Cell cycle dependence of ERK activation dynamics is regulated by PI3K and PAK1 signaling

Abstract Growth factor-induced RTK/RAS/MAPK signaling is crucial for cell cycle progression, including G1 to S and G2 to M phase transitions. However, the regulatory mechanism of MAPK (ERK) in the S–G2M phase remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the nuclear translocation dynamics of fluoresce...

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Main Authors: Ryo Yoshizawa, Yasushi Sako
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13686-w
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author Ryo Yoshizawa
Yasushi Sako
author_facet Ryo Yoshizawa
Yasushi Sako
author_sort Ryo Yoshizawa
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Growth factor-induced RTK/RAS/MAPK signaling is crucial for cell cycle progression, including G1 to S and G2 to M phase transitions. However, the regulatory mechanism of MAPK (ERK) in the S–G2M phase remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the nuclear translocation dynamics of fluorescently labeled ERK induced by EGF during cell cycle progression and simultaneously analyzed the membrane translocation dynamics of GRB2 and PI3K. The transient ERK dynamics in a population of cells with a high frequency of G0/G1 cells became sustained with the increase in S–G2M cells. The sustained localization of PI3K, rather than GRB2, showed a stronger correlation with nuclear ERK localization. PI3K-mediated PAK1 activation was essential for ERK translocation. EGFR/PI3K clusters frequently formed on the plasma membrane and were rapidly endocytosed in the high G0/G1 cell population, resulting in transient PI3K localization, whereas dispersed PI3K predominated in the high S–G2M cells, resulting in sustained PI3K localization. On the other hand, PAK1 remained on the plasma membrane. Our results suggest that the sustained spatial colocalization of PI3K and PAK1, particularly in the S–G2M phase, prolonged the PAK1 signaling for ERK activation. Sustained ERK activation was also correlated with a shorter time to cell division.
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spelling doaj-art-ab11d14e857343e9956a9b0683f77b4e2025-08-20T03:42:41ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111810.1038/s41598-025-13686-wCell cycle dependence of ERK activation dynamics is regulated by PI3K and PAK1 signalingRyo Yoshizawa0Yasushi Sako1Cellular Informatics Laboratory, RIKEN CPRCellular Informatics Laboratory, RIKEN CPRAbstract Growth factor-induced RTK/RAS/MAPK signaling is crucial for cell cycle progression, including G1 to S and G2 to M phase transitions. However, the regulatory mechanism of MAPK (ERK) in the S–G2M phase remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the nuclear translocation dynamics of fluorescently labeled ERK induced by EGF during cell cycle progression and simultaneously analyzed the membrane translocation dynamics of GRB2 and PI3K. The transient ERK dynamics in a population of cells with a high frequency of G0/G1 cells became sustained with the increase in S–G2M cells. The sustained localization of PI3K, rather than GRB2, showed a stronger correlation with nuclear ERK localization. PI3K-mediated PAK1 activation was essential for ERK translocation. EGFR/PI3K clusters frequently formed on the plasma membrane and were rapidly endocytosed in the high G0/G1 cell population, resulting in transient PI3K localization, whereas dispersed PI3K predominated in the high S–G2M cells, resulting in sustained PI3K localization. On the other hand, PAK1 remained on the plasma membrane. Our results suggest that the sustained spatial colocalization of PI3K and PAK1, particularly in the S–G2M phase, prolonged the PAK1 signaling for ERK activation. Sustained ERK activation was also correlated with a shorter time to cell division.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13686-w
spellingShingle Ryo Yoshizawa
Yasushi Sako
Cell cycle dependence of ERK activation dynamics is regulated by PI3K and PAK1 signaling
Scientific Reports
title Cell cycle dependence of ERK activation dynamics is regulated by PI3K and PAK1 signaling
title_full Cell cycle dependence of ERK activation dynamics is regulated by PI3K and PAK1 signaling
title_fullStr Cell cycle dependence of ERK activation dynamics is regulated by PI3K and PAK1 signaling
title_full_unstemmed Cell cycle dependence of ERK activation dynamics is regulated by PI3K and PAK1 signaling
title_short Cell cycle dependence of ERK activation dynamics is regulated by PI3K and PAK1 signaling
title_sort cell cycle dependence of erk activation dynamics is regulated by pi3k and pak1 signaling
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13686-w
work_keys_str_mv AT ryoyoshizawa cellcycledependenceoferkactivationdynamicsisregulatedbypi3kandpak1signaling
AT yasushisako cellcycledependenceoferkactivationdynamicsisregulatedbypi3kandpak1signaling