Altered regulation of insulin signaling components in adipocytes of insulin-resistant type II diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats

We investigated the cellular mechanism(s) of insulin resistance associated with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) using adipocytes isolated from non-obese, insulin-resistant type II diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, a well-known genetic rat model for type II diabetic humans. In adipocytes isolated from control rats, insulin (5 nmol/L) stimulated particulate serine/threonine protein phosphatase-1 (PP-1) activity (56% increase over the basal value after 5 minutes). In contrast, adipocytes from diabetic GK rats exhibited a 32% decrease in basal (P < .05) and a 65% decrease in insulin-stimulated PP-1 activity compared with values in control Wistar rats. Conversely, cytosolic PP-2A activity was elevated in diabetic GK rats in the basal state (twofold increase v controls, P < .05). Insulin treatment resulted in a 50% to 60% inhibition in PP-2A activity in control rats, but failed to inhibit PP-2A activity in diabetic GK rat adipocytes. The defects in PP-1/PP-2A activation/inactivation were accompanied by inhibition of insulin's effect on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. In addition, insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor (IR) substrate-1 (IRS-1) was decreased more than 90% compared with control values, while a twofold increase in basal IRS-1 phosphorylation status was observed in diabetic GK rats. The abnormalities in IRS-1 phosphorylation were accompanied by a severe impairment of insulin-mediated targeting of the Grb2/Sos complex to the plasma membrane. We conclude that (1) a rapid activation of PP-1 along with concomitant inhibition of cytosolic PP-2A may be important in the mechanism of insulin action in a normal cell, and (2) the resistance to insulin in terms of glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis observed in diabetic GK rats is partly due to defective regulation of PP-1, PP-2A, and MAPK caused by multiple defects in the upstream insulin signaling components (IRS-1/phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase [PI3-kinase] and Grb2/Sos) that participate in insulin-mediated activation of PP-1 and inactivation of PP-2A.

A molecular basis for insulin resistance. Elevated serine/threonine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and IRS-2 inhibits their binding to the juxtamembrane region of the insulin receptor and impairs their ability to undergo insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) or chronic hyperinsulinemia that induce insulin resistance trigger increased Ser/Thr phosphorylation of the insulin receptor (IR) and of its major insulin receptor substrates, IRS-1 and IRS-2. To unravel the molecular basis for this uncoupling in insulin signaling, we undertook to study the interaction of Ser/Thr-phosphorylated IRS-1 and IRS-2 with the insulin receptor. We could demonstrate that, similar to IRS-1, IRS-2 also interacts with the juxtamembrane (JM) domain (amino acids 943-984) but not with the carboxyl-terminal region (amino acids 1245-1331) of IR expressed in bacteria as His6 fusion peptides. Moreover, incubation of rat hepatoma Fao cells with TNFalpha, bacterial sphingomyelinase, or other Ser(P)/Thr(P)-elevating agents reduced insulin-induced Tyr phosphorylation of IRS-1 and IRS-2, markedly elevated their Ser(P)/Thr(P) levels, and significantly reduced their ability to interact with the JM region of IR. Withdrawal of TNFalpha for periods as short as 30 min reversed its inhibitory effects on IR-IRS interactions. Similar inhibitory effects were obtained when Fao cells were subjected to prolonged (20-60 min) pretreatment with insulin. Incubation of the cell extracts with alkaline phosphatase reversed the inhibitory effects of insulin. These findings suggest that insulin resistance is associated with enhanced Ser/Thr phosphorylation of IRS-1 and IRS-2, which impairs their interaction with the JM region of IR. Such impaired interactions abolish the ability of IRS-1 and IRS-2 to undergo insulin-induced Tyr phosphorylation and further propagate the insulin receptor signal. Moreover, the reversibility of the TNFalpha effects and the ability to mimic its action by exogenously added sphingomyelinase argue against the involvement of a proteolytic cascade in mediating the acute inhibitory effects of TNFalpha on insulin action.

Insulin and epidermal growth factor stimulate a conformational change in Rap1 and dissociation of the CrkII-C3G complex

Insulin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation of Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the human insulin and EGF receptors resulted in a time-dependent decrease in the ability of a Rap1 antibody (amino acid epitope 121-136) to immunoprecipitate Rap1 from whole cell detergent extracts. This was due to an apparent masking of Rap1 as heat denaturation of the whole cell detergent extracts (5 min at 100 degrees C) resulted in equal immunoprecipitation of Rap1 with this epitope-specific antibody. The time-dependent change in Rap1 immunoreactivity was paralleled with an insulin-stimulated dissociation of the CrkII-C3G complex. Similarly, EGF treatment also resulted in a time-dependent dissociation of the CrkII-C3G complex that occurred concomitant with the masking of the 121-136 Rap1 epitope. Furthermore, pretreatment of the cells with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, decreased both the basal and insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of CrkII that directly correlated with the amount of CrkII that was immunoprecipitated with C3G. Together, these data suggest that insulin and EGF stimulation result in the dissociation of the CrkII-C3G complex, thereby inducing an apparent conformation change in Rap1.

Signaling molecules involved in coupling growth hormone receptor to mitogen-activated protein kinase activation

We have shown previously that GH stimulates the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases designated ERKs (extracellular signal-regulated kinases) 1 and 2. To examine pathways coupling GH receptor (GHR) to MAP kinase activation, we have determined the effects of GH on SHC-growth factor receptor bound 2-son of Sevenless (SHC-Grb2-SOS) association and activation of Ras, Raf, and MAP-ERK kinase (MEK). GH promoted the rapid, transient association of SHC with the Grb2-SOS complex, which correlated with the time course of Ras, Raf, and MEK activation. Despite the continuous presence of GH, these activation events were transient with Ras, Raf, and MEK returning to near basal activity by 15 or 30 min. The inactivation of Ras, Raf, and MEK directly correlated with the serine/threonine phosphorylation of SOS and dissociation of SOS from Grb2 but not Grb2 from tyrosine-phosphorylated SHC. Phosphorylation was blocked by the MEK inhibitor, PD98059. Based upon the established functions of the MAP kinase pathway, these data indicate that GH stimulation results in the assembly of a SHC-Grb2-SOS complex that serves to activate Ras and thereby engage the Raf-MEK-ERK pathway. Activation of this pathway generates a feedback kinase cascade that phosphorylates SOS resulting in the dissociation of SHC-Grb2 complexes from SOS, thereby causing a more rapid termination of the signaling pathway than would result from SHC dephosphorylation.

STAT3 is a serine kinase target in T lymphocytes. Interleukin 2 and T cell antigen receptor signals converge upon serine 727

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) induces tyrosine phosphorylation of STATs 3 and 5 (signal transducer and activator of transcription). We now show that IL-2 regulation of STAT3 proteins in T cells is a complex response involving activation of two forms of STAT3: 90-kDa STAT3alpha and an 83-kDa carboxyl-terminal truncated STAT3beta. The phosphorylation of STAT proteins on serine residues is also required for competent STAT transcription. A critical serine phosphorylation site in STAT3alpha is at position 727. In this study we have produced an antisera specific for STAT3alpha proteins phosphorylated on serine 727 and used this to monitor the phosphorylation of this residue during T lymphocyte activation. Our results show that phosphorylation of STAT3alpha on serine 727 is not constitutive in quiescent T cells but can be induced by the cytokine IL-2. Interestingly, triggering of the T cell antigen receptor complex or activation of protein kinase C with phorbol esters also induces phosphorylation of serine 727 but without simultaneously inducing STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation or DNA binding. Hence, the present results show that STAT3 serine phosphorylation can be regulated independently of the tyrosine phosphorylation of this molecule. IL-2 and T cell antigen receptor complex induction of STAT3alpha serine 727 phosphorylation is dependent on the activity of the MEK/ERK pathway. Previous studies have identified H-7-sensitive kinase pathways that regulate STAT3 DNA binding. We show that H-7-sensitive pathways regulate STAT3 DNA binding in T cells. Nevertheless, we show that H-7-sensitive kinases do not regulate STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation or phosphorylation of serine 727. These results thus show that STAT3 proteins are targets for multiple kinase pathways in T cells and can integrate signals from both cytokine receptors and antigen receptors.

T cell receptor-induced phosphorylation of Sos requires activity of CD45, Lck, and protein kinase C, but not ERK

Stimulation of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) activates signaling pathways involving protein kinases, phospholipase Cgamma1, and Ras. How these second messengers interact to initiate distal activation events is an area of intense scrutiny. In this report, we confirm that TCR ligation results in phosphorylation of Sos, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Ras. This requires expression of both the CD45 tyrosine phosphatase and the Lck protein tyrosine kinase and depends upon signaling via protein kinase C. In contrast to previous studies examining requirements for Sos phosphorylation following insulin and epidermal growth factor receptor engagement, we show that TCR-induced phosphorylation of Sos does not require activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular-signal regulated kinase (MEK/ERK) pathway. However, the basal phosphorylation of Sos in T cells is affected by either MEK or MEK-dependent kinases. Although Sos phosphorylation results in its dissociation from Grb2 following insulin stimulation in Chinese hamster ovary cells, TCR engagement on the Jurkat T cell line fails to elicit a similar effect. These data demonstrate that the kinases responsible for Sos phosphorylation differ following ligation of various cell surface receptors and that the consequences of Sos phosphorylation relies, at least in part, on sites of its phosphorylation.

Erythropoietin and Interleukin-3 Activate Tyrosine Phosphorylation of CBL and Association With CRK Adaptor Proteins

Transformation of hematopoietic cells by the Bcr-abl oncoprotein leads to constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of cellular polypeptides that function in normal growth factor-dependent cell proliferation. Recent studies have shown that the CrkL adaptor protein and the Cbl protooncoprotein are constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated and form a preformed complex in cells expressing Bcr-abl. In the current study, we have examined cytokine-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl and its association with Crk proteins. Erythropoietin (EPO) and interleukin-3 induced a dose and time-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl in both EPO-dependent Ba/F3 and DA-3 transfectants, and the erythroid cell line HCD-57. Furthermore, once phosphorylated, Cbl associated with Crk adaptor proteins. Of the three Crk isoforms expressed in hematopoietic cells (CrkL, CrkII, and CrkI), tyrosine phosphorylated Cbl binds preferentially to CrkL and CrkII. The amount of Cbl associated with CrkL and CrkII exceeded the fraction of Cbl associated with Grb2 indicating that unlike other receptor systems, the Cbl-Crk association represents the dominant complex of Cbl in growth factor-stimulated hematopoietic cells. In factor-dependent hematopoietic cell lines, CrkL constitutively associated with the guanine nucleotide release factor, C3G, which is known to interact via Crk src-homology 3 (SH3) domains. Our data suggest that the inducible Cbl-Crk association is a proximal component of a signaling pathway downstream of multiple cytokine receptors.

Signal transduction pathway of human fibroblast growth factor receptor 3. Identification of a novel 66-kDa phosphoprotein

Stimulation of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) results in a variety of functional effects, including regulation of epithelial cell growth and differentiation. In order to characterize the signaling pathway through which FGFR3 regulates cell growth, L6 cells lacking any endogenous FGFR were stably transfected with the two different human isoforms, FGFR3 IIIb and FGFR3 IIIc, that result from alternative splicing of exon III of the FGFR3 gene encoding the ligand binding domain. Expression of FGFR3 IIIc in stably transfected L6 cells conferred growth responses to several members of the FGF family including FGF-1, -2, -4, and -6, while FGFR3 IIIb-expressing cells responded only to FGF-1. Activation of FGFR3 upon ligand binding resulted in activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. FGFR3 utilizes two different pools of adapter protein GRB2 to link to Ras. Activated FGFR3 predominantly interacts with GRB2.Sos in complex with a previously identified 90-kDa protein and designated protein 80K-H. In addition, 80K-H.GRB2. Sos complex was found to contain a novel 66-kDa protein. Tyrosine phophorylation of the 66-kDa protein was dependent on ligand activation of FGFR3, suggesting that the 66-kDa protein may play an important role in FGFR3-specific signaling. In addition to this unique pathway, FGFR3 also links to GRB2.Sos complex via the adapter protein Shc. Furthermore, activated FGFR3 was not able to induce dissociation of GRB2.Sos complex following Sos phosphorylation. In summary, FGFR3 signaling pathway utilizes two GRB2-containing complexes; Shc.GRB2.Sos and 80K-H.pp66.GRB2.Sos; these two complexes may alternatively link FGFG3 to mitogen-activated protein kinase. Finally, activated FGFR3 was also found to result in phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma but reduced phosphorylation of c-Src.

Controlling epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated Ras activation in intact cells by a cell-permeable peptide mimicking phosphorylated EGF receptor

Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated Ras activation involves specific interactions between the EGF receptor (EGFR), the adaptor proteins Grb2 and Shc, and the nucleotide exchange factor Sos-1. Study and control of these protein-protein interactions in vivo can be greatly promoted by introducing intracellular reagents that mimic EGFR functions. Here, we showed that a synthetic phosphopeptide encompassing the autophosphorylation site 1068 of EGFR formed a complex with endogenous Grb2 after this peptide was delivered into intact cells by a cell-permeable peptide import technique. Consequently, this intracellular peptide inhibited EGF-induced EGFR/Grb2 associations but not EGFR/Shc or Shc/Grb2 associations. Peptide-mediated disruption of the EGF/Grb2/Sos-1 cascade led to reduced Ras activation and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. These results indicate that the binding of Grb2 to the phosphorylated Tyr-1068 of EGFR is crucial to the EGF-induced Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. The application of cell-permeable peptides to this study demonstrates a useful biochemical tool to probe and control various intracellular processes involved in signal transduction and gene transcription.

Interactions between Src homology (SH) 2/SH3 adapter proteins and the guanylnucleotide exchange factor SOS are differentially regulated by insulin and epidermal growth factor

Co-immunoprecipitation of whole cell extracts demonstrated that the guanylnucleotide exchange factor SOS was associated with the small adapter proteins Grb2, CrkII, and Nck. In vitro binding indicated a similar binding affinity of SOS for all three adapter proteins but with a slightly lower Kd for Grb2 (approximately 2.5-fold) compared with Nck and CrkII. Insulin stimulation resulted in co-immunoprecipitation of tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS1 with Grb2 and to a lesser extent CrkII. Although Grb2 also associated with tyrosine-phosphorylated Shc, there was no detectable interaction of CrkII with Shc. In contrast, EGF stimulation resulted in the predominant co-immunoprecipitation of Grb2 with the EGF receptor, whereas CrkII primarily associated with an unidentified 120-130-kDa protein. Similar to the ability of insulin to induce the dissociation of the Grb2-SOS complex, there was a concomitant time-dependent dissociation of the CrkII-SOS and Nck-SOS complexes. However, EGF stimulation had no effect on the association state of the Grb2-SOS or the Nck-SOS complexes but did result in a time-dependent dissociation of the CrkII from SOS. Together, these data demonstrate that different cellular pools of SOS associate with different adapter proteins forming various signaling complexes, each undergoing distinct patterns of assembly/disassembly following growth factor stimulation.

Insulin and epidermal growth factor receptors regulate distinct pools of Grb2-SOS in the control of Ras activation

Insulin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulate a rapid but transient increase in the amount of GTP bound to Ras that returns to the basal GDP-bound state within 10-30 min. Although insulin stimulation resulted in a dissociation of the Grb2.SOS complex, EGF did not affect the Grb2.SOS complex but instead induced dissociation of Grb2-SOS from tyrosine-phosphorylated Shc. The dissociation of Grb2-SOS from Shc was not due to dephosphorylation as Shc remained persistently tyrosine-phosphorylated during this time. Furthermore, there was no decrease in the extent of insulin receptor substrate 1, insulin receptor, or EGF receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. Surprisingly, however, despite the EGF-induced decrease in the amount of Grb2-SOS bound to Shc, the extent of Grb2 associated with Shc remained constant, and there was a concomitant increase in the amount of SOS associated with Grb2. In addition, after the insulin-stimulated dissociation of Grb2 from SOS, EGF treatment induced the reassociation of the Grb2.SOS complex. Quantitative immunoprecipitation demonstrated that only a small fraction of the total cellular pool of Grb2 was associated with SOS. Similarly, only a small fraction of SOS and Grb2 were co-immunoprecipitated with Shc. Together, these data suggest the presence of distinct Grb2-SOS pools that are independently utilized by insulin and EGF in their recruitment to tyrosine-phosphorylated Shc.

Role of the Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in p21ras desensitization

Desensitization of p21(ras) after stimulation of cells by growth factors and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) correlates with hyperphosphorylation of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Son-of-sevenless (Sos) and its dissociation from the adaptor protein Grb2 (Cherniack, A., Klarlund, J. K., Conway, B. R., and Czech, M. P. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 1485-1488). To test the role of the Raf/mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway, we utilized cells expressing a chimera composed of the catalytic domain of p74Raf-1 and the hormone binding domain of the estradiol receptor (DeltaRaf-1:ER). Estradiol markedly stimulated DeltaRaf-1:ER and the downstream MEK and MAP kinases in these cells as well as Sos phosphorylation. However, the dissociation of Grb2 from Sos observed in response to PMA was not apparent upon DeltaRaf-1:ER activation. Furthermore, stimulation of DeltaRaf-1:ER did not impair GTP loading of p21(ras) in response to platelet-derived growth factor or epidermal growth factor. We conclude that activation of the Raf/MAP kinase pathway alone in these cells is insufficient to cause disassembly of Sos from Grb2 or to interrupt the ability of Sos to catalyze activation of p21(ras).

Epidermal growth factor receptor targeting prevents uncoupling of the Grb2-SOS complex

Insulin stimulates the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway leading to feedback phosphorylation of the Ras guanylnucleotide exchange protein SOS and dissociation of Grb2 from SOS. Even though epidermal growth factor (EGF) also stimulates ERK activity and phosphorylation of SOS similar to insulin, EGF induces a dissociation of the Grb2-SOS complex from Shc. To determine the molecular basis for this difference, we examined the signaling properties of a mutant EGF receptor lacking the five major autophosphorylation sites. Although EGF stimulation of the mutant EGF receptor activates ERK and phosphorylation of both Shc and SOS, it fails to directly associate with either Shc or Grb2. However, under these conditions EGF induces a dissociation of the Grb2-SOS complex suggesting a role for receptor and/or plasma membrane targeting in the stabilization of Grb2-SOS interaction. Consistent with this hypothesis, expression of an SH2 domain Grb2 mutant which is unable to mediate plasma membrane targeting of the Grb2-SOS complex results in both insulin- and EGF-stimulated uncoupling of Grb2 from SOS. Furthermore, a plasma membrane-bound Grb2 fusion protein remains constitutively associated with SOS. Together, these data demonstrate that EGF stimulation prevents the feedback uncoupling of Grb2 from SOS by inducing a persistent plasma membrane receptor targeting of the Grb2-SOS complex.

Interactions of Cbl with two adapter proteins, Grb2 and Crk, upon T cell activation

Several recent studies have demonstrated that Grb2, composed entirely of SH2 and SH3 domains, serves as an adaptor protein in tyrosine kinase signaling pathways. Cb1, the protein product of c-cbl proto-oncogene, has been reported to be phosphorylated on tyrosine residues upon T cell receptor (TCR) engagement. Here we show that in unstimulated Jurkat cells Cbl is co-immunoprecipitated with monoclonal antibody against Grb2. However, in lymphocytes activated through the TCR, Cbl loses its ability to bind to Grb2 precipitated either with anti-Grb2 antibody or with an immobilized tyrosine phosphopeptide, Y1068-P, derived from the epidermal growth factor receptor. In vitro studies confirm that the ability of Cb1 to bind to both SH3 domains of Grb2 is strongly reduced in activated T lymphocytes. Investigation of the time course of Cbl dissociation from Grb2 reveals that it is transient and correlates with the kinetics of tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl. Moreover, Cb1 is co-immunoprecipitated with Crk, another SH2/SH3 domain-containing protein, upon TCR stimulation. Tyrosine-phosphorylated Cbl binds exclusively to the SH2 domain of Crk. These results suggest that different adaptor proteins may have different roles in the regulation of c-cbl proto-oncogene product.

SOS phosphorylation and disassociation of the Grb2-SOS complex by the ERK and JNK signaling pathways

Insulin activation of Ras is mediated by the plasma membrane targeting of the guanylnucleotide exchange factor SOS associated with the small adapter protein Grb2. SOS also lies in an insulin-stimulated feedback pathway in which the serine/threonine phosphorylation of SOS results in disassociation of the Grb2-SOS complex thereby limiting the extent of Ras activation. To examine the relative role of the mitogen-activated protein kinases in the feedback phosphorylation of SOS we determined the signaling specificity of insulin, osmotic shock, and anisomycin to activate the ERK (extracellular-signal regulated kinase) and JNK (c-Jun kinase) pathways. In Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the human insulin receptor and murine 3T3L1 adipocytes, insulin specifically activated ERK with no significant effect on JNK, whereas anisomycin specifically activated JNK but was unable to activate ERK. In contrast, osmotic shock was equally effective in the activation of both kinase pathways. Insulin and osmotic shock, but not anisomycin, resulted in SOS phosphorylation and disassociation of the Grb2-SOS complex, demonstrating that the JNK pathway was not involved in the insulin-stimulated feedback uncoupling of the Grb2- SOS complex. Both the insulin and osmotic shock-induced activation of ERK was prevented by treatment of cells with the specific MEK inhibitor (PD98059). However, expression of dominant-interfering Ras (N17Ras) inhibited the insulin- but not osmotic shock-stimulated phosphorylation of ERK and SOS. These data demonstrate that activation of the ERK pathway, but not JNK, is responsible for the feedback phosphorylation and disassociation of the Grb2-SOS complex.

Blocked Ras activation in anergic CD4+ T cells

T cell anergy is a state of functional unresponsiveness characterized by the inability to produce interleukin-2 (IL-2) upon T cell receptor stimulation. The mitogen-activated protein kinases ERK-1 and ERK-2 and the guanosine triphosphate-binding protein p21ras were found to remain unactivated upon stimulation of anergic murine T helper cell 1 clones. The inability to activate the Ras pathway did not result from a defect in association among Shc, Grb-2, and murine Son of Sevenless, nor from a defect in their tyrosine phosphorylation. This block in Ras activation may lead to defective transactivation at activator protein 1 sites in anergic cells and may enable T cells to shut down IL-2 production selectively during anergy.

Synergistic effects of insulin and phorbol ester on mitogen-activated protein kinase in Rat-1 HIR cells

Regulation of the activity of the extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinases was examined in Rat-1 HIR, a fibroblast cell line overexpressing the human insulin receptor. Insulin or phorbol ester induced partial activations of ERKs, while a combination of insulin and phorbol ester resulted in a synergistic activation. Preincubation with phorbol ester increased the subsequent response to insulin. Phorbol ester did not enhance tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor. Insulin did not enhance activation of phospholipase D in response to phorbol ester. Lysophosphatidic acid also acted synergistically with insulin to induce ERK activation. Lysophosphatidic acid alone had little effect on ERK, and did not activate phospholipase D. The combination of phorbol ester and insulin maintained tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase, while insulin alone decreased its tyrosine phosphorylation. Phorbol ester induced phosphorylation of She on serine/threonine, while insulin induced tyrosine phosphorylation of She and She-Grb2 binding. These results suggest that full activation of ERKs in fibroblasts can require the cooperation of at least two signaling pathways, one of which may result from a protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of effectors regulating ERK activation. In this manner, phorbol esters may enhance mitogenic signals initiated by growth factor receptors.

PD 098059 is a specific inhibitor of the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase in vitro and in vivo

PD 098059 has been shown previously to inhibit the dephosphorylated form of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-1 (MAPKK1) and a mutant MAPKK1(S217E,S221E), which has low levels of constitutive activity (Dudley, D. T., Pang, L., Decker, S. J., Bridges, A. J., and Saltiel, A. R. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 92, 7686-7689). Here we report that PD 098059 does not inhibit Raf-activated MAPKK1 but that it prevents the activation of MAPKK1 by Raf or MEK kinase in vitro at concentrations (IC50 = 2-7 microM) similar to those concentrations that inhibit dephosphorylated MAPKK1 or MAPKK1(S217E,S221E). PD 098059 inhibited the activation of MAPKK2 by Raf with a much higher IC50 value (50 microM) and did not inhibit the phosphorylation of other Raf or MEK kinase substrates, indicating that it exerts its effect by binding to the inactive form of MAPKK1. PD 098059 also acts as a specific inhibitor of the activation of MAPKK in Swiss 3T3 cells, suppressing by 80-90% its activation by a variety of agonists. The high degree of specificity of PD 098059 in vitro and in vivo is indicated by its failure to inhibit 18 protein Ser/Thr kinases (including two other MAPKK homologues) in vitro by its failure to inhibit the in vivo activation of MAPKK and MAP kinase homologues that participate in stress and interleukin-1-stimulated kinase cascades in KB and PC12 cells, and by lack of inhibition of the activation of p70 S6 kinase by insulin or epidermal growth factor in Swiss 3T3 cells. PD 098059 (50 microM) inhibited the activation of p42MAPK and isoforms of MAP kinase-activated protein kinase-1 in Swiss 3T3 cells, but the extent of inhibition depended on how potently c-Raf and MAPKK were activated by any particular agonist and demonstrated the enormous amplification potential of this kinase cascade. PD 098059 not only failed to inhibit the activation of Raf by platelet-derived growth factor, serum, insulin, and phorbol esters in Swiss 3T3 cells but actually enhanced Raf activity. The rate of activation of Raf by platelet-derived growth factor was increased 3-fold, and the subsequent inactivation that occurred after 10 min was prevented. These results indicate that the activation of Raf is suppressed and that its inactivation is accelerated by a downstream component(s) of the MAP kinase pathway.

Phosphorylation of NUMA occurs during nuclear breakdown and not mitotic spindle assembly

NuMA, the nuclear mitotic apparatus protein, is a component of the nuclear matrix at interphase that redistributes to the spindle poles at mitosis. While the function of NuMA is not known, it has been implicated in spindle organization during mitosis and nuclear reformation. Phosphorylation is thought to play a regulatory role in NuMA function. In this study, NuMA phosphorylation was examined through the cell cycle using highly synchronized cells. In intact cells labeled with 32P-orthophosphate, NuMA appeared as a 250 kDa phosphoprotein in interphase that shifted to a higher apparent molecular mass in mitosis. The shift was due to phosphorylation as shown by reduction of the shifted band to interphase mobility by phosphatase treatment. This phosphorylation event occurred roughly at the G2/M transition at the time of NuMA's release from the nucleus and its redistribution to the mitotic spindle. However, mitotic phosphorylation did not require spindle formation since the phosphorylated species was detected in nocodazole-treated cells lacking microtubule spindles. Dephosphorylation of NuMA occurred in two distinct steps, after lamin B assembled into the nuclear lamina, in early G1 and at the end of G1. Based on the timing of the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation observed in this study, we propose that they may play a role in nuclear events such as nuclear organization, transcription, or initiation of DNA replication at G1/S.

Negative feedback regulation and desensitization of insulin- and epidermal growth factor-stimulated p21ras activation

Insulin and epidermal growth factor receptors transmit signals for cell proliferation and gene regulation through formation of active GTP-bound p21ras mediated by the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Sos. Sos is constitutively bound to the adaptor protein Grb2 and growth factor stimulation induces association of the Grb2/Sos complex with Shc and movement of Sos to the plasma membrane location of p21ras. Insulin or epidermal growth factor stimulation induces a rapid increase in p21ras levels, but after several minutes levels decline toward basal despite ongoing hormone stimulation. Here we show that deactivation of p21ras correlates closely with phosphorylation of Sos and dissociation of Sos from Grb2, and that inhibition of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase (also known as extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) kinase, or MEK) blocks both events, resulting in prolonged p21ras activation. These data suggest that a negative feedback loop exists whereby activation of the Raf/MEK/MAP kinase cascade by p21ras causes Sos phosphorylation and, therefore, Sos/Grb2 dissociation, limiting the duration of p21ras activation by growth factors. A serine/threonine kinase downstream of MEK (probably MAP kinase) mediates this desensitization feedback pathway.

Divergent mechanisms for homologous desensitization of p21ras by insulin and growth factors

Previous work suggested that desensitization of p21ras in response to growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) results from receptor down-regulation. Here we show that p21ras is desensitized by insulin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in the continued presence of activated insulin receptors, while loss of epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors in response to their ligands correlates with p21ras desensitization. Furthermore, elevated amounts of Grb2/Shc complexes persisted throughout p21ras desensitization by insulin. However, immunoblotting of anti-Son-of-sevenless (Sos) 1 and 2 immunoprecipitates with anti-Grb2 antisera revealed that p21ras desensitization in response to insulin and PDGF, but not EGF, is associated with a marked decrease in cellular complexes containing Sos and Grb2 proteins. Nonetheless, the desensitization of p21ras in response to these stimuli was homologous, in that each peptide could reactivate [32P]GTP loading of p21ras after desensitization by any of the others. Taken together, these data indicate that insulin, EGF, and PDGF all cause disassembly of Sos proteins from signaling complexes during p21ras desensitization, but at least two mechanisms are involved. Insulin elicits dissociation of Sos from Grb2 SH3 domains, whereas EGF signaling is reversed by receptor down-regulation and Shc dephosphorylation, releasing Grb2 SH2 domains. PDGF action triggers both mechanisms of Grb2 disassembly, which probably operate in concert with GAP to attenuate p21ras signaling.

Desensitization of Ras activation by a feedback disassociation of the SOS-Grb2 complex

Activation of Ras by the exchange of bound GDP for GTP is predominantly catalyzed by the guanylnucleotide exchange factor SOS. Receptor tyrosine kinases increase Ras-GTP loading by targeting SOS to the plasma membrane location of Ras through the small adaptor protein Grb2. However, despite the continuous stimulation of receptor tyrosine kinase activity, Ras activation is transient and, in the case of insulin, begins returning to the GDP-bound state within 5 min. We report here that the cascade of serine kinases activated directly by Ras results in a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)-dependent phosphorylation of SOS and subsequent disassociation of the Grb2-SOS complex, thereby interrupting the ability of SOS to catalyze nucleotide exchange on Ras. These data demonstrate a molecular feedback mechanism accounting for the desensitization of Ras-GTP loading following insulin stimulation.

The Grb2 adaptor

Grb2 is an 'adaptor' protein made of one SH2 and two SH3 domains. The SH3 domains bind to prolinerich motifs in the C-terminal part of the ras exchange factor Sos. Binding of the Grb2 SH2 domain to phosphotyrosine motifs on receptors, or other adaptor proteins such as Shc, recruits this Grb2/Sos complex at the plasma membrane where Sos stimulates nucleotide exchange on ras, then ras activates raf and leads to MAP kinase activation. The structure of Grb2, the precise motifs recognised by its SH2 and SH3 domains, the way Grb2 performs its function, a possible regulation of its association with Sos, and its ability to complex with other proteins in vivo, are discussed.