Nck-2 interacts with focal adhesion kinase and modulates cell motility

Nck-2 is a ubiquitously expressed adaptor protein comprising primarily three N-terminal SH3 domains and one C-terminal SH2 domain. We report here that Nck-2 interacts with focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase critically involved in the cellular control of motility. Using a mutational strategy, we have found that the formation of the Nck-2-FAK complex is mediated by interactions involving multiple SH2 and SH3 domains of Nck-2. The Nck-2 SH2 domain-mediated interaction with FAK is dependent on phosphorylation of Tyr397, a site that is involved in the regulation of cell motility. A fraction of Nck-2 co-localizes with FAK at cell periphery in spreading cells. Furthermore, overexpression of Nck-2 modestly decreased cell motility, whereas overexpression of a mutant form of Nck-2 containing the SH2 domain but lacking the SH3 domains significantly promoted cell motility. These results identify a novel interaction between Nck-2 and FAK and suggest a role of Nck-2 in the modulation of cell motility.