moesin-induced filopodia-like protrusions and cell migration. More importantly, TMIGD1 stimulated the Lysine (K40) acetylation of α-tubulin and promoted mitotic spindle organization and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of moesin impaired the TMIGD1-mediated acetylation of α-tubulin and filamentous (F)-actin organization. CONCLUSIONS: TMIGD1 binds to moesin and ezrin, and regulates their cellular localization. Moesin plays critical roles in TMIGD1-dependent acetylation of α-tubulin, mitotic spindle organization and cell migration. Our findings offer a molecular framework for understanding the complex functional interplay between TMIGD1 and the ERM family proteins in the regulation of cell adhesion and mitotic spindle assembly, and have wide-ranging implications in physiological and pathological processes such as cancer progression. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12929-021-00757-z.