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

SH2 and PTB domain interactions in tyrosine kinase signal transduction

Proteins with SH2 or phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domains bind activated tyrosine kinase receptors and their substrates to propagate signals into cells. Both of the domains recognize phosphotyrosine. Selectivity in these interactions is conferred by short flanking peptide motifs. Therefore, potential exists for modulating tyrosine kinase signaling pathways by the discovery of compounds that selectively bind SH2 and PTB domains. Recent advances with small peptides and nonpeptide compounds suggest that this opportunity can be realized.

An alternative to phosphotyrosine-containing motifs for binding to an SH2 domain

Shc is an important signalling protein whose overexpression leads to cell transformation in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Although the formation of Shc/Grb2 complexes involving Shc tyrosine residue 317 is necessary to induce this transformation, the Shc proteins in these Shc-overexpressing cells are not substantially tyrosine-phosphorylated. This observation led to our hypothesis that the non-phosphorylated Tyr317-containing region of Shc might have specific affinity for the Grb2 protein. We show here that cell-permeable peptides encompassing the Shc Tyr317 region, 312FDD-PSYVNVQNL323, can bind to the SH2 domain of Grb2 regardless of the state of tyrosine phosphorylation. When delivered into cells, both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated Shc peptides inhibit growth factor-induced Shc/Grb2 protein-protein interaction. The non-phosphorylated Shc peptides with single point mutations at Asp313, Asp314, or Tyr317 are inactive, suggesting that these residues play an important role in Grb2 protein recognition. Our findings represent the first paradigm of the specific interaction between an unphosphorylated tyrosine-containing region and an SH2 domain and have important implications for understanding the mechanism of cell transformation by Shc overexpression.

Cellular import of functional peptides to block intracellular signaling

During the past few years, new approaches to the delivery of functional peptides to cells have been developed to probe intracellular protein-protein interactions. These approaches include a method based on the cell membrane permeability properties of the hydrophobic region of the signal sequence. This method provides easy and rapid delivery of functional peptides to a wide spectrum of cells involved in inflammatory and immune reactions (monocytes, endothelial cells, and T lymphocytes) as well as to NIH 3T3 cells and erythroleukemia HEL cells. The method has been applied to block signaling to the nucleus by transcription factors unclear factor-kappa B, AP-1, and nuclear factor of activated T cells, and to inhibit cell adhesion regulated by the cytoplasmic tails of integrins beta 3 and beta 1. New methods of peptide delivery provide direct access to intracellular proteins involved in adhesion, signaling, and trafficking to the nucleus.