Platelet-derived growth factor induces multisite phosphorylation of pp60c-src and increases its protein-tyrosine kinase activity

Phosphorylation and activation of epidermal growth factor receptors in cells transformed by the src oncogene

Because functionally significant substrates for the tyrosyl protein kinase activity of pp60v-src are likely to include membrane-associated proteins involved in normal growth control, we have tested the hypothesis that pp60v-src could phosphorylate and alter the signaling activity of transmembrane growth factor receptors. We have found that the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor becomes constitutively phosphorylated on tyrosine in cells transformed by the src oncogene and in addition displays elevated levels of phosphoserine and phosphothreonine. High-performance liquid chromatography phosphopeptide mapping revealed two predominant sites of tyrosine phosphorylation, both of which differed from the major sites of receptor autophosphorylation; thus, the src-induced phosphorylation is unlikely to occur via an autocrine mechanism. To determine whether pp60v-src altered the signaling activity of the EGF receptor, we analyzed the tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma, since phosphorylation of this enzyme occurs in response to activation of the EGF receptor but not in response to pp60v-src alone. We found that in cells coexpressing pp60v-src and the EGF receptor, phospholipase C-gamma was constitutively phosphorylated, a result we interpret as indicating that the signaling activity of the EGF receptor was altered in the src-transformed cells. These findings suggest that pp60v-src-induced alterations in phosphorylation and function of growth regulatory receptors could play an important role in generating the phenotypic changes associated with malignant transformation.

cDNA cloning and characterization of eck, an epithelial cell receptor protein-tyrosine kinase in the eph/elk family of protein kinases

A human epithelial (HeLa) cDNA library was screened with degenerate oligonucleotides designed to hybridize to highly conserved regions of protein-tyrosine kinases. One cDNA from this screen was shown to contain a putative protein-tyrosine kinase catalytic domain and subsequently used to isolate another cDNA from a human keratinocyte library that encompasses the entire coding region of a 976-amino-acid polypeptide. The predicted protein has an external domain of 534 amino acids with a presumptive N-terminal signal peptide, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic domain of 418 amino acids that includes a canonical protein-tyrosine kinase catalytic domain. Molecular phylogeny indicates that this protein kinase is closely related to eph and elk and that this receptor family is more closely related to the non-receptor protein-tyrosine kinase families than to other receptor protein-tyrosine kinases. Antibodies raised against a TrpE fusion protein immunoprecipitated a 130-kDa protein that became phosphorylated on tyrosine in immune complex kinase assays, indicating that this protein is a bona fide protein-tyrosine kinase. Analysis of RNA from 13 adult rat organs showed that the eck gene is expressed most highly in tissues that contain a high proportion of epithelial cells, e.g., skin, intestine, lung, and ovary. Several cell lines of epithelial origin were found to express the eck protein kinase at the protein and RNA levels. Immunohistochemical analysis of several rat organs also showed staining in epithelial cells. These observations prompted us to name this protein kinase eck, for epithelial cell kinase.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of the gap junction protein connexin43 is required for the pp60v-src-induced inhibition of communication

Gap junction communication in some cells has been shown to be inhibited by pp60v-src, a protein tyrosine kinase encoded by the viral oncogene v-src. The gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43) has been shown to be phosphorylated on serine in the absence of pp60v-src and on both serine and tyrosine in cells expressing pp60v-src. However, it is not known if the effect of v-src expression on communication results directly from tyrosine phosphorylation of the Cx43 or indirectly, for example, by activation of other second-messenger systems. In addition, the effect of v-src expression on communication based on other connexins has not been examined. We have used a functional expression system consisting of paired Xenopus oocytes to examine the effect of v-src expression on the regulation of communication by gap junctions comprised of different connexins. Expression of pp60v-src completely blocked the communication induced by Cx43 but had only a modest effect on communication induced by connexin32 (Cx32). Phosphoamino acid analysis showed that pp60v-src induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Cx43, but not Cx32. A mutation replacing tyrosine 265 of Cx43 with phenylalanine abolished both the inhibition of communication and the tyrosine phosphorylation induced by pp60v-src without affecting the ability of this protein to form gap junctions. These data show that the effect of pp60v-src on gap junctional communication is connexin specific and that the inhibition of Cx43-mediated junctional communication by pp60v-src requires tyrosine phosphorylation of Cx43.

Overexpression of c-src enhances beta-adrenergic-induced cAMP accumulation

During our investigations into the physiological role of c-src tyrosine kinase in normal cells, we found that clonal transfectants of C3H10T1/2 murine fibroblasts overexpressing chicken c-src exhibited strikingly elevated levels of cAMP accumulation in response to adrenergic stimulation as compared to control cells. Enhanced cAMP accumulations were detected when cells were treated with the beta-agonists, epinephrine, isoproterenol, or terbutaline and were blocked by treatment with the beta-specific antagonist propranolol, indicating action through beta-adrenergic receptors. The hyperresponsiveness was not observed in cells overexpressing kinase-defective c-src. No differences in basal levels of cAMP, agonist concentration dependence, or kinetics of cAMP accumulation were detected between cells containing elevated levels of wild-type or kinase-defective c-src protein and control cells. To determine if the degree of c-src overexpression could influence the response, multiple clones, transfected with DNA encoding genes for wild-type or kinase-defective c-src plus neomycin resistance or neomycin resistance alone, were derived in parallel and assayed for the amounts of c-src protein produced and the levels of cAMP accumulated in response to epinephrine. Only clones with abundant wild-type c-src protein (greater than 10-fold above endogenous) exhibited enhanced cAMP accumulation, averaging 3.3-fold above control cells. We conclude, therefore, that the enhanced degree of cAMP accumulation in cells overexpressing c-src is dependent upon activation of beta-adrenergic receptors and upon a threshold level of pp60c-src that retains full tyrosine kinase activity.

Identical Mr 70,000 S6 kinase is activated biphasically by epidermal growth factor: a phosphopeptide that characterizes the late phase

Mitogenic stimulation of quiescent mouse 3T3 cells with epidermal growth factor leads to biphasic S6 kinase activation. The kinases present in both phases of the response have been purified from 32P-labeled cells and shown to contain a phosphoprotein of equivalent Mr 70,000. Chromatographic analysis of the purified S6 kinases on a Mono Q column reveals that (i) all 32P-labeled protein coelutes with S6 kinase activity, (ii) only those fractions containing S6 kinase autophosphorylate, (iii) autophosphorylation is restricted to a single Mr 70,000 protein, and (iv) the extent of autophosphorylation directly parallels the degree of S6 kinase activation. Analysis of the two autophosphorylated S6 kinases by two-dimensional tryptic phosphopeptide mapping indicates that they are the same protein. Both in vivo 32P-labeled S6 kinases contain phosphoserine and phosphothreonine but no detectable phosphotyrosine. Two-dimensional tryptic peptide maps of the in vivo 32P-labeled S6 kinases are essentially identical, except for a single qualitative change in the late-phase S6 kinase.

Identification of Xenopus S6 protein kinase homologs (pp90rsk) in somatic cells: phosphorylation and activation during initiation of cell proliferation

We have identified human, mouse, and chicken homologs to Xenopus S6 protein kinase II (S6KII). In quiescent cells, the apparent molecular mass of the Xenopus homologs (referred to as pp90rsk) increased from a range of 81 to 91 to a range of 85 to 92 kilodaltons following serum addition, which is consistent with an increase in protein phosphorylation. Indeed, serum growth factors stimulated pp90rsk phosphorylation at multiple serine and threonine residues. Furthermore, pp90rsk activity was stimulated within seconds of serum addition. Distinct molecular sizes, chromatographic properties, phosphopeptide maps, and kinetics of activation, the lack of immunological cross-reactivity, and analysis of S6 kinase activities in cells that overexpressed pp90rsk suggest that pp90rsk and pp70-S6 protein kinase, a previously identified mitogen- and oncogene-regulated S6 kinase in cultured cells, are distinct and differentially regulated. The notion that both enzymes are regulated by protein phosphorylation was supported by the ability to inactivate their S6 phosphotransferase activities with potato acid phosphatase. These data demonstrate that homologs to the Xenopus S6 protein kinases are produced and regulated by protein phosphorylation in somatic cells and that, in addition to a proposed role in Xenopus oocyte maturation, these homologs may participate in the initiation of animal cell proliferation.

Activation of the proto-oncogene p60c-src by point mutations in the SH2 domain

To investigate the importance of a conserved region spanning residues 137 to 241 in the noncatalytic domain of p60c-src (SH2 region), we used oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis to change residues that are highly conserved in this region. Chicken embryo fibroblasts infected with a p60c-src variant containing arginine instead of tryptophan at residue 148 (W148R) appeared more rounded than cells overexpressing a normal c-src gene, and they formed colonies in soft agar. p60c-src variants containing serine instead of arginine at residue 155 (R155S) or isoleucine instead of glycine at residue 170 (G170I) also appeared transformed and were anchorage independent, but to a lesser extent than W148R. Mutation of residue 201 from histidine to leucine (H201L) had no observable effect. The in vitro kinase activity of cells infected with W148R or G170I was elevated twofold. Expression of p60W148R (or, to a lesser extent, of p60G170I) increased the number of proteins phosphorylated on tyrosine in infected cells. All of the mutants were phosphorylated in vivo on Tyr-527, instead of Tyr-416 as observed for p60v-src. Immunoprecipitated p60W148R and p60G170I were found to be associated with a phosphatidylinositol kinase activity, a factor which appears to be necessary for transformation by tyrosine-specific protein kinases. These results show that a single point mutation in the SH2 region of the cellular src gene can activate its transforming potential. This type of activation is in a new category of alterations at the amino terminus that activate but do not cause a shift in phosphorylation at the carboxy terminus.

Activation of the proto-oncogene p60c-src by point mutations in the SH2 domain

To investigate the importance of a conserved region spanning residues 137 to 241 in the noncatalytic domain of p60c-src (SH2 region), we used oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis to change residues that are highly conserved in this region. Chicken embryo fibroblasts infected with a p60c-src variant containing arginine instead of tryptophan at residue 148 (W148R) appeared more rounded than cells overexpressing a normal c-src gene, and they formed colonies in soft agar. p60c-src variants containing serine instead of arginine at residue 155 (R155S) or isoleucine instead of glycine at residue 170 (G170I) also appeared transformed and were anchorage independent, but to a lesser extent than W148R. Mutation of residue 201 from histidine to leucine (H201L) had no observable effect. The in vitro kinase activity of cells infected with W148R or G170I was elevated twofold. Expression of p60W148R (or, to a lesser extent, of p60G170I) increased the number of proteins phosphorylated on tyrosine in infected cells. All of the mutants were phosphorylated in vivo on Tyr-527, instead of Tyr-416 as observed for p60v-src. Immunoprecipitated p60W148R and p60G170I were found to be associated with a phosphatidylinositol kinase activity, a factor which appears to be necessary for transformation by tyrosine-specific protein kinases. These results show that a single point mutation in the SH2 region of the cellular src gene can activate its transforming potential. This type of activation is in a new category of alterations at the amino terminus that activate but do not cause a shift in phosphorylation at the carboxy terminus.

Identification of Xenopus S6 protein kinase homologs (pp90rsk) in somatic cells: phosphorylation and activation during initiation of cell proliferation

We have identified human, mouse, and chicken homologs to Xenopus S6 protein kinase II (S6KII). In quiescent cells, the apparent molecular mass of the Xenopus homologs (referred to as pp90rsk) increased from a range of 81 to 91 to a range of 85 to 92 kilodaltons following serum addition, which is consistent with an increase in protein phosphorylation. Indeed, serum growth factors stimulated pp90rsk phosphorylation at multiple serine and threonine residues. Furthermore, pp90rsk activity was stimulated within seconds of serum addition. Distinct molecular sizes, chromatographic properties, phosphopeptide maps, and kinetics of activation, the lack of immunological cross-reactivity, and analysis of S6 kinase activities in cells that overexpressed pp90rsk suggest that pp90rsk and pp70-S6 protein kinase, a previously identified mitogen- and oncogene-regulated S6 kinase in cultured cells, are distinct and differentially regulated. The notion that both enzymes are regulated by protein phosphorylation was supported by the ability to inactivate their S6 phosphotransferase activities with potato acid phosphatase. These data demonstrate that homologs to the Xenopus S6 protein kinases are produced and regulated by protein phosphorylation in somatic cells and that, in addition to a proposed role in Xenopus oocyte maturation, these homologs may participate in the initiation of animal cell proliferation.

Association of catalytic and regulatory subunits of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase requires a negatively charged side group at a conserved threonine

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as in higher eucaryotes, cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase is a tetramer composed of two catalytic (C) subunits and two regulatory (R) subunits. In the absence of cAMP, the phosphotransferase activity of the C subunit is inhibited by the tight association with R. Mutation of Thr-241 to Ala in the C1 subunit of S. cerevisiae reduces the affinity of this subunit for the R subunit approximately 30-fold and results in a monomeric cAMP-independent C subunit. The analogous residue in the mammalian C subunit is known to be phosphorylated. Peptide maps of in vivo 32P-labeled wild-type C1 and mutant C1(Ala241) suggest that Thr-241 is phosphorylated in yeast cells. Substituting Thr-241 with either aspartate or glutamate partially restored affinity for the R subunit. Uncharged and positively charged residues substituted at this site resulted in C subunits that failed to associate with the R subunit. Replacement with the phosphorylatable residue serine resulted in a C subunit with wild-type affinity for the R subunit. Analysis of this protein revealed that it appears to be phosphorylated on Ser-241 in vivo. These data suggest that the interaction between R and C involves a negatively charged phosphothreonine at position 241 of yeast C1, which can be mimicked by either aspartate, glutamate, or phosphoserine.

Association of catalytic and regulatory subunits of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase requires a negatively charged side group at a conserved threonine

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as in higher eucaryotes, cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase is a tetramer composed of two catalytic (C) subunits and two regulatory (R) subunits. In the absence of cAMP, the phosphotransferase activity of the C subunit is inhibited by the tight association with R. Mutation of Thr-241 to Ala in the C1 subunit of S. cerevisiae reduces the affinity of this subunit for the R subunit approximately 30-fold and results in a monomeric cAMP-independent C subunit. The analogous residue in the mammalian C subunit is known to be phosphorylated. Peptide maps of in vivo 32P-labeled wild-type C1 and mutant C1(Ala241) suggest that Thr-241 is phosphorylated in yeast cells. Substituting Thr-241 with either aspartate or glutamate partially restored affinity for the R subunit. Uncharged and positively charged residues substituted at this site resulted in C subunits that failed to associate with the R subunit. Replacement with the phosphorylatable residue serine resulted in a C subunit with wild-type affinity for the R subunit. Analysis of this protein revealed that it appears to be phosphorylated on Ser-241 in vivo. These data suggest that the interaction between R and C involves a negatively charged phosphothreonine at position 241 of yeast C1, which can be mimicked by either aspartate, glutamate, or phosphoserine.

Tyrosine kinase activity is essential for the association of phospholipase C-gamma with the epidermal growth factor receptor

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) treatment of NIH 3T3 cells transfected with wild-type EGF receptor induced tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma (PLC-gamma). The EGF receptor and PLC-gamma were found to be physically associated such that antibodies directed against PLC-gamma or the EGF receptor coimmunoprecipitated both proteins. The association between PLC-gamma and wild-type EGF receptor was dependent on the concentration of EGF, but EGF did not enhance the association between PLC-gamma and a kinase-negative mutant of the EGF receptor. Oligomerization of the EGF receptor was not sufficient to induce association of the EGF receptor with PLC-gamma, since the kinase-negative mutant receptor underwent normal dimerization in response to EGF yet did not associate with PLC-gamma. The form of PLC-gamma associated with the EGF receptor appeared to be primarily the non-tyrosine-phosphorylated form. It is concluded that the kinase activity of the EGF receptor is essential for association of PLC-gamma with the EGF receptor, possibly by stimulating receptor autophosphorylation.

Early activation of endogenous pp60src kinase activity during neuronal differentiation of cultured human neuroblastoma cells

The proto-oncogene product pp60c-src is a tyrosine-specific kinase with a still unresolved cellular function. High levels of pp60c-src in neurons and the existence of a neuronal pp60c-src variant, pp60c-srcN, suggest participation in the progress or maintenance of the differentiated phenotype of neurons. We have previously reported that phorbol esters, e.g., 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), stimulate human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells to neuronal differentiation, as monitored by morphological, biochemical, and functional differentiation markers. In this report, we describe activation of the pp60src (pp60c-src and pp60c-srcN) kinase activity observed at 6 h after induction of SH-SY5Y cells with TPA. This phenomenon coincides in time with neurite outgrowth, formation of growth cone-like structures, and an increase of GAP43 mRNA expression, which are the earliest indications of neuronal differentiation in these cells. The highest specific src kinase activity (a three- to fourfold increase 4 days after induction) was noted in cells treated with 16 nM TPA; this concentration is optimal for development of the TPA-induced neuronal phenotype. During differentiation, there was no alteration in the 1:1 ratio of pp60c-src to pp60c-srcN found in untreated SH-SY5Y cells. V8 protease and trypsin phosphopeptide mapping of pp60src from in vivo 32P-labeled cells showed that the overall phosphorylation of pp60src was higher in differentiated than in untreated cells, mainly because of an intense serine 12 phosphorylation. Tyrosine 416 phosphorylation was not detectable in either cell type, and no change during differentiation in tyrosine 527 phosphorylation was observed.

Tyrosine kinase activity is essential for the association of phospholipase C-gamma with the epidermal growth factor receptor

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) treatment of NIH 3T3 cells transfected with wild-type EGF receptor induced tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma (PLC-gamma). The EGF receptor and PLC-gamma were found to be physically associated such that antibodies directed against PLC-gamma or the EGF receptor coimmunoprecipitated both proteins. The association between PLC-gamma and wild-type EGF receptor was dependent on the concentration of EGF, but EGF did not enhance the association between PLC-gamma and a kinase-negative mutant of the EGF receptor. Oligomerization of the EGF receptor was not sufficient to induce association of the EGF receptor with PLC-gamma, since the kinase-negative mutant receptor underwent normal dimerization in response to EGF yet did not associate with PLC-gamma. The form of PLC-gamma associated with the EGF receptor appeared to be primarily the non-tyrosine-phosphorylated form. It is concluded that the kinase activity of the EGF receptor is essential for association of PLC-gamma with the EGF receptor, possibly by stimulating receptor autophosphorylation.

Early activation of endogenous pp60src kinase activity during neuronal differentiation of cultured human neuroblastoma cells

The proto-oncogene product pp60c-src is a tyrosine-specific kinase with a still unresolved cellular function. High levels of pp60c-src in neurons and the existence of a neuronal pp60c-src variant, pp60c-srcN, suggest participation in the progress or maintenance of the differentiated phenotype of neurons. We have previously reported that phorbol esters, e.g., 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), stimulate human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells to neuronal differentiation, as monitored by morphological, biochemical, and functional differentiation markers. In this report, we describe activation of the pp60src (pp60c-src and pp60c-srcN) kinase activity observed at 6 h after induction of SH-SY5Y cells with TPA. This phenomenon coincides in time with neurite outgrowth, formation of growth cone-like structures, and an increase of GAP43 mRNA expression, which are the earliest indications of neuronal differentiation in these cells. The highest specific src kinase activity (a three- to fourfold increase 4 days after induction) was noted in cells treated with 16 nM TPA; this concentration is optimal for development of the TPA-induced neuronal phenotype. During differentiation, there was no alteration in the 1:1 ratio of pp60c-src to pp60c-srcN found in untreated SH-SY5Y cells. V8 protease and trypsin phosphopeptide mapping of pp60src from in vivo 32P-labeled cells showed that the overall phosphorylation of pp60src was higher in differentiated than in untreated cells, mainly because of an intense serine 12 phosphorylation. Tyrosine 416 phosphorylation was not detectable in either cell type, and no change during differentiation in tyrosine 527 phosphorylation was observed.

The common src homology region 2 domain of cytoplasmic signaling proteins is a positive effector of v-fps tyrosine kinase function

A conserved noncatalytic domain SH2 (for src homology region 2) is located immediately N terminal to the kinase domains of all cytoplasmic protein-tyrosine kinases. We found that the wild-type v-fps SH2 domain stimulated the enzymatic activity of the adjacent kinase domain 10-fold and functioned as a powerful positive effector of catalytic and transforming activities within the v-fps oncoprotein (P130gag-fps). Partial proteolysis of P130gag-fps and supporting genetic data indicated that the v-fps SH2 domain exerts its effect on catalytic activity through an intramolecular interaction with the kinase domain. Amino acid alterations in the SH2 domain that impaired kinase function interfered with association of the SH2 domain with the kinase domain. Deletion of a conserved octapeptide motif converted the v-fps SH2 domain from an activator to an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase activity. This latent inhibitory activity of v-fps SH2 has functional implications for phospholipase C-gamma and p21ras GTPase-activating protein, both of which have two distinct SH2 domains suggestive of complex regulation. In addition to regulating the specific activity of the kinase domain, the SH2 domain of P130gag-fps was also found to be required for the tyrosine phosphorylation of specific cellular proteins, notably polypeptides of 124 and 62 kilodaltons. The SH2 domain therefore appears to play a dual role in regulation of kinase activity and recognition of cellular substrates.

Platelet-derived growth factor induces rapid and sustained tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma in quiescent BALB/c 3T3 cells

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulates the proliferation of quiescent fibroblasts through a series of events initiated by activation of tyrosine kinase activity of the PDGF receptor at the cell surface. Physiologically significant substrates for this or other growth factor receptor or oncogene tyrosine kinases have been difficult to identify. Phospholipase C (PLC), a key enzyme of the phosphoinositide pathway, is believed to be an important site for hormonal regulation of the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, which produces the intracellular second-messenger molecules inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and 1,2-diacylglycerol. Treatment of BALB/c 3T3 cells with PDGF led to a rapid (within 1 min) and significant (greater than 50-fold) increase in PLC activity, as detected in eluates of proteins from a phosphotyrosine immunoaffinity matrix. This PDGF-stimulated increase in phosphotyrosine-immunopurified PLC activity occurred for up to 12 h after addition of growth factor to quiescent cells. Interestingly, the PDGF stimulation occurred at 3 as well as 37 degrees C and in the absence or presence of extracellular Ca2+. Immunoprecipitation of cellular proteins with monoclonal antibodies specific for three distinct cytosolic PLC isozymes demonstrated the presence of a 145-kilodalton isozyme, PLC-gamma (formerly PLC-II), in BALB/c 3T3 cells. Furthermore, these immunoprecipitation studies showed that PLC-gamma is rapidly phosphorylated on tyrosine residues after PDGF stimulation. The results suggest that mitogenic signaling by PDGF is coincident with tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma.

The common src homology region 2 domain of cytoplasmic signaling proteins is a positive effector of v-fps tyrosine kinase function

A conserved noncatalytic domain SH2 (for src homology region 2) is located immediately N terminal to the kinase domains of all cytoplasmic protein-tyrosine kinases. We found that the wild-type v-fps SH2 domain stimulated the enzymatic activity of the adjacent kinase domain 10-fold and functioned as a powerful positive effector of catalytic and transforming activities within the v-fps oncoprotein (P130gag-fps). Partial proteolysis of P130gag-fps and supporting genetic data indicated that the v-fps SH2 domain exerts its effect on catalytic activity through an intramolecular interaction with the kinase domain. Amino acid alterations in the SH2 domain that impaired kinase function interfered with association of the SH2 domain with the kinase domain. Deletion of a conserved octapeptide motif converted the v-fps SH2 domain from an activator to an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase activity. This latent inhibitory activity of v-fps SH2 has functional implications for phospholipase C-gamma and p21ras GTPase-activating protein, both of which have two distinct SH2 domains suggestive of complex regulation. In addition to regulating the specific activity of the kinase domain, the SH2 domain of P130gag-fps was also found to be required for the tyrosine phosphorylation of specific cellular proteins, notably polypeptides of 124 and 62 kilodaltons. The SH2 domain therefore appears to play a dual role in regulation of kinase activity and recognition of cellular substrates.

Mutation of amino acids in pp60c-src that are phosphorylated by protein kinases C and A

The product of the c-src proto-oncogene, pp60c-src, is phosphorylated at Ser-17 by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A and at Ser-12 by calcium-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C (when stimulated by 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate). We tested the effects of Ser----Ala and Ser----Glu mutations at these sites in pp60c-src and in pp60c-src(F527) (a mutant whose transforming activities are enhanced by Tyr-527----Phe mutation) by transfecting single-, double-, and triple-mutant src expression plasmids into NIH 3T3 cells. Tryptic phosphopeptide analyses of the mutant proteins confirmed prior biochemical identifications of the phosphorylation sites and showed that neither separate nor coordinate mutations at Ser-12 and Ser-17 affected Tyr-416, Tyr-527, or Ser-48 phosphorylation or prevented mitosis-specific phosphorylations of either pp60c-src or pp60c-src(F527). Ser-12 mutation did not affect phosphorylation of the Ser-17-containing peptide, but mutation of Ser-17 significantly increased phosphorylation at Ser-12. Specific kinase activities (both with and without in vivo 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate treatment) and the abilities of pp60c-src and pp60c-src(F527) to induce foci, transformed morphologies, and anchorage-independent growth were unaffected by any of the serine mutations. Thus, pp60c-src transforming activity in NIH 3T3 cells is relatively insensitive to phosphorylation at these sites, but there is a suggestion that Ser-17 phosphorylation may have a subtle regulatory effect.

pp60c-src tyrosine kinase, myristylation, and modulatory domains are required for enhanced mitogenic responsiveness to epidermal growth factor seen in cells overexpressing c-src

In previous studies examining the potential role of pp60c-src in cellular proliferation, we demonstrated that C3H10T1/2 murine embryo fibroblasts overexpressing transfected chicken genomic c-src displayed an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced mitogenic response which was 200 to 500% of the response exhibited by parental control cells (Luttrell et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 8:497-501, 1988). In order to examine specific structural and functional requirements for pp60c-src in this event, 10T1/2 cells were transfected with chicken c-src genes encoding pp60c-src deficient in tyrosine kinase activity (pm430), myristylation, (pm2A), or a domain hypothesized to modulate the interaction with substrates or regulatory components (dl155). Neomycin-resistant clonal cell lines overexpressing each of the mutated c-src genes were assayed for EGF mitogenic responsiveness by measuring [3H]thymidine incorporation into acid-precipitable material or into labeled nuclei. The results were compared with those obtained with lines overexpressing the cDNA form of wild-type (wt) c-src or control cells transfected with the neomycin resistance gene only. As previously described for cells overexpressing wt genomic c-src (Luttrell et al., 1988), clones overexpressing wt cDNA c-src also exhibited enhanced EGF mitogenic responses ranging from approximately 300 to 400% of the control cell response. In contrast, clones overexpressing unmyristylated, modulation-defective, or kinase-deficient c-src not only failed to support an augmented response to EGF but also exhibited EGF responses lower than that of the control cells. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the mitogenic responses to 10% fetal calf serum among any of the cells tested. These results indicate that pp60(c-scr) can potentiate mitogenic signaling generated by EGF but not all growth factors. This potentiation requires the utilization of pp60(c-scr) myristylation, and modulatory and tyrosine kinase domains and can me mediated by cDNA-encoded as well as by genome-encoded wt pp60(c-scr).

Platelet-derived growth factor induces rapid and sustained tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma in quiescent BALB/c 3T3 cells

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulates the proliferation of quiescent fibroblasts through a series of events initiated by activation of tyrosine kinase activity of the PDGF receptor at the cell surface. Physiologically significant substrates for this or other growth factor receptor or oncogene tyrosine kinases have been difficult to identify. Phospholipase C (PLC), a key enzyme of the phosphoinositide pathway, is believed to be an important site for hormonal regulation of the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, which produces the intracellular second-messenger molecules inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and 1,2-diacylglycerol. Treatment of BALB/c 3T3 cells with PDGF led to a rapid (within 1 min) and significant (greater than 50-fold) increase in PLC activity, as detected in eluates of proteins from a phosphotyrosine immunoaffinity matrix. This PDGF-stimulated increase in phosphotyrosine-immunopurified PLC activity occurred for up to 12 h after addition of growth factor to quiescent cells. Interestingly, the PDGF stimulation occurred at 3 as well as 37 degrees C and in the absence or presence of extracellular Ca2+. Immunoprecipitation of cellular proteins with monoclonal antibodies specific for three distinct cytosolic PLC isozymes demonstrated the presence of a 145-kilodalton isozyme, PLC-gamma (formerly PLC-II), in BALB/c 3T3 cells. Furthermore, these immunoprecipitation studies showed that PLC-gamma is rapidly phosphorylated on tyrosine residues after PDGF stimulation. The results suggest that mitogenic signaling by PDGF is coincident with tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma.

Deletions within the amino-terminal half of the c-src gene product that alter the functional activity of the protein

To examine how amino acid sequences outside of the catalytic domain of pp60c-src influence the functional activity of this protein, we have introduced deletion mutations within the amino-terminal half of pp60c-src. These mutations caused distinct changes in the biochemical properties of the c-src gene products and in the properties of cells infected with retroviruses carrying these mutant c-src genes. Cells expressing the c-srcNX protein, which contains a deletion of amino acids 15 to 89, displayed a refractile, spindle-shaped morphology, formed intermediate-sized, tightly packed colonies in soft agar, and contained elevated levels of cellular phosphotyrosine-containing proteins. Thus, deletion of amino acids 15 to 89 can activate the kinase activity and transforming potential of the c-src gene product. Deletion of amino acids 112 to 225, however, did not increase the kinase activity or transforming ability of pp60c-src; indeed, deletion of these sequences in c-srcHP suppressed phenotypic alterations induced by pp60c-src. Cells expressing the c-srcNP or c-srcBS gene products (containing deletions of amino acids 15 to 225 and 55 to 169, respectively) displayed a fusiform, refractile morphology and formed diffuse colonies in soft agar; the mutant proteins displayed an increased in vitro protein-tyrosine kinase activity. However, only a few cellular proteins contained elevated levels of phosphotyrosine in vivo. Thus, deletions downstream of amino acid 89 severely restricted the ability of c-src to phosphorylate cellular substrates in vivo without affecting the intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity of the c-src gene product. These results suggest the existence of at least two modulatory regions within the amino-terminal half of pp60c-src that are important for the regulation of tyrosine kinase activity and for the interaction of pp60c-src with cellular substrates.

pp60c-src activation in human colon carcinoma

We measured the in vitro protein-tyrosine kinase activity of pp60c-src from human colon carcinoma cell lines and tumors. The activity of pp60c-src from six of nine carcinoma cell lines was higher (on average, fivefold as measured by enolase phosphorylation, or eightfold as measured by autophosphorylation) than that of pp60c-src from normal colonic mucosal cells, or human or rodent fibroblasts. Similarly, the activity of pp60c-src from 13 of 21 primary colon carcinomas was five- or sevenfold higher than that of pp60c-src from normal colonic mucosa adjacent to the tumor. The increased pp60c-src activity did not result solely from an increase in the level of pp60c-src protein, suggesting the specific activity of the pp60c-src kinase is elevated in the tumor cells. pp60c-src from colon carcinoma cells and normal colonic mucosal cells was phosphorylated at similar sites. We used immunoblotting with antibodies to phosphotyrosine to identify substrates of protein-tyrosine kinases in colonic cells. Three phosphotyrosine-containing proteins were detected at significantly higher levels in most colon carcinoma cell lines than in normal colonic mucosal cells or human or rat fibroblasts. All colon carcinoma cell lines with elevated pp60c-src in vitro kinase activity, showed increased phosphorylation of proteins on tyrosine in vivo, suggesting the presence of an activated protein-tyrosine kinase(s).

Mutation of amino acids in pp60c-src that are phosphorylated by protein kinases C and A

The product of the c-src proto-oncogene, pp60c-src, is phosphorylated at Ser-17 by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A and at Ser-12 by calcium-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C (when stimulated by 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate). We tested the effects of Ser----Ala and Ser----Glu mutations at these sites in pp60c-src and in pp60c-src(F527) (a mutant whose transforming activities are enhanced by Tyr-527----Phe mutation) by transfecting single-, double-, and triple-mutant src expression plasmids into NIH 3T3 cells. Tryptic phosphopeptide analyses of the mutant proteins confirmed prior biochemical identifications of the phosphorylation sites and showed that neither separate nor coordinate mutations at Ser-12 and Ser-17 affected Tyr-416, Tyr-527, or Ser-48 phosphorylation or prevented mitosis-specific phosphorylations of either pp60c-src or pp60c-src(F527). Ser-12 mutation did not affect phosphorylation of the Ser-17-containing peptide, but mutation of Ser-17 significantly increased phosphorylation at Ser-12. Specific kinase activities (both with and without in vivo 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate treatment) and the abilities of pp60c-src and pp60c-src(F527) to induce foci, transformed morphologies, and anchorage-independent growth were unaffected by any of the serine mutations. Thus, pp60c-src transforming activity in NIH 3T3 cells is relatively insensitive to phosphorylation at these sites, but there is a suggestion that Ser-17 phosphorylation may have a subtle regulatory effect.

pp60c-src tyrosine kinase, myristylation, and modulatory domains are required for enhanced mitogenic responsiveness to epidermal growth factor seen in cells overexpressing c-src

In previous studies examining the potential role of pp60c-src in cellular proliferation, we demonstrated that C3H10T1/2 murine embryo fibroblasts overexpressing transfected chicken genomic c-src displayed an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced mitogenic response which was 200 to 500% of the response exhibited by parental control cells (Luttrell et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 8:497-501, 1988). In order to examine specific structural and functional requirements for pp60c-src in this event, 10T1/2 cells were transfected with chicken c-src genes encoding pp60c-src deficient in tyrosine kinase activity (pm430), myristylation, (pm2A), or a domain hypothesized to modulate the interaction with substrates or regulatory components (dl155). Neomycin-resistant clonal cell lines overexpressing each of the mutated c-src genes were assayed for EGF mitogenic responsiveness by measuring [3H]thymidine incorporation into acid-precipitable material or into labeled nuclei. The results were compared with those obtained with lines overexpressing the cDNA form of wild-type (wt) c-src or control cells transfected with the neomycin resistance gene only. As previously described for cells overexpressing wt genomic c-src (Luttrell et al., 1988), clones overexpressing wt cDNA c-src also exhibited enhanced EGF mitogenic responses ranging from approximately 300 to 400% of the control cell response. In contrast, clones overexpressing unmyristylated, modulation-defective, or kinase-deficient c-src not only failed to support an augmented response to EGF but also exhibited EGF responses lower than that of the control cells. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the mitogenic responses to 10% fetal calf serum among any of the cells tested. These results indicate that pp60(c-scr) can potentiate mitogenic signaling generated by EGF but not all growth factors. This potentiation requires the utilization of pp60(c-scr) myristylation, and modulatory and tyrosine kinase domains and can me mediated by cDNA-encoded as well as by genome-encoded wt pp60(c-scr).

Deletions within the amino-terminal half of the c-src gene product that alter the functional activity of the protein

To examine how amino acid sequences outside of the catalytic domain of pp60c-src influence the functional activity of this protein, we have introduced deletion mutations within the amino-terminal half of pp60c-src. These mutations caused distinct changes in the biochemical properties of the c-src gene products and in the properties of cells infected with retroviruses carrying these mutant c-src genes. Cells expressing the c-srcNX protein, which contains a deletion of amino acids 15 to 89, displayed a refractile, spindle-shaped morphology, formed intermediate-sized, tightly packed colonies in soft agar, and contained elevated levels of cellular phosphotyrosine-containing proteins. Thus, deletion of amino acids 15 to 89 can activate the kinase activity and transforming potential of the c-src gene product. Deletion of amino acids 112 to 225, however, did not increase the kinase activity or transforming ability of pp60c-src; indeed, deletion of these sequences in c-srcHP suppressed phenotypic alterations induced by pp60c-src. Cells expressing the c-srcNP or c-srcBS gene products (containing deletions of amino acids 15 to 225 and 55 to 169, respectively) displayed a fusiform, refractile morphology and formed diffuse colonies in soft agar; the mutant proteins displayed an increased in vitro protein-tyrosine kinase activity. However, only a few cellular proteins contained elevated levels of phosphotyrosine in vivo. Thus, deletions downstream of amino acid 89 severely restricted the ability of c-src to phosphorylate cellular substrates in vivo without affecting the intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity of the c-src gene product. These results suggest the existence of at least two modulatory regions within the amino-terminal half of pp60c-src that are important for the regulation of tyrosine kinase activity and for the interaction of pp60c-src with cellular substrates.

Brain protein kinase C phosphorylating poly(arginine,serine) or lamin B is stimulated by anions and by an activator purified from bovine serum albumin preparations

The phosphorylation of histone by purified protein kinase C (PK-C) from rat brain is dependent on the presence of Ca2+ and lipids. Phosphorylation of a synthetic random polymer of arginine and serine (3:1) is only moderately enhanced by Ca2+ and lipids, but it is greatly enhanced in the absence of Ca2+ and lipids by a contaminant in crystalline bovine serum albumin or by heated cellular fractions. The phosphorylation ratio of histone to poly(arginine,serine) varies between different PK-C fractions from brains of rat, pig, or lamb. These variations are partly caused by a PK-C isozyme that prefers poly(arginine,serine) over histone as substrate. The kinase activator (KA) was partly purified from bovine serum albumin and from extracts of plasma membranes of human placenta. KA is also present in mitochondria, nuclei, and the cytosol. Sulfates and phosphates at 10 mM substitute for KA with poly(arginine,serine) as substrate. The phosphorylation of histone III in the presence of Ca2+ and lipids is moderately stimulated by KA, but the phosphorylation of lamin B and some other endogenous proteins is greatly enhanced by KA. With histones as substrates, inorganic anions do not stimulate phosphorylation. The phosphorylation of poly-(arginine,serine) is very sensitive to low concentrations of staurosporin and is inhibited by PK-C antibody, but, in contrast to histone phosphorylation, it is resistant to sphingosine and polymyxin B. The poly(arginine,serine) phosphorylating activity is more stable at 4 degrees C than the histone phosphorylating activity, but the latter is stabilized by 0.05% Triton X-100.

Thrombin treatment induces rapid changes in tyrosine phosphorylation in platelets

We previously demonstrated that platelets express high levels of the tyrosine protein kinase pp60c-src. By a quantitative immunoblot assay, it is shown in this report that pp60c-src represents 0.2-0.4% of total platelet protein. The expression of high levels of pp60c-src in platelets correlated with high levels of total cell phosphotyrosine. Unstimulated platelets were shown to possess numerous phosphotyrosine-containing proteins by immunoblot analysis using antibodies that specifically recognize phosphotyrosine residues. To examine whether the pattern of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins changes upon platelet activation, lysates from thrombin- and phorbol ester-treated platelets were subjected to immunoblot analysis. Novel phosphotyrosine-containing proteins were detected within seconds following platelet stimulation. These results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation, perhaps mediated by pp60c-src, may be involved in events associated with platelet activation.