Neuronal migration is mediated by inositol hexakisphosphate kinase 1 via α-actinin and focal adhesion kinase.

Inositol hexakisphosphate kinase 1 (IP6K1), which generates 5-diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate (5-IP7), physiologically mediates numerous functions. We report that deletion leads to brain malformation and abnormalities of neuronal migration. IP6K1 physiologically associates with α-actinin and localizes to focal adhesions. deletion disrupts α-actinin's intracellular localization and function. The deleted cells display substantial decreases of stress fiber formation and impaired cell migration and spreading. Regulation of α-actinin by IP6K1 requires its kinase activity. Deletion of abolishes α-actinin tyrosine phosphorylation, which is known to be regulated by focal adhesion kinase (FAK). FAK phosphorylation is substantially decreased in deleted cells. 5-IP7, a product of IP6K1, promotes FAK autophosphorylation. Pharmacologic inhibition of IP6K by TNP [N2-(-Trifluorobenzyl), N6-(-nitrobenzyl)purine] recapitulates the phenotype of deletion. These findings establish that IP6K1 physiologically regulates neuronal migration by binding to α-actinin and influencing phosphorylation of both FAK and α-actinin through its product 5-IP7.