Mimp, a mitochondrial carrier homologue, inhibits Met-HGF/SF-induced scattering and tumorigenicity by altering Met-HGF/SF signaling pathways

We have recently shown that Mimp, a mitochondrial carrier protein homologue, is induced by Met-hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) signaling and decreases the mitochondrial membrane potential in DA3 mammary adenocarcinoma cells. We show here that induction of Mimp leads to growth arrest in response to HGF/SF by arresting cells at the S phase of the cell cycle. Induction of Mimp or its transient expression does not lead to apoptosis. Mimp also attenuates HGF/SF-induced cellular scattering in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. The exogenous induction of Mimp at levels similar to its endogenous induction by HGF/SF increases the level of the Met protein and its phosphorylation by HGF/SF but reduces the levels of She and prevents the HGF/SF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Grb2 and She. In contrast, the level of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) increases following Mimp induction and the level of phosphorylated PI3K in response to HGF/SF is unaffected by the exogenous induction of Mimp. Moreover, exogenous Mimp prevents the HGF/SF-induced transcription of the serum response element-luciferase reporter gene. Our results show that Mimp expression reduces Met-HGF/SF-induced proliferation and scattering by attenuating and altering the downstream signaling of Met. These data show a new link between a tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor and a mitochondrial carrier homologue that regulates cellular growth, motility, and tumorigenicity.