A tumor promoter stimulates phosphorylation on tyrosine

Degradation and biosynthesis of the glucose transporter protein in chicken embryo fibroblasts transformed by the src oncogene

The rate of glucose transport in cultured fibroblasts is regulated to a number of physiological variables, including malignant transformation by src, glucose starvation, and stimulation with mitogens. Much of this transport regulation can be accounted for by variations in the amount of transporter protein in the cells. To determine the mechanisms by which levels of the transporter are regulated, we measured the rates of synthesis and degradation of the transporter by pulse-chase experiments and immunoprecipitation of the transporter. We found that transformation by the src oncogene results in a large decrease in the rate at which the transporter protein is degraded but that it does not appreciably increase the rate of transporter biosynthesis. On the other hand, glucose starvation and mitogen stimulation increase the rate of transporter biosynthesis, although a role for control of degradation is possible in these circumstances also. Variations in the rate of glucose transport or the amount of the transporter are not associated with phosphorylation of the transporter protein.

The protein-tyrosine kinase substrate p36 is also a substrate for protein kinase C in vitro and in vivo

p36, a major in vivo substrate of protein-tyrosine kinases, is shown to be phosphorylated at serine 25, a site very close to the major site of tyrosine phosphorylation by pp60v-src, tyrosine 23 (J. R. Glenney, Jr., and B. F. Tack, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:7884-7888, 1985). We present evidence suggesting that protein kinase C mediates phosphorylation of serine 25.

Tyrosine phosphorylation in cells treated with transforming growth factor-beta

Cells stimulated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) or any one of a diverse group of other mitogenic agents display an increased tyrosine phosphorylation of a pair of 42,000 Mr proteins. Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta) is able to potentiate the mitogenic effects of Epidermal Growth Factor on some fibroblastic cells (such as the NRK-49F cell line) and, in addition, permits the anchorage-independent growth of these cells. In this study we asked whether these growth-regulatory actions of Transforming Growth Factor-beta are associated with changes in tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins, in particular the 42,000 Mr proteins. We found no effect of Transforming Growth Factor-beta on the extent or time-course of tyrosine phosphorylation, either by itself or in combination with Epidermal Growth Factor. Since the tyrosine phosphorylation of the 42,000 Mr proteins is stimulated both by receptors with tyrosine kinase activity and by diacylglycerol analogs (but not by Transforming Growth Factor-beta), we suggest that the activity of the receptor for Transforming Growth Factor-beta is linked neither to tyrosine phosphorylation nor to phosphatidyl inositol turnover.

Major substrate for growth factor-activated protein-tyrosine kinases is a low-abundance protein

A scarce, soluble, conserved protein was identified as the nonphosphorylated precursor of two related 42-kilodalton phosphoproteins that contain phosphotyrosine in mitogen-stimulated but not control fibroblasts.

Antigen activation of murine T cells induces tyrosine phosphorylation of a polypeptide associated with the T cell antigen receptor

The antigen receptor complex on murine MHC class II-restricted T cells consists of disulfide-linked alpha and beta chains noncovalently associated with four additional polypeptides, two that are endoglycosaminidase F-sensitive, gp26 and gp21, and two that are endoglycosaminidase F-resistant, p25 and p16. We demonstrate here that treatment of murine T cell hybridomas with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate results in phosphorylation of p25 and gp21 on serine residues. However, activation of cells by antigen results in the phosphorylation of the gp21 chain and a heretofore unidentified 21 kd protein. This newly defined polypeptide, p21, is specifically immunoprecipitated with the antigen receptor complex, is endoglycosaminidase F-resistant, and is itself part of a disulfide-linked molecule. Unlike antigen-induced phosphorylation of gp21, which occurs on serine residues, phosphorylation of p21 occurs uniquely on tyrosine residues.

Protein phosphorylation in a tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate-nonproliferative variant of 3T3 cells

The 3T3-TNR9 cell line is a variant of Swiss 3T3 cells which does not respond mitogenically to tumor promoters, but does respond mitogenically to epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and serum. To elucidate differences between tumor promoters and polypeptide mitogens in the pathway(s) of mitogenesis which might be responsible for the nonresponsiveness of the 3T3-TNR9 cells, we have examined in these cells the early protein phosphorylation events known to be associated with mitogenesis in the parental 3T3 cells. We find that the 3T3-TNR9 cells display levels of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate binding and of a calcium- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase activity which are at least the equal of those seen in the parental 3T3 cells, implicating some postreceptor event in the nonmitogenic phenotype. In addition, we find that phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor and of 80-kDa and 22-kDa proteins, as well as the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 42-kDa protein, all proceed normally in the nonmitogenic variant, even though these phosphorylations must depend on the activation of different kinases. Thus, all these early phosphorylation reactions are intact in the 3T3-TNR9 cells. Although these phosphorylations may be necessary, they clearly are insufficient to trigger mitogenesis.

Phorbol-induced recruitment of lymphocytes for spontaneous cytolysis of natural killer-insensitive tumor targets

Natural killer (NK) cells lyse a variety of tumor cells in vitro whereas NK-depleted unsensitized lymphocytes do not have this effect. In studies designed to elucidate the NK phenomenon, a series of experiments was carried out to identify properties of NK-sensitive targets and compare these with those of NK-insensitive targets and with targets rendered sensitive by treatment with phorbol esters. Following brief exposure to phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), the targets were thoroughly washed, and then incubated with lymphocyte preparations which were either enriched for or depleted of NK cells. PMA treatment increased the susceptibility of sensitive targets to NK-enriched fractions by only 20-30%, but made the NK-cell-insensitive targets markedly vulnerable to these effectors (80% lysis). Unexpectedly, brief PMA exposure also rendered cells susceptible to lysis by NK-cell-depleted lymphocytes. Yet, such targets were not killed by monocytes or B lymphocytes. Elimination of T8 lymphocytes from the NK-depleted fractions abolished lysis. To explore whether PMA had induced membrane changes not detectable on electron microscopy of thin sections, freeze-fracture studies were carried out on target cells before and after treatment with PMA. Freeze-fracture replicas of target cells which had been exposed to PMA exhibited a 50% reduction of the intramembranous particles (IMP) on the external leaflet of the plasma membrane but no changes in the number or size of the IMP associated with the protoplasmic leaflet face. The exact relationship of the structural changes and enhanced susceptibility to cytolysis has not yet been established. However, the observation that normal and tumor cells can be rendered vulnerable to lysis by lymphocytes which have not been sensitized immunologically may have practical applications.

The protein-tyrosine kinase substrate p36 is also a substrate for protein kinase C in vitro and in vivo

p36, a major in vivo substrate of protein-tyrosine kinases, is shown to be phosphorylated at serine 25, a site very close to the major site of tyrosine phosphorylation by pp60v-src, tyrosine 23 (J. R. Glenney, Jr., and B. F. Tack, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:7884-7888, 1985). We present evidence suggesting that protein kinase C mediates phosphorylation of serine 25.

Rous sarcoma virus transforming protein lacking myristic acid phosphorylates known polypeptide substrates without inducing transformation

Mutagenesis of glycine 2 of p60src, the transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), yields a protein that is neither myristylated nor bound to cellular membranes. Although these mutant viruses retain full tyrosine protein kinase activity, they are transformation-defective. We examined in detail tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular polypeptides and the phenotype induced by infection with two such viruses. Infection failed to cause growth in agar, cytoskeletal reorganization, or changes in fibronectin synthesis and protease secretion. Strikingly, tyrosine phosphorylation of the known substrates of p60src was extensive, and differed from that found in wild-type transformed cells only quantitatively. There was no apparent correlation between the extent to which any of eight known protein substrates of p60src were phosphorylated and the phenotype of infected cells. We suggest that the phosphorylation of as yet unidentified proteins, which are probably found in cellular membranes, is essential for transformation by RSV.

Major substrate for growth factor-activated protein-tyrosine kinases is a low-abundance protein

A scarce, soluble, conserved protein was identified as the nonphosphorylated precursor of two related 42-kilodalton phosphoproteins that contain phosphotyrosine in mitogen-stimulated but not control fibroblasts.

Regulation of a ribosomal protein S6 kinase activity by the Rous sarcoma virus transforming protein, serum, or phorbol ester

Protein kinase capable of phosphorylating 40S ribosomal protein S6 on serine residues has been detected in chicken embryo fibroblasts. This activity appears to be regulated in direct response to expression of pp60v-src in chicken embryo fibroblasts infected with a temperature-sensitive transformation mutant of Rous sarcoma virus. Partially purified S6 kinase was highly specific for S6 in 40S ribosomal subunits. The S6 kinase was not inhibited by calcium or by the heat-stable inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, nor was it activated by phosphatidylserine, diacylglycerol, and calcium. Thus, it is distinct from protein kinase C and cAMP-dependent protein kinase, which are capable of phosphorylating S6 in vitro. The tumor-promoter phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate also stimulated ribosomal protein S6 kinase activity in serum-starved chicken embryo fibroblasts, whereas phorbol, the inactive analog of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, had no effect. S6 kinase activity stimulated by expression of pp60v-src, by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, or by serum growth factors exhibited similar chromatographic properties upon ion-exchange chromatography. These results suggest that a common protein kinase may be activated by three diverse stimuli all involved in regulating cell proliferation.

Protein kinase C phosphorylates pp60src at a novel site

The transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus (pp60v-src) and its normal cellular homolog (pp60c-src) are demonstrated to be phosphorylated at serine 12 in vivo under certain conditions. We propose that protein kinase C is responsible for this modification based on the following evidence. First, the tumor promoters, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and teleocidin, and synthetic diacylglycerol, known activators of protein kinase C in vivo, cause nearly complete phosphorylation of pp60src at serine 12. Second, among five purified serine/threonine-specific protein kinases tested, only protein kinase C phosphorylates pp60c-src and pp60v-src in vitro at serine 12. Third, purified protein kinase C phosphorylates a synthetic peptide corresponding to the N-terminal 20 amino acids of pp60c-src at serine 12. The physiological significance of this novel phosphorylation is discussed.

Protein phosphorylation in a tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate-nonproliferative variant of 3T3 cells

The 3T3-TNR9 cell line is a variant of Swiss 3T3 cells which does not respond mitogenically to tumor promoters, but does respond mitogenically to epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and serum. To elucidate differences between tumor promoters and polypeptide mitogens in the pathway(s) of mitogenesis which might be responsible for the nonresponsiveness of the 3T3-TNR9 cells, we have examined in these cells the early protein phosphorylation events known to be associated with mitogenesis in the parental 3T3 cells. We find that the 3T3-TNR9 cells display levels of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate binding and of a calcium- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase activity which are at least the equal of those seen in the parental 3T3 cells, implicating some postreceptor event in the nonmitogenic phenotype. In addition, we find that phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor and of 80-kDa and 22-kDa proteins, as well as the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 42-kDa protein, all proceed normally in the nonmitogenic variant, even though these phosphorylations must depend on the activation of different kinases. Thus, all these early phosphorylation reactions are intact in the 3T3-TNR9 cells. Although these phosphorylations may be necessary, they clearly are insufficient to trigger mitogenesis.

Differential short-term effects of growth factors on fatty acid synthesis in isolated rat-liver cells

Hepatocytes in suspension, freshly isolated from meal-fed rats, were used to study the acute influence of growth factors on the rate of de novo fatty acid synthesis. Nerve growth factor (2.5 S) and epidermal growth factor caused a substantial increase in the rate of fatty acid synthesis, whereas fibroblast growth factor was inhibitory. Little effect was observed with nerve growth factor (7 S), bombesin or substance P. Transferrin did not affect hepatic fatty acid synthesis. The results are discussed in relation to the effects of insulin and tumor-promoting phorbol esters.

Modulation of the activity of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor by phorbol myristate acetate

Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) weakly activates Na+/H+ exchange in NR-6 cells. Simultaneously, PMA blocks the activation of Na+/H+ exchange by platelet-derived growth factor or by serum. Phorbol esters that do not activate protein kinase C do not show this metabolic response. We conclude that activation of Na+/H+ exchange by platelet-derived growth factor or serum does not require the intermediate activation of protein kinase C. We postulate from this and previous observations that a major role of protein kinase C is to act as an inhibitor of the activity of cell surface receptors, in particular mitogen receptors.

High tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity in normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes

Tyrosine-specific protein kinase (ATP:protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37) activity was measured in normal human nonadherent peripheral blood lymphocytes using synthetic peptide substrates having sequence homologies with either pp60src or c-myc. A high level of tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity was found associated with the cell particulate fraction (100 000 X g pellet). High-pressure liquid chromatography and phosphoamino acid analysis of the synthetic peptide substrates substantiated the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues by the particulate fraction enzyme. The human enzyme was also capable of phosphorylating a synthetic random polymer of 80% glutamic acid and 20% tyrosine. Enzyme activity was half-maximal with 22 microM Mg X ATP and had apparent Km values for the synthetic peptides from 1.9 to 7.1 mM. The enzyme preferred Mg2+ to Mn2+ for optimal activity and was stimulated 2-5-fold by low levels (0.05%) of some ionic as well as non-ionic detergents including deoxycholate, Nonidet P-40 and Triton X-100. The enzyme activity was not stimulated by N6;O2'-dibutyryl cyclic AMP (100 microM), N6;O2'-dibutyryl cyclic GMP (100 microM), Ca2+ (200 microM), insulin (1 microgram/ml) or homogeneous human T-cell growth factor (3 micrograms/ml) under the conditions used. Alkaline-resistant phosphorylation of particulate proteins in vitro revealed protein bands with Mr 59 000 and 54 000 suggesting that there are endogenous substrates for the human lymphocyte tyrosine protein kinase.

EGF receptor affinity is regulated by intracellular calcium and protein kinase C

Phorbol esters specifically reduce the binding of epidermal growth factor to surface receptors in intact cells, but not when added directly to isolated membranes. We show that after treatment of intact cells with phorbol myristate acetate, 125I-EGF binding is reduced in membranes prepared subsequently. High-affinity binding of 125I-EGF is modulated by an intracellular calcium-dependent regulatory process. Preventing calcium entry with EGTA or enhancing intracellular calcium with A23187 in intact cells modulates EGF receptor affinity in membranes isolated subsequently. Also, EGTA attenuates the usual inhibition of EGF binding caused by phorbol esters. Membrane preparations do not respond to phorbol ester treatment because the calcium- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C is removed or inactivated during membrane isolation. Reconstitution of unresponsive membranes with purified C kinase alters phosphorylation of the EGF receptor and restores the inhibitory effect of phorbol esters on 125I-EGF binding previously observed only in intact cells. Thus, activation of the Ca++-dependent enzyme, C kinase, modulates EGF receptor affinity, possibly via altered receptor phosphorylation.

Protein phosphorylation at tyrosine is induced by the v-erbB gene product in vivo and in vitro

The v-erbB gene product of avian erythroblastosis virus (AEV) has extensive homology with the receptor for epidermal growth factor (EGF). We report here that chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) transformed by AEV show enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of cellular polypeptides, including the 36 kd protein, which is phosphorylated in avian sarcoma virus-transformed fibroblasts, and the 42 kd protein, which is phosphorylated in mitogen-stimulated cells. CEF infected by AEV mutants with deletions in v-erbA showed enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation, whereas CEF infected by mutants with deletions in v-erbB did not. When membranes from AEV-transformed cells were incubated with gamma-32P-ATP, both the v-erbB gene product and the 36 kd cellular protein became phosphorylated at tyrosine. These results indicate that the v-erbB protein induces tyrosine phosphorylation in vivo and in vitro, and suggest that, like the EGF receptor, it possesses tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity.

Covalently bound myristate in a lymphoma tyrosine protein kinase

The murine lymphoma cell line LSTRA expresses high levels of a membrane-associated tyrosine protein kinase, which we now show to be acylated by [3H]myristate in vivo. This [3H]myristate-labeled tyrosine protein kinase is immunoprecipitated from detergent extracts of postnuclear particulate fractions with an antibody directed against its single site of tyrosine phosphorylation. This site has an amino acid sequence also found in the transforming proteins of the Rous sarcoma and Y73 viruses. Preincubation of the antibody with a peptide containing the same sequence completely blocks this immunoprecipitation. The [3H]myristate linkage to the protein is stable in boiling 2% NaDodSO4/0.125 M Tris Cl, pH 6.7/5% 2-mercaptoethanol, which suggests an amide rather than an ester linkage. Analogous attempts to label with [3H]palmitate show negligible incorporation into either nonnuclear particulate proteins or immunoprecipitated proteins. Chemical characterization of the immunoprecipitated protein isolated by NaDodSO4/PAGE verifies that the 3H label is in protein-associated myristate. Sonicated 5% NaDodSO4 extracts of LSTRA and YAC-1 (another murine lymphoma line) cells contain quite different distributions of myristoylated proteins.

pp60c-src is a substrate for phosphorylation when cells are stimulated to enter cycle

The endogenous cellular oncogene products, pp60c-src, exhibits a protein kinase activity, but is itself a phosphoprotein. Based on the assumption that pp60c-src might play a role in the control of cell proliferation, we have studied its behaviour as a substrate for phosphorylation known to occur when quiescent, serum-deprived cells are stimulated to enter cell cycle following addition of either serum, platelet-derived growth factor or the phorbol ester derivative, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate. For this purpose a partial purification of pp60c-src on DEAE ion-exchange chromatography was combined with immune precipitation. A 2-4-fold increase in serine phosphorylation of pp60c-src was consistently observed after stimulation of quiescent cells to growth.

Identification of the tyrosine protein kinase from LSTRA cells by use of site-specific antibodies

The lymphoma cell line LSTRA contains an elevated level of tyrosine protein kinase activity. It has been suggested that this elevated level of activity is due to the presence of a phosphoprotein with a molecular weight of 56,000 (pp56, formerly referred to as a 58,000-dalton protein). This paper describes the preparation of antibodies against pp56 through the use of a synthetic peptide that contains the sequence around the site of tyrosine phosphorylation in pp56, which is identical to the phosphorylation site in pp60src. These antipeptide antibodies specifically immunoprecipitated 32P-labeled pp56 from detergent extracts of LSTRA cells. In immunoblotting experiments, pp56 was the major antigen detected in the particulate fraction from LSTRA cells by the antipeptide antibodies. The antibodies were also used to show that the level of pp56 is greatly elevated in LSTRA cells. Incubation of the detergent extract of the particulate fraction from LSTRA cells with the antipeptide antibodies resulted in inhibition of most of the LSTRA cell tyrosine protein kinase activity. These results indicate that pp56 is the tyrosine protein kinase whose activity is elevated in LSTRA cells. This enzyme may be a member of the large family of protein kinases involved in the regulation of cell growth.

Stimulation of 3T3 cells induces transcription of the c-fos proto-oncogene

Transcription of the c-fos proto-oncogene is greatly increased within minutes of administering purified growth factors to quiescent 3T3 cells. This stimulation is the most rapid transcriptional response to peptide growth factors yet described, and implies a role for c-fos in cell-cycle control. Transformation by c-fos may result from a temporal deregulation of this control.

Phorbol ester, serum, and rous sarcoma virus transforming gene product induce similar phosphorylations of ribosomal protein S6

The addition of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a potent tumor promoter, to serum-starved quiescent chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) or C127 murine cells resulted in increased phosphorylation of 40S ribosomal protein S6. The effect of PMA on S6 phosphorylation in quiescent CEF was half-maximal at approximately equal to 100 nM and was readily observed at 16 nM. In addition, S6 phosphorylation was increased in serum-starved CEF incubated with the diacylglycerol derivative, 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol. S6 phosphorylation in PMA-stimulated, serum-stimulated, and serum-starved Rous sarcoma virus-transformed CEF was analyzed by phospho amino acid analysis, two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, limited proteolysis with V8 protease, and two-dimensional thin-layer electrophoresis of chymotryptic digests. Comparison of S6 phosphorylation by these methods suggests that phosphorylation of S6 stimulated by PMA, serum, or oncogenic transformation with Rous sarcoma virus occurs through common pathways. This is further supported by the observation that the simultaneous addition of PMA and serum to CEF or of either PMA or serum to Rous sarcoma virus-transformed CEF did not significantly further increase the incorporation of phosphate into S6.

Phosphorylation at a tyrosine residue of lipomodulin in mitogen-stimulated murine thymocytes

When murine thymocytes were stimulated by mitogens such as concanavalin A, the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, or 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, there was a marked increase of 32P incorporation into immunoprecipitable lipomodulin, a phospholipase inhibitory protein. These compounds enhanced 45Ca2+ influx into thymocytes, which, in turn, increased protein phosphorylation, probably by Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C). Cyclic 8-bromo-AMP, an inhibitor of lymphocyte mitogenesis, blocked the mitogen-stimulated phosphorylation of lipomodulin, although it stimulated the protein phosphorylation via cyclic AMP-dependent kinase (protein kinase A). On electrophoresis, the hydrolysates of 32P-labeled lipomodulin showed a single radioactive spot, which comigrated with authentic phosphotyrosine. The partially purified middle-sized tumor antigen was able to phosphorylate lipomodulin after being phosphorylated by protein kinase C but not by the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A. Our findings suggest that the activity of a tyrosine-specific kinase, which phosphorylates lipomodulin in vivo as well as in vitro, is stimulated by protein kinase C and inhibited by protein kinase A.

The phorbol ester, TPA inhibits glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity

The ability of glucagon (10 nM) to increase hepatocyte intracellular cyclic AMP concentrations was reduced markedly by the tumour-promoting phorbol ester TPA (12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate). The half-maximal inhibitory effect occurred at 0.14 ng/ml TPA. This action occurred in the presence of the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutylmethylxanthine (1 mM) indicating that TPA inhibited glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. TPA did not affect either the binding of glucagon to its receptor or ATP concentrations within the cell. TPA did inhibit the increase in intracellular cyclic AMP initiated by the action of cholera toxin (1 microgram/ml) under conditions where phosphodiesterase activity was blocked. TPA did not inhibit glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in a broken plasma membrane preparation unless Ca2+, phosphatidylserine and ATP were also present. It is suggested that TPA exerts its inhibitory effect on adenylate cyclase through the action of protein kinase C. This action is presumed to be exerted at the point of regulation of adenylate cyclase by guanine nucleotides.

Tumor-promoting phorbol ester stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation in U-937 monocytes

Solubilized lectin-purified extracts from human monocyte-like cells (U-937) and freshly isolated human mononuclear cells preincubated in the presence of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulated phosphorylation of synthetic tyrosine-containing polymers and of casein. Tyrosine phosphorylation was confirmed by phospho amino acid analysis. PMA stimulated phosphorylation of exogenous substrates in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. This phosphorylation reaction did not require addition of phospholipid, diolein, or calcium. Biologically inactive phorbol compounds did not stimulate phosphorylation in this system. In addition, PMA enhanced phosphorylation of a Mr approximately equal to 140,000 protein as well as several other endogenous proteins in the U-937 extracts. PMA treatment stimulated predominantly phosphorylation on tyrosine residues of the Mr 140,000 protein. Tyrosine phosphorylation, typical of growth-promoting peptides such as insulin or epidermal growth factor, is believed to play a role in regulating normal and disordered cellular growth and proliferation. The demonstration of PMA-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation might provide a clue to the mechanism of cellular differentiation and proliferation induced by the tumor promoter.

Phorbol esters potentiate tyrosine phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptors in A431 membranes by a calcium-independent mechanism

Incubation of membranes prepared from A431 cells with either epidermal growth factor (EGF) or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulates the transfer of 32phosphate from [gamma-32P]ATP into 8-10 membrane proteins. The major phosphorylated protein migrates on NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gels with an apparent Mr of 180,000, corresponding to the previously identified EGF receptor. Stimulation of EGF receptor phosphorylation by PMA does not require Ca2+, suggesting that prior activation of protein kinase C is not a prerequisite for phosphate transfer. PMA-enhanced phosphorylation proceeds at 4 degrees C and requires Mn2+, both properties of tyrosine-specific protein kinases. Phospho amino acid analysis of the Mr 180,000 receptor band shows that only tyrosine residues are phosphorylated when A431 membranes are treated with either EGF or PMA. Moreover, proteolysis reveals that these residues are located in the same peptides of the receptor. These results demonstrate that a potent tumor-promoting phorbol ester can mimic a critical early response usually elicited by EGF.

Diverse mitogenic agents induce the phosphorylation of two related 42,000-dalton proteins on tyrosine in quiescent chick cells

Incubation of quiescent chicken embryo cells with platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, or serum was found to stimulate phosphorylation of two proteins of ca. 42,000 daltons on tyrosine. These proteins are structurally related to each other and to two proteins phosphorylated on tyrosine under similar conditions in mitogen-treated mouse fibroblasts. Three other very different mitogenic agents, the protease trypsin and the chemically unrelated tumor promoters 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate and teleocidin, stimulated phosphorylation of the same proteins. In all cases, phosphotyrosine was detected in these phosphoproteins. Although additional changes in protein phosphorylation were evident, no other proteins were observed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis which contained increased amounts of phosphotyrosine in mitogen-treated chicken embryo cells. One of these 42,000-dalton proteins was shown previously to be phosphorylated on tyrosine in chicken embryo cells transformed with various retroviruses whose transforming proteins possess tyrosine protein kinase activity. Phosphorylation of the 42,000-dalton proteins could be important in the regulation of cell division.

Diverse mitogenic agents induce the phosphorylation of two related 42,000-dalton proteins on tyrosine in quiescent chick cells

Incubation of quiescent chicken embryo cells with platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, or serum was found to stimulate phosphorylation of two proteins of ca. 42,000 daltons on tyrosine. These proteins are structurally related to each other and to two proteins phosphorylated on tyrosine under similar conditions in mitogen-treated mouse fibroblasts. Three other very different mitogenic agents, the protease trypsin and the chemically unrelated tumor promoters 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate and teleocidin, stimulated phosphorylation of the same proteins. In all cases, phosphotyrosine was detected in these phosphoproteins. Although additional changes in protein phosphorylation were evident, no other proteins were observed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis which contained increased amounts of phosphotyrosine in mitogen-treated chicken embryo cells. One of these 42,000-dalton proteins was shown previously to be phosphorylated on tyrosine in chicken embryo cells transformed with various retroviruses whose transforming proteins possess tyrosine protein kinase activity. Phosphorylation of the 42,000-dalton proteins could be important in the regulation of cell division.