FAK localizes to sites of transmembrane integrin receptor clustering and fa
cilitates intracellular signaling events. FAK-null (FAK(-)) fibroblasts exh
ibit a rounded morphology, defects in cell migration, and an elevated numbe
r of cell-substratum contact sites. Here we show that stable re-expression
of epitope-tagged FAK reversed the morphological defects of the FAK- cells
through the dynamic regulation of actin structures and focal contact sites
in fibronectin (FN) stimulated cells. FAK re-expressing fibroblasts (clones
DA2 and DP3) exhibit a characteristic fibrillar shape and display indistin
guishable FN receptor-stimulated migration properties compared to normal fi
broblasts. Expression of various FAK mutants in the FAK(-) cells showed tha
t FAK kinase activity, the Tyr-397/SH2 domain binding site, and the first p
roline-rich SH3 binding region in the FAK C-terminal domain were individual
ly needed to promote full FAK-mediated FAK cell migration to FN whereas dir
ect paxillin binding to FAK was not required. Expression of the FAK Phe-397
mutant did not promote FAK- cell migration and overexpression of p50(csk)
in DA2 cells inhibited migration to FN suggesting that Src-family PTKs play
important roles in FAK-mediated motility events, Expression of the FAK C-t
erminal domain, FRNK, promoted FAK dephosphorylation at Tyr-397 and potentl
y blocked FAK-mediated cell migration. This dominant-negative effect of FRN
K was reversed by a point mutation (Leu-1034 to Ser) which prevented FRNK l
ocalization to focal contact sites. Our results show that FAK functions as
a key regulator of fibronectin receptor stimulated cell migration events th
rough the recruitment of both SH2 and SH3 domain-containing signaling prote
ins to sites of integrin receptor clustering.