p120-catenin is required for the collective invasion of squamous cell carcinoma cells via a phosphorylation-independent mechanism.

Loss of E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell junctions has been correlated with cancer cell invasion and poor patient survival. p120-catenin has emerged as a key player in promoting E-cadherin stability and adherens junction integrity and has been proposed as a potential invasion suppressor by preventing release of cells from the constraints imposed by cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion. However, it has been proposed that tyrosine phosphorylation of p120 may contribute to cadherin-dependent junction disassembly during invasion. Here, we use small interfering RNA (siRNA) in A431 cells to show that knockdown of p120 promotes two-dimensional migration of cells. In contrast, p120 knockdown impairs epidermal growth factor-induced A431 invasion into three-dimensional matrix gels or in organotypic culture, whereas re-expression of siRNA-resistant p120, or a p120 isoform that cannot be phosphorylated on tyrosine, restores the collective mode of invasion employed by A431 cells in vitro. Thus, p120 promotes A431 cell invasion in a phosphorylation-independent manner. We show that the collective invasion of A431 cells depends on the presence of cadherin-mediated (P- and E-cadherin) cell-cell contacts, which are lost in cells where p120 expression is knocked down. Furthermore, membranous p120 is maintained in invasive squamous cell carcinomas in tumours suggesting that p120 may be important for the collective invasion of tumours cells in vivo.

Calpain 2 and Src dependence distinguishes mesenchymal and amoeboid modes of tumour cell invasion: a link to integrin function.

Cancer cells can invade three-dimensional matrices by distinct mechanisms, recently defined by their dependence on extracellular proteases, including matrix metalloproteinases. Upon treatment with protease inhibitors, some tumour cells undergo a 'mesenchymal to amoeboid' transition that allows invasion in the absence of pericellular proteolysis and matrix degradation. We show here that in HT1080 cells, this transition is associated with weakened integrin-dependent adhesion, consistently reduced cell surface expression of the alpha2beta1 integrin collagen receptor and impaired signalling downstream, as judged by reduced autophosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). On examining cancer cells that use defined invasion strategies, we show that distinct from mesenchymal invasion, amoeboid invasion is independent of intracellular calpain 2 proteolytic activity that is usually needed for turnover of integrin-linked adhesions during two-dimensional planar migration. Moreover, an inhibitor of Rho/ROCK signalling, which specifically impairs amoeboid-like invasion, restores cell surface expression of alpha2beta1 integrin, downstream FAK autophosphorylation and calpain 2 sensitivity--features of mesenchymal invasion. These findings link weakened integrin function to a lack of requirement for calpain 2-mediated integrin adhesion turnover during amoeboid invasion. In keeping with the need for integrin adhesion turnover, mesenchymal invasion is uniquely sensitive to Src inhibitors. Thus, the need for a major pathway that controls integrin adhesion turnover defines and distinguishes cancer cell invasion strategies.

SRC-mediated phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase couples actin and adhesion dynamics to survival signaling.

Integrin-associated focal adhesions not only provide adhesive links between cellular actin and extracellular matrix but also are sites of signal transmission into the cell interior. Many cell responses signal through focal adhesion kinase (FAK), often by integrin-induced autophosphorylation of FAK or phosphorylation by Src family kinases. Here, we used an interfering FAK mutant (4-9F-FAK) to show that Src-dependent FAK phosphorylation is required for focal adhesion turnover and cell migration, by controlling assembly of a calpain 2/FAK/Src/p42ERK complex, calpain activation, and proteolysis of FAK. Expression of 4-9F-FAK in FAK-deficient fibroblasts also disrupts F-actin assembly associated with normal adhesion and spreading. In addition, we found that FAK's ability to regulate both assembly and disassembly of the actin and adhesion networks may be linked to regulation of the protease calpain. Surprisingly, we also found that the same interfering 4-9F-FAK mutant protein causes apoptosis of serum-deprived, transformed cells and suppresses anchorage-independent growth. These data show that Src-mediated phosphorylation of FAK acts as a pivotal regulator of both actin and adhesion dynamics and survival signaling, which, in turn, control apparently distinct processes such as cell migration and anchorage-independent growth. This also highlights that dynamic regulation of actin and adhesions (which include the integrin matrix receptors) is critical to signaling output and biological responses.

Cell adhesion receptors, tyrosine kinases and actin modulators: a complex three-way circuitry.

The interaction of cells with surrounding matrix and neighbouring cells governs many aspects of cell behaviour. Aside from transmitting signals from the external environment, adhesion receptors also receive signals from the cell interior. Here we review the interrelationship between adhesion receptors, tyrosine kinases (both growth factor receptor and non-receptor) and modulators of the actin cytoskeletal network. Deregulation of many aspects of these signalling pathways in cancer highlights the need for a better understanding of the complexities involved.

Calpain activity is generally elevated during transformation but has oncogene-specific biological functions.

Several oncogene and tumor-suppressor gene products are known substrates for the calpain family of cysteine proteases, and calpain is required for transformation by v-src and tumor invasion. Thus, we have now addressed whether calpain is generally associated with transformation and how calpain contributes to oncogene function. Our results demonstrate that calpain activity is enhanced upon transformation induced by the v-Src, v-Jun, v-Myc, k-Ras, and v-Fos oncoproteins. Furthermore, elevated calpain activity commonly promotes focal adhesion remodelling, disruption of actin cytoskeleton, morphological transformation, and cell migration, although proteolysis of target substrates (such as focal adhesion kinase, talin, and spectrin) is differently specified by individual oncoproteins. Interestingly, v-Fos differs from other common oncoproteins in not requiring calpain activity for actin/adhesion remodelling or migration of v-Fos transformed cells. However, anchorage-independent growth of all transformed cells is sensitive to calpain inhibition. In addition, elevated calpain activity contributes to oncogene-induced apoptosis associated with transformation by v-Myc. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that calpain activity is necessary for full cellular transformation induced by common oncoproteins, but has distinct roles in oncogenic events induced by individual transforming proteins. Thus, targeting calpain activity may represent a useful general strategy for interfering with activated proto-oncogenes in cancer cells.

Elevated c-Src is linked to altered cell-matrix adhesion rather than proliferation in KM12C human colorectal cancer cells.

Elevated expression and/or activity of c-Src, the prototype of the Src family of protein tyrosine kinases, is associated with the development of human colon cancer. However, despite the known pleiotropic effects of these kinases in promoting (a) cell growth downstream of growth factor receptors, and (b) the dynamic regulation of integrin adhesions in fibroblast model systems, their precise role in epithelial cancer cells is unknown. Here we addressed whether elevated expression and activity of cellular Src alters cell proliferation and/or cell-matrix adhesion in cancer cells from the Fidler model of colorectal metastasis. Although elevated Src correlates with ability to metastasise to the liver after intrasplenic injection, we found that this was not linked to enhanced growth, either in vitro or in vivo as sub-cutaneous tumours. However, elevated Src was associated with enhanced attachment to extracellular matrix. In addition, adhesion to fibronectin, was suppressed by agents that inhibited Src activity, while enforced elevation of Src in non-metastatic cells was sufficient to stimulate adhesion to fibronectin and enhanced assembly of adhesion complexes, without influencing cell growth. Thus, we conclude that one role of elevated Src in human colon cancer cells is to modulate integrin-dependent cell-matrix attachment and formation of adhesion structures, which may, in turn, influence cell motility and integrin-dependent cellular responses.

v-Src-induced modulation of the calpain-calpastatin proteolytic system regulates transformation.

v-Src-induced oncogenic transformation is characterized by alterations in cell morphology, adhesion, motility, survival, and proliferation. To further elucidate some of the signaling pathways downstream of v-Src that are responsible for the transformed cell phenotype, we have investigated the role that the calpain-calpastatin proteolytic system plays during oncogenic transformation induced by v-Src. We recently reported that v-Src-induced transformation of chicken embryo fibroblasts is accompanied by calpain-mediated proteolytic cleavage of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and disassembly of the focal adhesion complex. In this study we have characterized a positive feedback loop whereby activation of v-Src increases protein synthesis of calpain II, resulting in degradation of its endogenous inhibitor calpastatin. Reconstitution of calpastatin levels by overexpression of exogenous calpastatin suppresses proteolytic cleavage of FAK, morphological transformation, and anchorage-independent growth. Furthermore, calpastatin overexpression represses progression of v-Src-transformed cells through the G(1) stage of the cell cycle, which correlates with decreased pRb phosphorylation and decreased levels of cyclins A and D and cyclin-dependent kinase 2. Calpain 4 knockout fibroblasts also exhibit impaired v-Src-induced morphological transformation and anchorage-independent growth. Thus, modulation of the calpain-calpastatin proteolytic system plays an important role in focal adhesion disassembly, morphological transformation, and cell cycle progression during v-Src-induced cell transformation.

Decreased focal adhesion kinase suppresses papilloma formation during experimental mouse skin carcinogenesis.

Although focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is elevated in epithelial cancers, it is not known whether FAK expression influences tumor development in vivo. We found that fak +/- heterozygous mice display reduced 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced papilloma formation that correlates with reduced FAK protein expression in the skin. However, the frequency of malignant conversion of papillomas into carcinomas is indistinguishable in fak +/- mice and their wild-type fak +/+ littermates, most likely because papilloma FAK protein expression is elevated to wild-type levels. We also found that keratinocyte FAK protein expression is important for cellular responses downstream of ras in vitro (monitored by extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation after integrin engagement). Because 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene induces an activating mutation of H-ras, this provides one possible explanation for suppression of papilloma formation when FAK protein is limiting.

Coordination of cell polarization and migration by the Rho family GTPases requires Src tyrosine kinase activity.

BACKGROUND: The ability of a cell to polarize and move is governed by remodeling of the cellular adhesion/cytoskeletal network that is in turn controlled by the Rho family of small GTPases. However, it is not known what signals lie downstream of Rac1 and Cdc42 during peripheral actin and adhesion remodeling that is required for directional migration. RESULTS: We show here that individual members of the Rho family, RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42, direct the specific intracellular targeting of c-Src tyrosine kinase to focal adhesions, lamellipodia, or filopodia, respectively, and that the adaptor function of c-Src (the combined SH3/SH2 domains coupled to green fluorescent protein) is sufficient for targeting. Furthermore, Src's catalytic activity is absolutely required at these peripheral cell-matrix attachment sites for remodeling that converts RhoA-dependent focal adhesions into smaller focal complexes along Rac1-induced lamellipodia (or Cdc42-induced filopodia). Consequently, cells in which kinase-deficient c-Src occupies peripheral adhesion sites exhibit impaired polarization toward migratory stimuli and reduced motility. Furthermore, phosphorylation of FAK, an Src adhesion substrate, is suppressed under these conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that individual Rho GTPases specify Src's exact peripheral localization and that Rac1- and Cdc42-induced adhesion remodeling and directed cell migration require Src activity at peripheral adhesion sites.

The mechanism of cell cycle regulation by v-Src.

The tyrosine kinase oncoprotein v-Src can overcome the requirements for serum growth factors and anchorage which restrain normal cell growth. Here we investigated the biochemical mechanisms whereby v-Src induces quiescent cells to enter S phase in the absence of serum mitogens. Activating a temperature sensitive v-Src in quiescent cells sequentially induced cyclins D1, E and A and also down regulated p27. We addressed whether p27 down regulation was required to activate cyclin D1/CDK4/6 or cyclin E/CDK2 by engineering cells with inducible p27. Both S phase entry and activation of cyclin/CDKs were inhibited by over expression of p27. Using cells engineered with inducible p16 we showed that Cyclin D/CDK4/6 activity was required for v-Src to increase expression of cyclin A but not cyclin E. To determine which downstream kinases mediated these effects of v-Src we added pharmacological inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K), LY294002 or mitogen activated protein kinase kinase (MEK), U0126. PI3-K was required for v-Src to activate MEK and MEK was required for v-Src to increase expression of cyclins D1 and E. However, the MEK inhibitor prevented p27 protein down regulation whereas the PI3-K inhibitor did not. This was because reduced PI3-K activity lead to proteolytic degradation of p27.

The protrusive phase and full development of integrin-dependent adhesions in colon epithelial cells require FAK- and ERK-mediated actin spike formation: deregulation in cancer cells.

Integrins play an important role in tumour progression by influencing cellular responses and matrix-dependent adhesion. However, the regulation of matrix-dependent adhesion assembly in epithelial cells is poorly understood. We have investigated the integrin and signalling requirements of cell-matrix adhesion assembly in colon carcinoma cells after plating on fibronectin. Adhesion assembly in these, and in the adenoma cells from which they were derived, was largely dependent on alpha v beta 6 integrin and required phosphorylation of FAK on tyrosine-397. The rate of fibronectin-induced adhesion assembly and the expression of both alpha v beta 6 integrin and FAK were increased during the adenoma-to-carcinoma transition. The matrix-dependent adhesion assembly process, particularly the final stages of complex protrusion that is required for optimal cell spreading, required the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Furthermore, phosphorylated ERK was targeted to newly forming cell--matrix adhesions in the carcinoma cells but not the adenoma cells, and inhibition of FAK--tyrosine-397 phosphorylation or MEK suppressed the appearance of phosphorylated ERK at peripheral sites. In addition, inhibition of MEK--ERK activation blocked the formation of peripheral actin microspikes that were necessary for the protrusive phase of cell-matrix adhesion assembly. Thus, MEK--ERK--dependent peripheral actin re-organization is required for the full development of integrin-induced adhesions and this pathway is stimulated in an in vitro model of colon cancer progression.

Cleavage of focal adhesion kinase by different proteases during SRC-regulated transformation and apoptosis. Distinct roles for calpain and caspases.

Integrin-associated focal adhesion complexes provide the main adhesive links between the cellular actin cytoskeleton and the surrounding extracellular matrix. In vitro, cells utilize a complex temporal and spatially regulated mechanism of focal adhesion assembly and disassembly required for cell migration. Recent studies indicate that members of both calpain and caspase protease families can promote limited proteolytic cleavage of several components of focal adhesions leading to disassembly of these complexes. Such mechanisms that influence cell adhesion may be deregulated under pathological conditions characterized by increased cell motility, such as tumor invasion. v-Src-induced oncogenic transformation is associated with loss of focal adhesion structures and transition to a less adherent, more motile phenotype, while inactivating temperature-sensitive v-Src in serum-deprived transformed cells leads to detachment and apoptosis. In this report, we demonstrate that v-Src-induced disassembly of focal adhesions is accompanied by calpain-dependent proteolysis of focal adhesion kinase. Furthermore, inhibitors of calpain repress v-Src-induced focal adhesion disruption, loss of substrate adhesion, and cell migration. In contrast, focal adhesion loss during detachment and apoptosis induced after switching off temperature-sensitive v-Src in serum-deprived transformed cells is accompanied by caspase-mediated proteolysis of focal adhesion kinase. Thus, calpain and caspase differentially regulate focal adhesion turnover during Src-regulated cell transformation, motility, and apoptosis.

Adhesion-linked kinases in cancer; emphasis on src, focal adhesion kinase and PI 3-kinase.

Our understanding of the complex signal transduction pathways involved in signalling within cancer cells, between cancer cells and between cancer cells and their environment has increased dramatically in recent years. Here we concentrate on three non-receptor kinases: Src, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase). These form part of a complex network of intracellular signals which is thought to be important in regulating cancer cells.

The SH3 domain directs acto-myosin-dependent targeting of v-Src to focal adhesions via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase.

The v-Src oncoprotein is translocated to integrin-linked focal adhesions, where its tyrosine kinase activity induces adhesion disruption and cell transformation. We previously demonstrated that the intracellular targeting of Src is dependent on the actin cytoskeleton, under the control of the Rho family of small G proteins. However, the assembly of v-Src into focal adhesions does not require its catalytic activity or myristylation-dependent membrane association. Here, we report that the SH3 domain is essential for the assembly of focal adhesions containing the oncoprotein by mediating a switch from a microtubule-dependent, perinuclear localization to actin-associated focal adhesions; furthermore, v-Src translocation to focal adhesions requires myosin activity, at least under normal conditions when the actin cytoskeleton is being dynamically regulated. Although the SH3 domain of v-Src is also necessary for its association with focal adhesion kinase (FAK), which is often considered a likely candidate mediator of focal adhesion targeting via its carboxy-terminal targeting sequence, we show here that binding to FAK is not essential for the targeting of v-Src to focal adhesions. The p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase also associates with v-Src in an SH3-dependent manner, but in this case inhibition of PI 3-kinase activity suppressed assembly of focal adhesions containing the oncoprotein. Thus, the Src SH3 domain, which binds PI 3-kinase and which is necessary for activation of Akt downstream, is required for the actin-dependent targeting of v-Src to focal adhesions.

Active ERK/MAP kinase is targeted to newly forming cell-matrix adhesions by integrin engagement and v-Src.

Integrin engagement generates cellular signals leading to the recruitment of structural and signalling molecules which, in concert with rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton, leads to the formation of focal adhesion complexes. Using antisera reactive either with total ERK or with phosphorylated/activated forms of ERK, in rat embryo fibroblasts and embryonic avian cells that express v-Src, we found that active ERK is targeted to newly forming focal adhesions after integrin engagement or activation of v-Src. UO126, an inhibitor of MAP kinase kinase 1 (MEK1), suppressed focal adhesion targeting of active ERK and cell spreading. Also, integrin engagement and v-Src induced myosin light chain kinase (MLCK)-dependent phosphorylation of myosin light chain downstream of the MEK/ERK pathway, and MLCK and myosin activities are required for the focal adhesion targeting of ERK. The translocation of active ERK to newly forming focal adhesions may direct specificity towards appropriate downstream targets that influence adhesion assembly. These findings support a role for ERK in the regulation of the adhesion/cytoskeletal network and provide an explanation for the role of ERK in cell motility.

v-Src induces tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase independently of tyrosine 397 and formation of a complex with Src.

The non-receptor tyrosine kinase FAK plays a key role at sites of cellular adhesion. It is subject to regulatory tyrosine phosphorylation in response to a variety of stimuli, including integrin engagement after attachment to extracellular matrix, oncogene activation, and growth factor stimulation. Here we use an antibody that specifically recognizes the phosphorylated form of the putative FAK autophosphorylation site, Tyr(397). We demonstrate that FAK phosphorylation induced by integrins during focal adhesion assembly differs from that induced by activation of a temperature-sensitive v-Src, which is associated with focal adhesion turnover and transformation. Specifically, although v-Src induces tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK, there is no detectable phosphorylation of Tyr(397). Moreover, activation of v-Src results in a net decrease in fibronectin-stimulated phosphorylation of Tyr(397), suggesting possible antagonism between v-Src and integrin-induced phosphorylation. Our mutational analysis further indicates that the binding of v-Src to Tyr(397) of FAK in its phosphorylated form, which is normally mediated, at least in part, by the SH2 domain of Src, is not essential for v-Src-induced cell transformation. We conclude that different stimuli can induce phosphorylation of FAK on distinct tyrosine residues, linking specific phosphorylation events to ensuing biological responses.

E-cadherin at the cell periphery is a determinant of keratinocyte differentiation in vitro.

The origin of the signal for keratinocyte differentiation is still unknown. Here, we show that Ca(2+)- and density-induced translocation of E-cadherin, but not P-cadherin, is accompanied by induction of differentiation-specific proteins in cultured keratinocytes. Antibodies that artificially cluster cell-surface E-cadherin in low extracellular Ca(2+) also induce differentiation-specific proteins, implicating E-cadherin as a determinant of keratinocyte differentiation in vitro.

The catalytic activity of the Src family kinases is required to disrupt cadherin-dependent cell-cell contacts.

Despite the importance of epithelial cell contacts in determining cell behavior, we still lack a detailed understanding of the assembly and disassembly of intercellular contacts. Here we examined the role of the catalytic activity of the Src family kinases at epithelial cell contacts in vitro. Like E- and P-cadherin, Ca(2+) treatment of normal and tumor-derived human keratinocytes resulted in c-Yes (and c-Src and Fyn), as well as their putative substrate p120(CTN), being recruited to cell-cell contacts. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor with selectivity against the Src family kinases, PD162531, and a dominant-inhibitory c-Src protein that interferes with the catalytic function of the endogenous Src kinases induced cell-cell contact and E-cadherin redistribution, even in low Ca(2+), which does not normally support stable cell-cell adhesion. Time-lapse microscopy demonstrated that Src kinase inhibition induced stabilization of transiently formed intercellular contacts in low Ca(2+). Furthermore, a combination of E- and P-cadherin-specific antibodies suppressed cell-cell contact, indicating cadherin involvement. As a consequence of contact stabilization, normal cells were unable to dissociate from an epithelial sheet formed at high density and repair a wound in vitro, although individual cells were still motile. Thus, cadherin-dependent contacts can be stabilized both by high Ca(2+) and by inhibiting Src activity in low (0.03 mM) Ca(2+) in vitro.

Increased dosage and amplification of the focal adhesion kinase gene in human cancer cells.

Focal adhesion kinase (pp125FAK) is present at sites of cell/extracellular matrix adhesion and has been implicated in the control of cell behaviour. In particular, as a key component of integrin-stimulated signal transduction pathways, pp125FAK is involved in cellular processes such as spreading, motility, growth and survival. In addition, a number of reports have indicated that pp125FAK may be up-regulated in human tumour cells of diverse origin, and consequently, a role has been proposed for pp125FAK in the development of invasive cancers. However, to date the mechanisms that lead to elevated pp125FAK expression in tumour cells have not been determined. Here we used in situ hybridization to confirm chromosome 8q as the genomic location of the human fak gene and report that elevation of pp125FAK protein in cell lines derived from invasive squamous cell carcinomas is accompanied by gains in copy number of the fak gene in all cases examined. In addition, we observed increased fak copy number in frozen sections of squamous cell carcinomas. Furthermore, increased dosage of the fak gene was also observed in many cell lines derived from human tumours of lung, breast and colon, including two cell lines Calu3 and HT29, in which fak was amplified. In addition, in an in vitro model for human colon cancer progression there was a copy number gain of the fak gene during conversion from adenoma to carcinoma, which was associated with increased pp125FAK protein expression. Thus, we show for the first time that many cell lines derived from invasive epithelial tumours have increased dosage of the fak gene, which may contribute to the elevated protein expression commonly observed. Although other genes near the fak locus are co-amplified or increased in copy number, including the proto-oncogene c-myc, the biological properties of pp125FAK in controlling the growth, survival and invasiveness of tumour cells, suggest that it may contribute to the selection pressure for maintaining increased dosage of the region of chromosome 8q that encodes these genes.

Regulation of p190 Rho-GAP by v-Src is linked to cytoskeletal disruption during transformation.

The v-Src oncoprotein perturbs the dynamic regulation of the cellular cytoskeletal and adhesion network by a mechanism that is poorly understood. Here, we have examined in detail the effects of a temperature-dependent v-Src protein on the regulation of p190 RhoGAP, a GTPase activating protein (GAP) that has been implicated in disruption of the organised actin cytoskeleton, and addressed the dependence of v-Src-induced stress fibre loss on inhibition of Rho activity. We found that activation of v-Src induced association of tyrosine phosphorylated p190 with p120(RasGAP) and stimulation of p120(RasGAP)-associated RhoGAP activity, although p120(RasGAP) itself was not a target for phosphorylation by v-Src in chicken embryo cells. These events required the catalytic activity of v-Src and were linked to loss of actin stress fibres during morphological transformation and not mitogenic signalling. Furthermore, these effects were rapidly reversible since switching off v-Src led to dissociation of the p190/p120(RasGAP) complex, inactivation of p120(RasGAP)-associated RhoGAP activity and re-induction of actin stress fibres. In addition, transient transfection of Val14-RhoA, a constitutively active Rho protein that is insensitive to RhoGAPs, suppressed v-Src-induced stress fibre loss and cell transformation. Thus, we show here for the first time that an activated Src kinase requires the inactivation of Rho-mediated actin stress fibre assembly to induce its effects on actin disorganisation. Moreover, our work supports p190 as a strong candidate effector of v-Src-induced cytoskeletal disruption, most likely mediated by antagonism of the cellular function of Rho.