Nm23-transfected MDA-MB-435 human breast carcinoma cells form tumors with altered phospholipid metabolism and pH: a 31P nuclear magnetic resonance study in vivo and in vitro

Nm23 genes are involved in the control of the metastatic potential of breast carcinoma cells. To understand the impact of nm23 genes on tumor physiology and metabolism, a 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic study was performed on tumors formed in the mammary fat pad of severe combined immunodeficiency mice by MDA-MB-435 human breast carcinoma cells transfected with cDNA encoding wild type nm23-H1 and nm23-H2 proteins. Tumors formed by MDA-MB-435 cells transfected with vector alone were used as controls. All transgene tumors exhibited significantly higher levels of phosphodiester (PDE) compounds relative to phosphomonoester (PME) compounds in vivo compared with control tumors. Similar differences in PDE and PME also were observed for spectra obtained from cells growing in culture. Intracellular pH was significantly lower and extracellular pH was significantly higher for transgene tumors compared with control tumors. Histologic analysis of lung sections confirmed reductions in incidence, number, and size of metastatic nodules for animals bearing transgene tumors. These results suggest that nm23 genes may affect suppression of metastasis through phospholipid-mediated signaling and cellular pH regulation.

Nm23-transfected MDA-MB-435 human breast carcinoma cells form tumors with altered phospholipid metabolism and pH: a 31P nuclear magnetic resonance study in vivo and in vitro

Nm23 genes are involved in the control of the metastatic potential of breast carcinoma cells. To understand the impact of nm23 genes on tumor physiology and metabolism, a 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic study was performed on tumors formed in the mammary fat pad of severe combined immunodeficiency mice by MDA-MB-435 human breast carcinoma cells transfected with cDNA encoding wild type nm23-H1 and nm23-H2 proteins. Tumors formed by MDA-MB-435 cells transfected with vector alone were used as controls. All transgene tumors exhibited significantly higher levels of phosphodiester (PDE) compounds relative to phosphomonoester (PME) compounds in vivo compared with control tumors. Similar differences in PDE and PME also were observed for spectra obtained from cells growing in culture. Intracellular pH was significantly lower and extracellular pH was significantly higher for transgene tumors compared with control tumors. Histologic analysis of lung sections confirmed reductions in incidence, number, and size of metastatic nodules for animals bearing transgene tumors. These results suggest that nm23 genes may affect suppression of metastasis through phospholipid-mediated signaling and cellular pH regulation.

Distinct roles for the p110alpha and hVPS34 phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinases in vesicular trafficking, regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, and mitogenesis

We have examined the roles of the p85/ p110alpha and hVPS34 phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3'-kinases in cellular signaling using inhibitory isoform-specific antibodies. We raised anti-hVPS34 and anti-p110alpha antibodies that specifically inhibit recombinant hVPS34 and p110alpha, respectively, in vitro. We used the antibodies to study cellular processes that are sensitive to low-dose wortmannin. The antibodies had distinct effects on the actin cytoskeleton; microinjection of anti-p110alpha antibodies blocked insulin-stimulated ruffling, whereas anti-hVPS34 antibodies had no effect. The antibodies also had different effects on vesicular trafficking. Microinjection of inhibitory anti-hVPS34 antibodies, but not anti-p110alpha antibodies, blocked the transit of internalized PDGF receptors to a perinuclear compartment, and disrupted the localization of the early endosomal protein EEA1. Microinjection of anti-p110alpha antibodies, and to a lesser extent anti-hVPS34 antibodies, reduced the rate of transferrin recycling in CHO cells. Surprisingly, both antibodies inhibited insulin-stimulated DNA synthesis by 80%. Injection of cells with antisense oligonucleotides derived from the hVPS34 sequence also blocked insulin-stimulated DNA synthesis, whereas scrambled oligonucleotides had no effect. Interestingly, the requirement for p110alpha and hVPS34 occurred at different times during the G1-S transition. Our data suggest that different PI 3'-kinases play distinct regulatory roles in the cell, and document an unexpected role for hVPS34 during insulin-stimulated mitogenesis.

Regulation of the p85/p110alpha phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase. Distinct roles for the n-terminal and c-terminal SH2 domains

Our previous studies on the p85/p110alpha phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase showed that the p85 regulatory subunit inhibits the p110alpha catalytic subunit, and that phosphopeptide activation of p85/p110alpha dimers reflects a disinhibition of p110alpha (Yu, J., Zhang, Y., McIlroy, J., Rordorf-Nikolic, T., Orr, G. A., and Backer, J. M. (1998) Mol. Cell. Biol. 18, 1379-1387). We now define the domains of p85 required for inhibition of p110alpha. The iSH2 domain of p85 is sufficient to bind p110alpha but does not inhibit it. Inhibition of p110alpha requires the presence of the nSH2 domain linked to the iSH2 domain. Phosphopeptides increase the activity of nSH2/iSH2-p110alpha dimers, demonstrating that the nSH2 domain mediates both inhibition of p110alpha and disinhibition by phosphopeptides. In contrast, phosphopeptides did not increase the activity of iSH2/cSH2-p110alpha dimers, or dimers composed of p110alpha and an nSH2/iSH2/cSH2 construct containing a mutant nSH2 domain. Phosphopeptide binding to the cSH2 domain increased p110alpha activity only in the context of an intact p85 containing both the nSH2 domain and residues 1-322 (the SH3, proline-rich and breakpoint cluster region-homolgy domains). These data suggest that the nSH2 domain of p85 is a direct regulator of p110alpha activity. Regulation of p110alpha by phosphopeptide binding to the cSH2 domain occurs by a mechanism that requires the additional presence of the nSH2 domain and residues 1-322 of p85.

Regulation of the p85/p110 phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase: stabilization and inhibition of the p110alpha catalytic subunit by the p85 regulatory subunit

We propose a novel model for the regulation of the p85/pl10alpha phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase. In insect cells, the p110alpha catalytic subunit is active as a monomer but its activity is decreased by coexpression with the p85 regulatory subunit. Similarly, the lipid kinase activity of recombinant glutathione S-transferase (GST)-p110alpha is reduced by 65 to 85% upon in vitro reconstitution with p85. Incubation of p110alpha/p85 dimers with phosphotyrosyl peptides restored activity, but only to the level of monomeric p110alpha. These data show that the binding of phosphoproteins to the SH2 domains of p85 activates the p85/p110alpha dimers by inducing a transition from an inhibited to a disinhibited state. In contrast, monomeric p110 had little activity in HEK 293T cells, and its activity was increased 15- to 20-fold by coexpression with p85. However, this apparent requirement for p85 was eliminated by the addition of a bulky tag to the N terminus of p110alpha or by the growth of the HEK 293T cells at 30 degrees C. These nonspecific interventions mimicked the effects of p85 on p110alpha, suggesting that the regulatory subunit acts by stabilizing the overall conformation of the catalytic subunit rather than by inducing a specific activated conformation. This stabilization was directly demonstrated in metabolically labeled HEK 293T cells, in which p85 increased the half-life of p110. Furthermore, p85 protected p110 from thermal inactivation in vitro. Importantly, when we examined the effect of p85 on GST-p110alpha in mammalian cells at 30 degrees C, culture conditions that stabilize the catalytic subunit and that are similar to the conditions used for insect cells, we found that p85 inhibited p110alpha. Thus, we have experimentally distinguished two effects of p85 on p110alpha: conformational stabilization of the catalytic subunit and inhibition of its lipid kinase activity. Our data reconcile the apparent conflict between previous studies of insect versus mammalian cells and show that p110alpha is both stabilized and inhibited by dimerization with p85.

In vitro binding and phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 by the insulin receptor. Role of interactions mediated by the phosphotyrosine-binding domain and the pleckstrin-homology domain

Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) is a major substrate of the insulin receptor in most cells. The N terminus of IRS-1 contains a phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain and a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, both of which have been identified as important for insulin-stimulated phosphorylation in intact cells. The PTB domain binds to a phosphorylated motif, NPEY(P)960, that is present in the juxtamembrane region of the insulin receptor. A direct interaction between the PH domain of IRS-1 and the receptor has not been demonstrated. In this study, we examine the role of the IRS-1 PTB and PH domains during IRS-1 receptor binding and IRS-1 phosphorylation in intact cells and in vitro. Abrogation of binding of the PTB domain to NPXY(P) by mutation of Tyr960 of the insulin receptor did not reduce the binding of phosphorylated IRS-1 to insulin receptors in intact cells, and had no effect on binding of insulin receptors to IRS-1 or on IRS-1 phosphorylation in vitro. We examined the phosphorylation and receptor binding of a mutant recombinant IRS-1 that lacks the N-terminal PH domain (delta PH-IRS-1). Although phosphorylation of delta PH-IRS-1 by wild-type or [Ala960]insulin receptors was similar to that of IRS-1, binding of insulin receptor to delta PH-IRS-1 was markedly reduced relative to that to IRS-1. We conclude that stable association of IRS-1 with the insulin receptor is unaffected by disruption of PTB-domain-Tyr960 interactions but requires the IRS-1 PH domain, and that efficient phosphorylation of IRS-1 in intact cells correlates with the formation of stable receptor IRS complexes.

Specific activation of p85-p110 phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase stimulates DNA synthesis by ras- and p70 S6 kinase-dependent pathways

We have developed a polyclonal antibody that activates the heterodimeric p85-p110 phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3'-kinase in vitro and in microinjected cells. Affinity purification revealed that the activating antibody recognized the N-terminal SH2 (NSH2) domain of p85, and the antibody increased the catalytic activity of recombinant p85-p110 dimers threefold in vitro. To study the role of endogenous PI 3'-kinase in intact cells, the activating anti-NSH2 antibody was microinjected into GRC + LR73 cells, a CHO cell derivative selected for tight quiescence during serum withdrawal. Microinjection of anti-NSH2 antibodies increased bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation fivefold in quiescent cells and enhanced the response to serum. These data reflect a specific activation of PI 3'-kinase, as the effect was blocked by coinjection of the appropriate antigen (glutathione S-transferase-NSH2 domains from p85 alpha), coinjection of inhibitory anti-p110 antibodies, or treatment of cells with wortmannin. We used the activating antibodies to study signals downstream from PI 3'-kinase. Although treatment of cells with 50 nM rapamycin only partially decreased anti-NSH2-stimulated BrdU incorporation, coinjection with an anti-p70 S6 kinase antibody effectively blocked anti-NSH2-stimulated DNA synthesis. We also found that coinjection of inhibitory anti-ras antibodies blocked both serum- and anti-NSH2-stimulated BrdU incorporation by approximately 60%, and treatment of cells with a specific inhibitor of MEK abolished antibody-stimulated BrdU incorporation. We conclude that selective activation of physiological levels of PI 3'-kinase is sufficient to stimulate DNA synthesis in quiescent cells. PI 3'-kinase-mediated DNA synthesis requires both p70 S6 kinase and the P21ras/MEK pathway.

Wortmannin-sensitive trafficking pathways in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Differential effects on endocytosis and lysosomal sorting

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3'-kinases are a family of lipid kinases implicated in the regulation of cell growth by oncogene products and tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors. The catalytic subunit of the p85/p110 PI 3'-kinase is homologous to VPS-34, a phosphatidylinositol-specific lipid kinase involved in the sorting of newly synthesized hydrolases to the yeast vacuole. This suggests that PI 3'-kinases may play analogous roles in mammalian cells. We have measured a number of secretory and endocytic trafficking events in Chinese hamster ovary cells in the presence of wortmannin, a potent inhibitor of PI 3'-kinase. Wortmannin caused a 40-50% down-regulation of surface transferrin receptors, with a dose dependence identical to that required for maximal inhibition of the p85/p110 PI 3'-kinase in intact cells. The redistribution of transferrin receptors reflected a 60% increase in the internalization rate and a 35% decrease in the recycling rate. Experiments with fluorescent transferrin showed that entry of transferrin receptors into the recycling compartment and efflux of receptors out of the compartment were slowed by wortmannin. Wortmannin altered the morphology of the recycling compartment, which was more vesiculated than in untreated cells. Using Semliki Forest virus as a probe, we also found that delivery of the endocytosed virus to its lysosomal site of degradation was slowed by wortmannin, whereas endosomal acidification was unaffected. In contrast to these effects on endocytosis and recycling, wortmannin did not affect intracellular processing of newly synthesized viral spike proteins. Wortmannin did induce missorting of the lysosomal enzyme cathepsin D to the secretory pathway, but only at a dose 20-fold greater than that required to inhibit p85/p110 PI 3'-kinase activity or to redistribute transferrin receptors. Our data demonstrate the presence of wortmannin-sensitive enzymes at three distinct steps of the endocytic cycle in Chinese hamster ovary cells: internalization, transit from early endosomes to the recycling and degradative compartments, and transit from the recycling compartment back to the cell surface. The wortmannin-sensitive enzymes critical for endocytosis and recycling are distinct from those involved in sorting newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes.

Common and distinct elements in insulin and PDGF signaling

The receptors for insulin and PDGF are tyrosine kinases that mediate distinct effects in identical cellular backgrounds. Each receptor must therefore engage a unique subset of the available signaling elements--at least partly through the selection of proteins with src-homology 2 domains (SH2 proteins). Autophosphorylation sites in the PDGFr directly bind SH2 proteins, whereas activation of the insulin receptor leads to phosphorylation of IRS-1, which in turn binds SH2 proteins. In HIR 3.5 cells, which contain similar numbers of PDGF and insulin receptors, insulin, but not PDGF, stimulated tyrosyl phosphorylation of IRS-1. Similarly, insulin, but not PDGF, treatment of HIR 3.5 stimulated the association of IRS-1 with PtdIns 3'-kinase, although PDGF stimulated the association of PtdIns 3'-kinase with the tyrosine-phosphorylated PDGFr. Association with IRS-1 activated PtdIns 3'-kinase more effectively than association with the PDGFr. Whereas the PDGFr associated with PtdIns 3'-kinase, ras-GAP, GRB-2, and phospholipase C gamma, only GRB-2 and PtdIns 3'-kinase associated with IRS-1. Moreover, PDGF, but not insulin, caused tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C gamma in HIR 3.5 cells. Thus, the insulin signal differs from that of PDGF by the insertion of a cytosolic, nonreceptor SH2 domain docking protein (IRS-1). Furthermore, IRS-1 binds a different subset of SH2 domain-containing proteins than does the PDGFr and regulates at least one common element (PtdIns 3'-kinase) differently than the PDGFr. These results support the hypothesis that IRS-1 differentiates the signals generated by the insulin receptor and PDGFr tyrosine kinases by binding and regulating a specific subset of SH2 domain-containing signaling molecules.

Insulin receptor substrate 1 rescues insulin action in CHO cells expressing mutant insulin receptors that lack a juxtamembrane NPXY motif

Insulin signals are mediated through tyrosine phosphorylation of specific proteins such as insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and Shc by the activated insulin receptor (IR). Phosphorylation of both proteins is nearly abolished by an alanine substitution at Tyr-960 (A960) in the beta-subunit of the receptor. However, overexpression of IRS-1 in CHO cells expressing the mutant receptor (A960 cells) restored sufficient tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 to rescue IRS-1/Grb-2 binding and phosphatidylinositol 3' kinase activation during insulin stimulation. Shc tyrosine phosphorylation and its binding to Grb-2 were impaired in the A960 cells and were unaffected by overexpression of IRS-1. Although overexpression of IRS-1 increased IRS-1 binding to Grb-2, ERK-1/ERK-2 activation was not rescued. These data suggest that signaling molecules other than IRS-1, perhaps including Shc, are critical for insulin stimulation of p21ras. Interestingly, overexpression of IRS-1 in the A960 cells restored insulin-stimulated mitogenesis and partially restored insulin stimulation of glycogen synthesis. Thus, IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation is sufficient to increase the mitogenic response to insulin, whereas insulin stimulation of glycogen synthesis appears to involve other factors. Moreover, IRS-1 phosphorylation is either not sufficient or not involved in insulin stimulation of ERK.

The crystal structure of a human nucleoside diphosphate kinase, NM23-H2

The 2.8 A resolution X-ray structure of NM23-H2 has been determined by molecular replacement using the structure of Myxococcus xanthus nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) kinase. NM23-H2 is a human NDP kinase. The enzyme catalyses phosphoryl transfer, binds DNA, and can activate the transcription of the c-myc oncogene in vitro. NM23 has also been reported to be a suppressor of metastasis in some types of tumours. Whereas the M. xanthus NDP kinase is a tetramer, NM23-H2 is a hexamer. The fold of NM23-H2 is identical to the fold of other NDP kinases. Two antiparallel helices joined by a turn form one edge of the nucleotide binding cleft. This region moves in a hinge-like fashion in response to substrate binding and crystal packing forces. Additional differences in conformation among the NDP kinases are principally in regions involved in protein-protein contacts within the oligomers. The only protein-protein interaction conserved among all NDP kinases is a dimeric interaction. Several mutations of NM23-H2 have been detected in tumour tissues. These mutations do not involve residues interacting with the substrates, and probably destabilise the enzyme without directly affecting the catalytic activity. Low level phosphorylation of serines has been reported for NM23 both in vitro and in vivo. The structure of the hexamer indicates that two serine residues that have been reported as being phosphorylated, Ser44 and Ser122, are on the surface of the hexamer, and are likely to be phosphorylated by exogenous kinases. In contrast, Ser120 is buried, and is most likely phosphorylated by a direct transfer from the phosphohistidine intermediate of the reaction mechanism.

Differential expression and mutation of NME genes in autologous cultured human melanoma cells with different metastatic potentials

The putative metastasis suppressor genes, NME1(nm23-1) and NME2(nm23-2), were examined in a model system we developed to approximate the dissemination of melanoma from a primary skin tumor. We utilized two autologous human melanoma cell lines, IV Cl 1 and IV Cl 3, which displayed qualitatively different metastatic phenotypes following subdermal inoculation into nude mice. Highly metastatic IV Cl 1 cells expressed approximately 5 fold lower levels of protein encoded by NME genes than non-metastatic IV Cl 3 cells. Similar differences in NME protein levels were observed in tumors induced by the two cell lines in nude mice. There were no differences in NME mRNA levels between these two cell lines, suggesting that expression of these proteins is regulated at a post-transcriptional level. We found a ser122-pro mutation in the NME2 gene of metastatic IV Cl 1 cells. A similar ser120-gly mutation in NME1 has been found in human neuroblastoma, suggesting that mutation in this region may be a general phenomenon related to tumor progression. These mutations may have functional consequences since they eliminate potential phosphorylation sites and may affect the tertiary structure of mature protein complexes.

Effects of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on the transcription of nm23 and c-myc genes in human prostatic LNCaP cells

Proliferation of the androgen-dependent human prostate LNCaP cells was increased by the androgen DHT. Changes in the steady state level of the nm23 and c-myc mRNA in LNCaP cells, with or without 10 nM DHT, showed the nm23 mRNA to change rapidly, beginning to rise after 2 h and reaching its peak by 4 h of DHT treatment. In contrast, increases in the c-myc gene only became apparent after 4 h of treatment. Maximal increase of nm23 mRNA was observed at 10(-9) M DHT. The basal expression of c-myc and nm23 mRNAs was between 30-70% lower in the LNCaP cells, as compared with the androgen-independent PC-3 and JCA-1 human prostatic human carcinoma cells. Thus nm23 may be classified as a member of the early androgen-responsive genes.

Regulation of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase by tyrosyl phosphoproteins. Full activation requires occupancy of both SH2 domains in the 85-kDa regulatory subunit

Phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI 3'-kinase) is activated in insulin-stimulated cells by the binding of the SH2 domains in its 85-kDa regulatory subunit to insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). We have previously shown that both tyrosyl-phosphorylated IRS-1 and mono-phosphopeptides containing a single YXXM motif activate PI 3'-kinase in vitro. However, activation by the monophosphopeptides was significantly less potent than activation by the multiply phosphorylated IRS-1. We now show that the increased potency of PI 3'-kinase activation by IRS-1 relative to phosphopeptide is not due to tertiary structural features IRS-1, as PI 3'-kinase is activated normally by denatured, reduced, and carboxymethylated IRS-1. Furthermore, activation of PI 3'-kinase by bis-phosphorylated peptides containing two YXXM motifs is 100-fold more potent than the corresponding mono-phosphopeptides and similar to activation by IRS-1. These data suggest that tyrosyl-phosphorylated IRS-1 or bis-phosphorylated peptides bind simultaneously to both SH2 domains of p85. However, these data cannot differentiate between an activation mechanism that requires two-site occupancy for maximal activity as opposed to one in which bivalent binding enhances the occupancy of a single activating site. To distinguish between these possibilities, we produced recombinant PI 3'-kinase containing either wild-type p85 or p85 mutated in its N-terminal, C-terminal, or both SH2 domains. We find that mutation of either SH2 domains significantly reduced phosphopeptide binding and decreased PI 3'-kinase activation by 50%, whereas mutation of both SH2 domains completely blocked binding and activation. These data provide the first direct evidence that full activation of PI 3'-kinase by tyrosylphosphorylated proteins requires occupancy of both SH2 domains in p85.

Direct activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase by the insulin receptor

We have previously shown that phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 3'-kinase is activated by the binding of proteins or peptides containing the phosphorylated motif Y(P)XXM. In the present study, we examine interactions between PtdIns 3'-kinase and the human insulin receptor, which contains a C-terminal phosphorylation site in the sequence Y1322THM. Partially purified insulin receptors bound tightly to bacterial fusion proteins containing the N- or C-terminal SH2 domains from PtdIns 3'-kinase regulatory subunit (p85). In contrast, a mutant insulin receptor, truncated by 43 amino acids at the C terminus (IR delta CT), bound poorly to the SH2 domains; these mutant receptors have normal kinase activity but lack the Y1322THM motif. Similarly, incubation with wild-type receptors increased the activity of immunopurified PtdIns 3'-kinase, whereas incubation with IR delta CT receptors did not affect PtdIns 3'-kinase activity. Activation of PtdIns 3'-kinase by the wild-type receptor was mimicked by a tyrosyl phosphopeptide derived from the insulin receptor C terminus and containing the Y1322THM motif; non-phosphorylated peptide did not affect activity. Thus, the insulin receptor C terminus activates PtdIns 3'-kinase in vitro by binding to the SH2 domains of the 85-kDa regulatory subunit. These data support the hypothesis that binding of tyrosyl-phosphorylated receptors to p85 SH2 domains is a general mechanism for PtdIns 3'-kinase activation, and they suggest that direct interactions between the insulin receptor and PtdIns 3'-kinase may provide an alternative pathway for the activation of this enzyme by insulin.

Insulin-stimulated oocyte maturation requires insulin receptor substrate 1 and interaction with the SH2 domains of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Xenopus oocytes from unprimed frogs possess insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptors but lack insulin and IGF-I receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), the endogenous substrate of this kinase, and fail to show downstream responses to hormonal stimulation. Microinjection of recombinant IRS-1 protein enhances insulin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 3-kinase activity and restores the germinal vesicle breakdown response. Activation of PtdIns 3-kinase results from formation of a complex between phosphorylated IRS-1 and the p85 subunit of PtdIns 3-kinase. Microinjection of a phosphonopeptide containing a pYMXM motif with high affinity for the src homology 2 (SH2) domain of PtdIns 3-kinase p85 inhibits IRS-1 association with and activation of the PtdIns 3-kinase. Formation of the IRS-1-PtdIns 3-kinase complex and insulin-stimulated PtdIns 3-kinase activation are also inhibited by microinjection of a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing the SH2 domain of p85. This effect occurs in a concentration-dependent fashion and results in a parallel loss of hormone-stimulated oocyte maturation. These inhibitory effects are specific and are not mimicked by glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins expressing the SH2 domains of ras-GAP or phospholipase C gamma. Moreover, injection of the SH2 domains of p85, ras-GAP, and phospholipase C gamma do not interfere with progesterone-induced oocyte maturation. These data demonstrate that phosphorylation of IRS-1 plays an essential role in IGF-I and insulin signaling in oocyte maturation and that this effect occurs through interactions of the phosphorylated YMXM/YXXM motifs of IRS-1 with SH2 domains of PtdIns 3-kinase or some related molecules.

Regulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity in liver and muscle of animal models of insulin-resistant and insulin-deficient diabetes mellitus

Insulin stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), which in turn binds to and activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase). In the present study, we have examined these processes in animal models of insulin-resistant and insulin-deficient diabetes mellitus. After in vivo insulin stimulation, there was a 60-80% decrease in IRS-1 phosphorylation in liver and muscle of the ob/ob mouse. There was no insulin stimulation of PI 3-kinase (85 kD subunit) association with IRS-1, and IRS-1-associated PI 3-kinase activity was reduced 90%. Insulin-stimulated total PI 3-kinase activity was also absent in both tissues of the ob/ob mouse. By contrast, in the streptozotocin diabetic rat, IRS-1 phosphorylation increased 50% in muscle, IRS-1-associated PI 3-kinase activity was increased two- to threefold in liver and muscle, and there was a 50% increase in the p85 associated with IRS-1 after insulin stimulation in muscle. In conclusion, (a) IRS-1-associated PI 3-kinase activity is differentially regulated in hyperinsulinemic and hypoinsulinemic diabetic states; (b) PI 3-kinase activation closely correlates with IRS-1 phosphorylation; and (c) reduced PI 3-kinase activity may play a role in the pathophysiology of insulin resistant diabetic states, such as that seen in the ob/ob mouse.

Optimizing transmembrane domain helicity accelerates insulin receptor internalization and lateral mobility

Transmembrane (TM) domains of integral membrane proteins are generally thought to be helical. However, a Gly-Pro sequence within the TM domain of the insulin receptor is predicted to act as a helix breaker. CD analyses of model TM peptides in a lipid-like environment show that substitution of Gly and Pro by Ala enhances helicity. On this basis, Gly933 and Pro934 within the TM domain of the intact human insulin receptor were mutated to Ala (G-->A, P-->A, GP-->AA) to assess effects of altered helicity on receptor functions. Mutated and wild-type receptors, expressed stably in cultured CHO cells at equivalent levels, were properly assembled, biosynthetically processed, and exhibited similar affinities for insulin. Receptor autophosphorylation and substrate kinase activity in intact cells and soluble receptor preparations were indistinguishable. In contrast, insulin-stimulated receptor internalization was accelerated 2-fold for the GP-->AA mutant, compared to a wild-type control or the G-->A and P-->A mutants. Insulin degradation, which occurs during receptor endocytosis and recycling, was similarly elevated in cells transfected with GP-->AA mutant receptors. Fluorescence photobleaching recovery measurements showed that the lateral mobility of GP-->AA mutant receptors was also increased 2- to 3-fold. These results suggest that lateral mobility directly influences rates of insulin-mediated receptor endocytosis and that rates of endocytosis and lateral mobility are retarded by a kinked TM domain in the wild-type receptor. Invariance of Gly-Pro within insulin receptor TM domain sequences suggests a physiologic advantage for submaximal rates of receptor internalization.

Insulin stimulates serine and tyrosine phosphorylation in the juxtamembrane region of the insulin receptor

Insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation of the cytoplasmic juxtamembrane region of the human insulin receptor was examined by Tricine/SDS-PAGE. Various mutant receptor molecules were used to identify two tryptic phosphopeptides associated with the juxtamembrane region which accounts for 15% of the autophosphorylation of partially purified insulin receptor. These phosphopeptides were immunoprecipitated with an antipeptide antibody against the juxtamembrane sequence and were phosphorylated exclusively on tyrosine. Substitution of both Tyr960 and Tyr953 with alanine eliminated insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the juxtamembrane region without affecting tyrosine autophosphorylation in the C terminus or regulatory regions. Monosubstitution of Tyr960 with phenylalanine or alanine reduced phosphorylation in the juxtamembrane region by more than 50%, and manual Edman degradation indicated that Tyr960 was phosphorylated in wild-type receptor. In vivo, phosphorylation of the juxtamembrane region accounts for one-third of the insulin receptor phosphorylation and contains both phosphoserine and phosphotyrosine. Deletion of Tyr960 and 11 adjacent amino acids eliminated insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the juxtamembrane region. Substitution of Tyr960 reduced this phosphorylation by more than 50%. The insulin receptor also undergoes serine phosphorylation outside of the juxtamembrane region which depends on the presence of Tyr1151. Together with our previous studies, this report suggests that phosphorylation of Tyr960 may play an important role in signal transduction by the insulin receptor.

The SH2/SH3 domain-containing protein GRB2 interacts with tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS1 and Shc: implications for insulin control of ras signalling

GRB2, a small protein comprising one SH2 domain and two SH3 domains, represents the human homologue of the Caenorhabditis elegans protein, sem-5. Both GRB2 and sem-5 have been implicated in a highly conserved mechanism that regulates p21ras signalling by receptor tyrosine kinases. In this report we show that in response to insulin, GRB2 forms a stable complex with two tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins. One protein is the major insulin receptor substrate IRS-1 and the second is the SH2 domain-containing oncogenic protein, Shc. The interactions between GRB2 and these two proteins require ligand activation of the insulin receptor and are mediated by the binding of the SH2 domain of GRB2 to phosphotyrosines on both IRS-1 and Shc. Although GRB2 associates with IRS-1 and Shc, it is not tyrosine-phosphorylated after insulin stimulation, implying that GRB2 is not a substrate for the insulin receptor. Furthermore, we have identified a short sequence motif (YV/IN) present in IRS-1, EGFR and Shc, which specifically binds the SH2 domain of GRB2 with high affinity. Interestingly, both GRB2 and phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI-3) kinase can simultaneously bind distinct tyrosine phosphorylated regions on the same IRS-1 molecule, suggesting a mechanism whereby IRS-1 could provide the core for a large signalling complex. We propose a model whereby insulin stimulation leads to formation of multiple protein--protein interactions between GRB2 and the two targets IRS-1 and Shc. These interactions may play a crucial role in activation of p21ras and the control of downstream effector molecules.

Association of IRS-1 with the insulin receptor and the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase. Formation of binary and ternary signaling complexes in intact cells

Insulin stimulates the formation of binary and ternary signaling complexes between the phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 3'-kinase, IRS-1, and the insulin receptor in vivo. Binary complex formation between IRS-1 and the PtdIns 3'-kinase occurs in intact cells and requires the tyrosyl phosphorylation IRS-1, as mutant insulin receptors which weakly phosphorylate IRS-1 in vivo do not mediate formation of IRS-1/PtdIns 3'-kinase complexes in transfected CHO cells. Association with IRS-1 involves as much as 70% of total cellular PtdIns 3'-kinase activity. Insulin also stimulates the formation of ternary signaling complexes, as both IRS-1 and the PtdIns 3'-kinase are present in anti-insulin receptor immunoprecipitates from insulin-stimulated cells. Overexpression of IRS-1 in CHO cells increases the amount of PtdIns 3'-kinase activity in alpha IR immunoprecipitates, and IRS-1 markedly increases the in vitro binding of p85 alpha and PtdIns 3-kinase activity to anti-receptor immunoprecipitates. The mechanism for this association is unknown, but appears to involve the binding of IRS-1/PtdIns 3'-kinase complexes to the insulin receptor. The formation of binary and ternary complexes between the insulin receptor, IRS-1 and the PtdIns 3'-kinase may play a critical role in transmission of the insulin signal.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase p85 SH2 domain specificity defined by direct phosphopeptide/SH2 domain binding

We have developed a competition binding assay to quantify relative affinities of isolated Src-homology 2 (SH2) domains for phosphopeptide sequences. Eleven synthetic 11-12-amino acid phosphopeptides containing YMXM or YVXM recognition motifs bound to a PI 3-kinase p85 SH2 domain with highest affinities, including sequences surrounding phosphorylated tyrosines of the PDGF, CSF-1/c-Fms, and kit-encoded receptors, IRS-1, and polyoma middle T antigens; matched, unphosphorylated sequences did not bind. A scrambled YMXM phosphopeptide or sequences corresponding to the GAP or PLC-gamma SH2 domain binding motifs of the PDGF, FGF, and EGF receptors bound to the p85 SH2 domain with 30-100-fold reduced affinity, indicating that this affinity range confers specificity. Binding specificity was appropriately reversed with an SH2 domain from PLC-gamma: a phosphopeptide corresponding to the site surrounding PDGF receptor Tyr1021 binds with approximately 40-fold higher affinity than a YMXM-phosphopeptide. We conclude that essential features of specific phosphoprotein/SH2 domain interactions can be reconstituted using truncated versions of both the phosphoprotein (a phosphopeptide) and cognate SH2 domain-containing protein (the SH2 domain). SH2 domain binding specificity results from differences in affinity conferred by the linear sequence surrounding phosphotyrosine.

IRS-1 is a common element in insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I signaling to the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase

IRS-1 is a unique cytosolic protein that becomes tyrosine phosphorylated during insulin stimulation of intact cells and immediately associates with the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PtdIns 3'-kinase). The insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor also mediated the tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and increased the amount of PtdIns 3'-kinase activity bound to IRS-1 in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Purified insulin receptor and IGF-I receptor phosphorylated recombinant baculovirus-produced IRS-1 on similar sites in vitro, and phosphorylated baculovirus-produced IRS-1 bound PtdIns 3'-kinase activity from lysates of quiescent cells. Treatment of cells with IGF-I activated the PtdIns 3'-kinase, suggesting that IGF-I activates the PtdIns 3'-kinase through IRS-1 binding to p85 in a manner similar to insulin. Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing IRS-1 demonstrated increased tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1, and more PtdIns 3'-kinase activity associated with IRS-1 in these cells. These data demonstrate that IRS-1 is a common element for signal transmission by the IGF-I and insulin receptors.

BpaB25 insulins. Photoactivatable analogues that quantitatively cross-link, radiolabel, and activate the insulin receptor

Benzoylphenylalanine (Bpa), a photoactivatable amino acid was incorporated into the 25 position of the insulin B-chain by a combination of chemical synthesis and enzymatic semisynthesis. BpaB25 insulin binds specifically to the insulin receptor with an affinity approximately 40% that of native insulin. Addition of biotin or epsilon-amino-hexanoic acid-iminobiotin at the epsilon-LysB29 position to form BpaB25,B29 epsilon-biotinyl (BBpa) or BpaB25,B29 epsilon-(Aha-iminobiotin) analogues had little adverse effect on receptor binding affinity and provided a convenient handle for affinity purification, gel shift assays, and blotting of cross-linked complexes with avidin. The analogues were readily 125I-iodinated with the majority of 125I being incorporated at the TyrA14 position; the monoiodo-A14 derivative was easily separated from other forms by high performance liquid chromatography. Photolysis of a complex of the insulin receptor and either BpaB25 insulin or [125I]iodo-TyrA14,BpaB25 insulin yields a covalent insulin-receptor complex. The efficiency of cross-linking with these reagents was unusually high, ranging from 60 to 100%. Furthermore, cross-linking to the insulin receptor results in kinase activation in vitro, and in intact cells insulin receptor phosphorylation and internalization were both activated. Notably, even at saturating concentrations one molecule of BpaB25 insulin covalently cross-linked each alpha 2 beta 2 receptor, demonstrating that holoreceptor activation occurs with one high affinity insulin binding site occupied and, if a second insulin binds with lower affinity it must be in a different orientation. Bpa insulin analogues form a new class of photoaffinity reagents which facilitate studies relating insulin-insulin receptor structure and function.

Chromosomal localization and nucleoside diphosphate kinase activity of human metastasis-suppressor genes NM23-1 and NM23-2

Human metastasis-suppressor genes nm23-1 (NME1) and nm23-2 (NME2) are implicated in control of the metastatic potential of malignant cells. Using somatic cell hybrid analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization we co-localized both genes to 17q21.3. The 17q21 region carries the locus responsible for early-onset familial breast-ovarian cancer and several other genes that are involved in tumorigenesis and differentiation and undergo frequent rearrangements during neoplastic development. Thus, our mapping places the NME genes in a region that may be subjected to multiple selection pressures. NME1 and NME2 genes were expressed as soluble proteins in a T7 bacterial expression system. Both proteins are independently active nucleotide diphosphate kinases and readily form intra- and intermolecular disulfide bonds. The biochemical properties of these proteins may explain the diversity of mature eucaryotic nucleoside diphosphate kinases.