c-Src enhances the spreading of src-/- fibroblasts on fibronectin by a kinase-independent mechanism

Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase alpha activates Src-family kinases and controls integrin-mediated responses in fibroblasts

BACKGROUND

Fyn and c-Src are two of the most widely expressed Src-family kinases. Both are strongly implicated in the control of cytoskeletal organization and in the generation of integrin-dependent signalling responses in fibroblasts. These proteins are representative of a large family of tyrosine kinases, the activity of which is tightly controlled by inhibitory phosphorylation of a carboxyterminal tyrosine residue (Tyr527 in chicken c-Src); this phosphorylation induces the kinases to form an inactive conformation. Whereas the identity of such inhibitory Tyr527 kinases has been well established, no corresponding phosphatases have been identified that, under physiological conditions, function as positive regulators of c-Src and Fyn in fibroblasts.

RESULTS

Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase alpha (RPTPalpha) was inactivated by homologous recombination. Fibroblasts derived from these RPTPalpha-/- mice had impaired tyrosine kinase activity of both c-Src and Fyn, and this was accompanied by a concomitant increase in c-Src Tyr527 phosphorylation. RPTPalpha-/- fibroblasts also showed a reduction in the rate of spreading on fibronectin substrates, a trait that is a phenocopy of the effect of inactivation of the c-src gene. In response to adhesion on a fibronectin substrate, RPTPalpha-/- fibroblasts also exhibited characteristic deficiencies in integrin-mediated signalling responses, such as decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of the c-Src substrates Fak and p 130(cas), and reduced activation of extracellular signal regulated (Erk) MAP kinases.

CONCLUSIONS

These observations demonstrate that RPTPalpha functions as a physiological upstream activator of Src-family kinases in fibroblasts and establish this tyrosine phosphatase as a newly identified regulator of integrin signalling.

Thrombin induces proteinase-activated receptor-1 gene expression in endothelial cells via activation of Gi-linked Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway

We addressed the mechanisms of restoration of cell surface proteinase-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) by investigating thrombin-activated signaling pathways involved in PAR-1 re-expression in endothelial cells. Exposure of endothelial cells transfected with PAR-1 promoter-luciferase reporter construct to either thrombin or PAR-1 activating peptide increased the steady-state PAR-1 mRNA and reporter activity, respectively. Pretreatment of reporter-transfected endothelial cells with pertussis toxin or co-expression of a minigene encoding 11-amino acid sequence of COOH-terminal Galphai prevented the thrombin-induced increase in reporter activity. Pertussis toxin treatment also prevented thrombin-induced MAPK phosphorylation, indicating a role of Galphai in activating the downstream MAPK pathway. Expression of constitutively active Galphai2 mutant or Gbeta1gamma2 subunits increased reporter activity 3-4-fold in the absence of thrombin stimulation. Co-expression of dominant negative mutants of either Ras or MEK1 with the reporter construct inhibited the thrombin-induced PAR-1 expression, whereas constitutively active forms of either Ras or MEK1 activated PAR-1 expression in the absence of thrombin stimulation. Expression of dominant negative Src kinase or inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase also prevented the MAPK activation and PAR-1 expression. We conclude that thrombin-induced activation of PAR-1 mediates PAR-1 expression by signaling through Gi1/2 coupled to Src and phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and thereby activating the downstream Ras/MAPK cascade.

Src family kinases are required for integrin but not PDGFR signal transduction

Src family kinases (SFKs) have been implicated as important regulators of ligand-induced cellular responses including proliferation, survival, adhesion and migration. Analysis of SFK function has been impeded by extensive redundancy between family members. We have generated mouse embryos harboring functional null mutations of the ubiquitously expressed SFKs Src, Yes and Fyn. This triple mutation leads to severe developmental defects and lethality by E9.5. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenotype, SYF cells (deficient for Src, Yes and Fyn) were derived and tested for their ability to respond to growth factors or plating on extracellular matrix. Our studies reveal that while Src, Yes and Fyn are largely dispensable for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced signaling, they are absolutely required to mediate specific functions regulated by extracellular matrix proteins. Fibronectin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion proteins, including the focal adhesion kinase FAK, was nearly eliminated in the absence of Src, Yes and Fyn. Furthermore, consistent with previous reports demonstrating the importance of FAK for cell migration, SYF cells displayed reduced motility in vitro. These results demonstrate that SFK activity is essential during embryogenesis and suggest that defects observed in SYF triple mutant embryos may be linked to deficiencies in signaling by extracellular matrix-coupled receptors.

A novel inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase Src suppresses phosphorylation of its major cellular substrates and reduces bone resorption in vitro and in rodent models in vivo

The tyrosine kinase Src has been implicated in the process of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Here, we describe a novel class of Src inhibitors, substituted 5,7-diphenyl-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines, and characterize one of them, CGP77675, in vitro and in models of bone resorption in vivo. In vitro, CGP77675 inhibited phosphorylation of peptide substrates and autophosphorylation of purified Src (concentration producing half-maximal inhibition [IC50] values 5-20 and 40 nmol/L, respectively). The compound was selective toward other protein kinases: the Src IC50 value was lower than those for Cdc2 (>500-fold), epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (7.5-fold), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (>50-fold), and for v-Abl (15-fold) and focal adhesion kinase (Fak) (>25-fold). The Src kinase family members Lck and Yes were inhibited with IC50 values 20-fold higher than or equal to Src. To measure the inhibition of cellular Src activity, we identified the major tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in an Src-overexpressing cell line IC8.1 as Src, Fak, and paxillin. CGP77675 potently inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation of the Src substrates Fak and paxillin, but had much less effect on Src (IC50 values 0.3, 0.5, and 5.7 micromol/L). The phosphorylation of Src in IC8.1 cells reflected phosphorylation of the negative regulatory tyrosine 527 (Y527); thus, the inhibitor was selective against the Y527 C-terminal Src kinase Csk. In osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells, CGP77675 inhibited signaling induced by PDGF at the receptor level, but not signaling by EGF, basic fibroblast growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-1, and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The effect of CGP77675 on bone resorption was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The parathyroid hormone-induced bone resorption in rat fetal long bone cultures was inhibited with an IC50 of 0.8 micromol/L. CGP77675 dose-dependently reduced the hypercalcemia induced in mice by interleukin-1beta and partly prevented bone loss and microarchitectural changes in young ovariectomized rats, showing that the protective effect on bone was exerted via the inhibition of bone resorption. Thus, specific Src family kinase inhibitors may be useful for the treatment of diseases associated with elevated bone loss.

Regulation of early events in integrin signaling by protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2

The nontransmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 plays a critical role in growth factor and cytokine signaling pathways. Previous studies revealed that a fraction of SHP-2 moves to focal contacts upon integrin engagement and that SHP-2 binds to SHP substrate 1 (SHPS-1)/SIRP-1alpha, a transmembrane glycoprotein with adhesion molecule characteristics (Y. Fujioka et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 16:6887-6899, 1996; M. Tsuda et al., J. Biol. Chem. 273:13223-13229). Therefore, we asked whether SHP2-SHPS-1 complexes participate in integrin signaling. SHPS-1 tyrosyl phosphorylation increased upon plating of murine fibroblasts onto specific extracellular matrices. Both in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that SHPS-1 tyrosyl phosphorylation is catalyzed by Src family protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs). Overexpression of SHPS-1 in 293 cells potentiated integrin-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, and potentiation required functional SHP-2. To further explore the role of SHP-2 in integrin signaling, we analyzed the responses of SHP-2 exon 3(-/-) and wild-type cell lines to being plated on fibronectin. Integrin-induced activation of Src family PTKs, tyrosyl phosphorylation of several focal adhesion proteins, MAPK activation, and the ability to spread on fibronectin were defective in SHP-2 mutant fibroblasts but were restored upon SHP-2 expression. Our data suggest a positive-feedback model in which, upon integrin engagement, basal levels of c-Src activity catalyze the tyrosyl phosphorylation of SHPS-1, thereby recruiting SHP-2 to the plasma membrane, where, perhaps by further activating Src PTKs, SHP-2 transduces positive signals for downstream events such as MAPK activation and cell shape changes.

A role for caveolin and the urokinase receptor in integrin-mediated adhesion and signaling

The assembly of signaling molecules surrounding the integrin family of adhesion receptors remains poorly understood. Recently, the membrane protein caveolin was found in complexes with beta1 integrins. Caveolin binds cholesterol and several signaling molecules potentially linked to integrin function, e.g., Src family kinases, although caveolin has not been directly implicated in integrin-dependent adhesion. Here we report that depletion of caveolin by antisense methodology in kidney 293 cells disrupts the association of Src kinases with beta1 integrins resulting in loss of focal adhesion sites, ligand-induced focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation, and adhesion. The nonintegrin urokinase receptor (uPAR) associates with and stabilizes beta1 integrin/caveolin complexes. Depletion of caveolin in uPAR-expressing 293 cells also disrupts uPAR/integrin complexes and uPAR-dependent adhesion. Further, beta1 integrin/caveolin complexes could be disassociated by uPAR-binding peptides in both uPAR-transfected 293 cells and human vascular smooth muscle cells. Disruption of complexes by peptides in intact smooth muscle cells blocks the association of Src family kinases with beta1 integrins and markedly impairs their migration on fibronectin. We conclude that ligand-induced signaling necessary for normal beta1 integrin function requires caveolin and is regulated by uPAR. Caveolin and uPAR may operate within adhesion sites to organize kinase-rich lipid domains in proximity to integrins, promoting efficient signal transduction.

Agonist-stimulated cytoskeletal reorganization and signal transduction at focal adhesions in vascular smooth muscle cells require c-Src

Thrombin and angiotensin II (angII) have trophic properties as mediators of vascular remodeling. Focal adhesions and actin cytoskeleton are involved in cell growth, shape, and movement and may be important in vascular remodeling. To characterize mechanisms by which thrombin and angII modulate vessel structure, we studied the effects of these G protein-coupled receptor ligands on focal adhesions in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Both thrombin and angII stimulated bundling of actin filaments to form stress fibers, assembly of focal adhesions, and protein tyrosine phosphorylation at focal adhesions, such as p130Cas, paxillin, and tensin. To test whether c-Src plays a critical role in focal adhesion rearrangement, we analyzed cells with altered c-Src activity by retroviral transduction of wild-type (WT) and kinase-inactive (KI) c-Src into rat VSMCs, and by use of VSMCs from WT (src+/+) and Src-deficient (src-/-) mice. Tyrosine phosphorylation of Cas, paxillin, and tensin were markedly decreased in VSMCs expressing KI-Src and in src-/- VSMCs. Expression of KI-Src did not inhibit stress fiber formation by thrombin. Surprisingly, actin bundling was markedly decreased in VSMCs from src-/- mice both basally and after thrombin stimulation, compared with src+/+ mice. We also studied the effect of KI-Src and WT-Src on VSMC spreading. Expression of KI-Src reduced the rate of VSMC spreading on collagen, whereas WT-Src enhanced cell spreading. In conclusion, c-Src plays a critical role in agonist-stimulated cytoskeletal reorganization and signal transduction at focal adhesions in VSMCs. c-Src kinase activity is required for the cytoskeletal turnover that occurs in cell spreading, whereas c-Src appears to regulate actin bundling via a kinase-independent mechanism.

C-terminal Src kinase associates with ligand-stimulated insulin-like growth factor-I receptor

Increased expression of the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) protein-tyrosine kinase occurs in several kinds of cancer and induces neoplastic transformation in fibroblast cell lines. The transformed phenotype can be reversed by interfering with the function of the IGF-IR. The IGF-IR is required for transformation by a number of viral and cellular oncoproteins, including SV40 large T antigen, Ras, Raf, and Src. The IGF-IR is a substrate for Src in vitro and is phosphorylated in v-Src-transformed cells. We observed that the IGF-IR and IR associated with the C-terminal Src kinase (CSK) following ligand stimulation. We found that the SH2 domain of CSK binds to the tyrosine-phosphorylated form of IGF-IR and IR. We determined the tyrosine residues in the IGF-IR and in the IR responsible for this interaction. We also observed that fibroblasts stimulated with IGF-I or insulin showed a rapid and transient decrease in c-Src tyrosine kinase activity. The results suggest that c-Src and CSK are involved in IGF-IR and IR signaling and that the interaction of CSK with the IGF-IR may play a role in the decrease in c-Src activity following IGF-I stimulation.

c-Src kinase activity is required for hepatocyte growth factor-induced motility and anchorage-independent growth of mammary carcinoma cells

Overexpression and amplification of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor (Met) have been detected in many types of human cancers, suggesting a critical role for Met in growth and development of malignant cells. However, the molecular mechanism by which Met contributes to tumorigenesis is not well known. The tyrosine kinase c-Src has been implicated as a modulator of cell proliferation, spreading, and migration; these functions are also regulated by Met. To explore whether c-Src kinase is involved in HGF-induced cell growth, a mouse mammary carcinoma cell line (SP1) that co-expresses HGF and Met and a nonmalignant epithelial cell line (Mv1Lu) that expresses Met but not HGF were used. In this study, we have shown that c-Src kinase activity is constitutively elevated in SP1 cells and is induced in response to HGF in Mv1Lu cells. In addition, c-Src kinase associates with Met following stimulation with HGF. The enhanced activity of c-Src kinase also correlates with its ability to associate with Met. Expression of a dominant negative double mutant of c-Src (SRC-RF), lacking both kinase activity (K295R) and a regulatory tyrosine residue (Y527F), in SP1 cells significantly reduced c-Src kinase activity and strongly blocked HGF-induced motility and colony growth in soft agar. In contrast, expression of the dominant negative c-Src mutant had no effect on HGF-induced cell proliferation on plastic. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that HGF-induced association of c-Src with Met and c-Src activation play a critical role in HGF-induced cell motility and anchorage-independent growth of mammary carcinomas and further support the notion that the presence of paracrine and autocrine HGF loops contributes significantly to the transformed phenotype of carcinoma cells.

Signaling of de-adhesion in cellular regulation and motility

Adhesion is a process that can be divided into three separate stages: (1) cell attachment, (2) cell spreading, and (3) the formation of focal adhesions and stress fibers. With each stage the adhesive strength of the cell increases. De-adhesion can be defined as the process involving the transition of the cell from a strongly adherent state, characterized by focal adhesions and stress fibers, to a state of intermediate adherence, represented by a cell that is spread, but that lacks stress fibers terminating at adhesion plaques. We propose that this modification of the structural link between the actin cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix results in a more malleable cellular state conducive for dynamic processes such as cytokinesis, mitogenesis, and motility. Anti-adhesive proteins, including thrombospondin, tenascin, and SPARC, rapidly signal de-adhesion, potentially mediating proliferation and migration during development and wound healing. Intracellular signaling molecules involved in the regulation of de-adhesion are only beginning to be identified. Interestingly, many of the same signaling proteins recognized to play important roles during the process of adhesion have also been found to act during de-adhesion. Characterization of the precise mechanisms by which these signals modulate adhesive structures and the cytoskeleton will further our understanding of the regulation of adhesive strength and its function in cellular physiology.

Protein-tyrosine phosphatase alpha regulates Src family kinases and alters cell-substratum adhesion

The roles of protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) in processes such as cell growth and adhesion are poorly understood. To explore the ability of specific PTPs to regulate cell signaling pathways initiated by stimulation of growth factor receptors, we expressed the receptor-like PTP, PTPalpha, in A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells. These cells express high levels of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and proliferate in response to the autocrine production of transforming growth factor-alpha. Conversely, EGF stimulation of A431 cells in vitro leads to growth inhibition and triggers the rapid detachment of these cells from the substratum. Although PTPalpha expression did not alter the growth characteristics of either unstimulated or EGF-stimulated cells, this phosphatase was associated with increased cell-substratum adhesion. Furthermore, PTPalpha-expressing A431 cells were strikingly resistant to EGF-induced cell rounding. Overexpression of PTPalpha in A431 cells was associated with the dephosphorylation/activation of specific Src family kinases, suggesting a potential mechanism for the observed alteration in A431 cell-substratum adhesion. Src kinase activation was dependent on the D1 catalytic subunit of PTPalpha, and there was evidence of association between PTPalpha and Src kinase(s). PTPalpha expression also led to increased association of Src kinase with the integrin-associated focal adhesion kinase, pp125(FAK). In addition, paxillin, a Src and/or pp125(FAK) substrate, displayed increased levels of tyrosine phosphorylation in PTPalpha-expressing cells and was associated with elevated amounts of Csk. In view of these alterations in focal adhesion-associated molecules in PTPalpha-expressing A431 cells, as well as the changes in adhesion demonstrated by these cells, we propose that PTPalpha may have a role in regulating cell-substratum adhesion.

Interferon alpha inhibits a Src-mediated pathway necessary for Shigella-induced cytoskeletal rearrangements in epithelial cells

Shigella flexneri, the causative agent of bacillary dysentery, has the ability to enter nonphagocytic cells. The interferon (IFN) family of cytokines was found to inhibit Shigella invasion of cultured epithelial cells. We show here that IFN-alpha inhibits a Src-dependent signaling cascade triggered by Shigella that leads to the reorganization of the host cell cytoskeleton. Immunofluorescence studies showed that IFN-alpha inhibits Shigella-induced actin polymerization required for bacterial entry into cells. Phosphorylation of cortactin, a Src-substrate specifically tyrosyl-phosphorylated during Shigella entry, was inhibited by IFN-alpha. Overexpression of a dominant interfering form of pp60c-src led to inhibition of Shigella-induced cytoskeletal rearrangements and decreased cortactin phosphorylation indicating a role for Src in Shigella entry. Also, Shigella uptake in cells that expressed constitutively active Src was unaffected by IFN-alpha treatment. We conclude that Src kinase activity is necessary for Shigella invasion of epithelial cells and that IFN-alpha inhibits this Src-dependent signaling pathway.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha activation of nuclear transcription factor-kappaB in marrow macrophages is mediated by c-Src tyrosine phosphorylation of Ikappa Balpha

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) exerts its transcriptional effects via activation of nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB). NF-kappaB is sequestered in the cytosol by Ikappa Balpha and, in most cells, released upon serine phosphorylation of this inhibitory protein which then undergoes rapid, ubiquitin-dependent degradation. In contrast, we find TNF induction of NF-kappaB in murine bone marrow macrophages (BMMs), is mediated, by c-Src, in a cell, and cytokine specific manner. The non-receptor tyrosine kinase is rapidly mobilized and activated upon TNF exposure. Within the same time frame, TNF induced c-Src associates with Ikappa Balpha in a long lived complex. The proto-oncogene, when associated with Ikappa Balpha phosphorylates the inhibitory protein on tyrosine 42. Consistent with the pivotal role played by c-Src in TNF-induced Ikappa Balpha tyrosine phosphorylation, NF-kappaB activation, by the cytokine, is markedly delayed and reduced in c-src-/- BMMs. Underscoring the physiological significance of c-Src activation of NF-kappaB, TNF induction of IL-6, which is an NF-kappaB mediated event, is substantially diminished in c-src-/- BMMs.

Impaired integrin-mediated adhesion and signaling in fibroblasts expressing a dominant-negative mutant PTP1B

To investigate the role of nonreceptor protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in beta1-integrin- mediated adhesion and signaling, we transfected mouse L cells with normal and catalytically inactive forms of the phosphatase. Parental cells and cells expressing the wild-type or mutant PTP1B were assayed for (a) adhesion, (b) spreading, (c) presence of focal adhesions and stress fibers, and (d) tyrosine phosphorylation. Parental cells and cells expressing wild-type PTP1B show similar morphology, are able to attach and spread on fibronectin, and form focal adhesions and stress fibers. In contrast, cells expressing the inactive PTP1B have a spindle-shaped morphology, reduced adhesion and spreading on fibronectin, and almost a complete absence of focal adhesions and stress fibers. Attachment to fibronectin induces tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin in parental cells and cells transfected with the wild-type PTP1B, while in cells transfected with the mutant PTP1B, such induction is not observed. Additionally, in cells expressing the mutant PTP1B, tyrosine phosphorylation of Src is enhanced and activity is reduced. Lysophosphatidic acid temporarily reverses the effects of the mutant PTP1B, suggesting the existence of a signaling pathway triggering focal adhesion assembly that bypasses the need for active PTP1B. PTP1B coimmunoprecipitates with beta1-integrin from nonionic detergent extracts and colocalizes with vinculin and the ends of actin stress fibers in focal adhesions. Our data suggest that PTP1B is a critical regulatory component of integrin signaling pathways, which is essential for adhesion, spreading, and formation of focal adhesions.

Pyk2 and Src-family protein-tyrosine kinases compensate for the loss of FAK in fibronectin-stimulated signaling events but Pyk2 does not fully function to enhance FAK- cell migration

The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK) links transmembrane integrin receptors to intracellular signaling pathways. We show that expression of the FAK-related PTK, Pyk2, is elevated in fibroblasts isolated from murine fak-/- embryos (FAK-) compared with cells from fak+/+ embryos (FAK+). Pyk2 was localized to perinuclear regions in both FAK+ and FAK- cells. Pyk2 tyrosine phosphorylation was enhanced by fibronectin (FN) stimulation of FAK- but not FAK+ cells. Increased Pyk2 tyrosine phosphorylation paralleled the time-course of Grb2 binding to Shc and activation of ERK2 in FAK- cells. Pyk2 in vitro autophosphorylation activity was not enhanced by FN plating of FAK- cells. However, Pyk2 associated with active Src-family PTKs after FN but not poly-L-lysine replating of the FAK- cells. Overexpression of both wild-type (WT) and kinase-inactive (Ala457), but not the autophosphorylation site mutant (Phe402) Pyk2, enhanced endogenous FN-stimulated c-Src in vitro kinase activity in FAK- cells, but only WT Pyk2 overexpression enhanced FN-stimulated activation of co-transfected ERK2. Interestingly, Pyk2 overexpression only weakly augmented FAK- cell migration to FN whereas transient FAK expression promoted FAK- cell migration to FN efficiently compared with FAK+ cells. Significantly, repression of endogenous Src-family PTK activity by p50(csk) overexpression inhibited FN-stimulated cell spreading, Pyk2 tyrosine phosphorylation, Grb2 binding to Shc, and ERK2 activation in the FAK- but not in FAK+ cells. These studies show that Pyk2 and Src-family PTKs combine to promote FN-stimulated signaling events to ERK2 in the absence of FAK, but that these signaling events are not sufficient to overcome the FAK- cell migration defects.

The protein tyrosine kinase p60c-Src is not implicated in the pathogenesis of the human autosomal recessive form of osteopetrosis: a study of 13 children

Osteopetrosis has been described in mice generated by homozygous gene disruption of c-src gene encoding for the p60c-Src protein tyrosine kinase (Src-/- mice). The similarities of bone histologic findings in this murine model to those observed in some patients first seen with autosomal recessive osteopetrosis, "malignant" osteopetrosis, led us to investigate the potential role of p60c-Src in the pathogenesis of malignant osteopetrosis in 13 children. In 4 patients a c-src mutation was ruled out by an intragenic microsatellite segregation study. In the other 9 we analyzed p60c-Src expression and function, as well as c-src sequence. The expression was normal in all of the patients tested. In addition, the tyrosine phosphorylation and kinase activity of p60c-Src were also normal in all of the patients. Moreover, in these patients, sequences of the coding region of c-src were identical to the published sequence of the human c-src complementary DNA. These results exclude a role for c-src in the pathogenesis of human malignant osteopetrosis in the 13 patients analyzed.

Essential Roles of Lyn in Fibronectin-Mediated Filamentous Actin Assembly and Cell Motility in Mast Cells

Although the requirement for c-Src in extracellular matrix (ECM)-mediated fibroblast motility has been well established, the roles of hemopoietic Src family protein tyrosine kinases in leukocyte migration have not been fully elucidated. To address the issue, we analyzed fibronectin (Fn)-mediated adhesion signaling in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) 2H3 cells overexpressing 1) Csk, 2) a membrane-anchored, gain-of-function Csk (mCsk), and 3) a kinase-defective mCsk (mCsk(−)). Parent RBL2H3 cells, expressing autoactivated c-kit, readily adhered to Fn-coated surface, developed typical leukocyte adhesion machinery (podosome), and migrated toward Fn without cytokine priming, thus provided a simple experimental system to analyze Fn-mediated outside-in signaling. While overexpression of Csk or the Csk mutants did not significantly affect cell adhesion to the Fn surface or α5 integrin recruitment to the attachment sites, Csk suppressed and mCsk almost abolished Fn-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin, filamentous actin assembly to podosomes, and cell migration, but mCsk(−) did not. Coexpression of LynA devoid of C-terminal negative regulatory tyrosine in mCsk cells successfully restored Fn-mediated podosome formation and cell migration. Coexpression of c-Src lacking the C-terminal tyrosine reconstructed podosomes, but could not restore the cell migration regardless of its expression level. Collectively, these observations provide evidence that Src family protein tyrosine kinases are required, and that Lyn could transmit sufficient signal for Fn-mediated cytoskeletal changes leading to cell locomotion in RBL2H3 cells, and they suggest that Lyn and c-Src are differentially involved in cell motility.

PYK2 in osteoclasts is an adhesion kinase, localized in the sealing zone, activated by ligation of alpha(v)beta3 integrin, and phosphorylated by src kinase

Osteoclast activation is initiated by adhesion to the bone surface, followed by cytoskeletal rearrangement, the formation of the sealing zone, and a polarized ruffled membrane. This study shows that PYK2/CAKbeta/RAFTK, a cytoplasmic kinase related to the focal adhesion kinase, is highly expressed in rat osteoclasts in vivo. Using murine osteoclast-like cells (OCLs) or their mononuclear precursors (pOCs), generated in a coculture of bone marrow and osteoblastic MB1.8 cells, we show: (a) tyrosine phosphorylation of PYK2 upon ligation of beta3 integrins or adhesion of pOCs to serum, vitronectin, osteopontin, or fibronectin but not to laminin or collagen; (b) coimmunoprecipitation of PYK2 and c-Src from OCLs; (c) PYK2 binding to the SH2 domains of Src; (d) marked reduction in tyrosine phosphorylation and kinase activity of PYK2 in OCLs derived from Src (-/-) mice, which do not form actin rings and do not resorb bone; (e) PYK2 phosphorylation by exogeneous c-Src; (f) translocation of PYK2 to the Triton X-100 insoluble cytoskeletal fraction upon adhesion; (g) localization of PYK2 in podosomes and the ring-like structures in OCLs plated on glass and in the sealing zone in OCLs plated on bone; and (h) activation of PYK2, in the presence of MB1.8 cells, parallels the formation of sealing zones and pit resorption in vitro and is reduced by echistatin or calcitonin and cytochalasin D. Taken together, these findings suggest that Src-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of PYK2 is involved in the adhesion-induced formation of the sealing zone, required for osteoclastic bone resorption.

Protein-tyrosine phosphatase Shp-2 regulates cell spreading, migration, and focal adhesion

Shp-2, a widely expressed cytoplasmic tyrosine phosphatase with two SH2 domains, is believed to participate in signal relay downstream of growth factor receptors. We show here that this phosphatase also plays an important role in the control of cell spreading, migration, and cytoskeletal architecture. Fibroblast cells lacking a functional Shp-2 were impaired in their ability to spread and migrate on fibronectin compared with wild-type cells. Furthermore, Shp-2 mutant cells displayed an increased number of focal adhesions and condensed F-actin aggregation at the cell periphery, properties reminiscent of focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-deficient cells. This is consistent with our previous observations in vivo that mice homozygous for the Shp-2 mutation died at midgestation with similar phenotype to FAK and fibronectin-deficient embryos, having severe defects in mesodermal patterning, particularly the truncation of posterior structures. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that FAK dephosphorylation was significantly reduced in Shp-2 mutant cells in suspension. Furthermore, regulated association of Src SH2 domain with FAK and paxillin during cell attachment and detachment on fibronectin was disrupted in Shp-2 mutant cells. This report defines a unique role of the Shp-2 tyrosine phosphatase in cell motility, which might guide the design of a new strategy for pharmaceutical interference of tumor metastasis.

Low molecular weight phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase translocation during cell stimulation with platelet-derived growth factor

Low Mr phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase (PTP) is a cytosolic enzyme whose activity upon platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and insulin receptors has been demonstrated in vivo. In our study we demonstrate that this enzyme, both naturally expressed and overexpressed in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts, translocates from the cytosol to the Triton X-100 insoluble fraction following stimulation with PDGF. It emerges that the phosphorylation of a defined population of PDGF receptors, which is localized in this fraction and seems to be endowed with peculiar features and functions, is particularly affected by low Mr PTP overexpression.

Integrin-mediated signals regulated by members of the rho family of GTPases

The organization of the actin cytoskeleton can be regulated by soluble factors that trigger signal transduction events involving the Rho family of GTPases. Since adhesive interactions are also capable of organizing the actin-based cytoskeleton, we examined the role of Cdc42-, Rac-, and Rho-dependent signaling pathways in regulating the cytoskeleton during integrin-mediated adhesion and cell spreading using dominant-inhibitory mutants of these GTPases. When Rat1 cells initially adhere to the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin, punctate focal complexes form at the cell periphery. Concomitant with focal complex formation, we observed some phosphorylation of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Src, which occurred independently of Rho family GTPases. However, subsequent phosphorylation of FAK and paxillin occurs in a Rho-dependent manner. Moreover, we found Rho dependence of the assembly of large focal adhesions from which actin stress fibers radiate. Initial adhesion to fibronectin also stimulates membrane ruffling; we show that this ruffling is independent of Rho but is dependent on both Cdc42 and Rac. Furthermore, we observed that Cdc42 controls the integrin-dependent activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 and of Akt, a kinase whose activity has been demonstrated to be dependent on phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase. Since Rac-dependent membrane ruffling can be stimulated by PI 3-kinase, it appears that Cdc42, PI 3-kinase, and Rac lie on a distinct pathway that regulates adhesion-induced membrane ruffling. In contrast to the differential regulation of integrin-mediated signaling by Cdc42, Rac, and Rho, we observed that all three GTPases regulate cell spreading, an event that may indirectly control cellular architecture. Therefore, several separable signaling pathways regulated by different members of the Rho family of GTPases converge to control adhesion-dependent changes in the organization of the cytoskeleton, changes that regulate cell morphology and behavior.

Activation of the MAP kinase pathway by FGF-1 correlates with cell proliferation induction while activation of the Src pathway correlates with migration

FGF regulates both cell migration and proliferation by receptor-dependent induction of immediate-early gene expression and tyrosine phosphorylation of intracellular polypeptides. Because little is known about the disparate nature of intracellular signaling pathways, which are able to discriminate between cell migration and proliferation, we used a washout strategy to examine the relationship between immediate-early gene expression and tyrosine phosphorylation with respect to the potential of cells either to migrate or to initiate DNA synthesis in response to FGF-1. We demonstrate that transient exposure to FGF-1 results in a significant decrease in Fos transcript expression and a decrease in tyrosine phosphorylation of the FGFR-1, p42(mapk), and p44(mapk). Consistent with these biochemical effects, we demonstrate that attenuation in the level of DNA synthesis such that a 1.5-h withdrawal is sufficient to return the population to a state similar to quiescence. In contrast, the level of Myc mRNA, the activity of Src, the tyrosine phosphorylation of cortactin, and the FGF-1-induced redistribution of cortactin and F-actin were unaffected by transient FGF-1 stimulation. These biochemical responses are consistent with an implied uncompromised migratory potential of the cells in response to growth factor withdrawal. These results suggest a correlation between Fos expression and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway with initiation of DNA synthesis and a correlation between high levels of Myc mRNA and Src kinase activity with the regulation of cell migration.

Formation of a stable src-AFAP-110 complex through either an amino-terminal or a carboxy-terminal SH2-binding motif

The actin-filament-associated protein (AFAP-1 10) forms a stable complex with activated variants of the Pp60c-src (Src) non-receptor tyrosine kinase through SH2 and SH3 interactions. In this report, site-directed mutagenesis and a transient expression system that permits co-expression of activated pp60c-src (Src527F) and AFAP-110 in Cos-1 cells were used to identify the SH2-binding motif in AFAP-110. Four tyrosine residues, two in the amino terminus (Y93 and Y94) and two in the carboxy terminus (Y451 and Y453), were mutated to phenylalanine, significantly reducing overall steady-state levels of tyrosine phosphorylation and preventing Src527F from forming a stable complex with AFAP-110. These data indicate that the major sites for tyrosine phosphorylation are among these four tyrosine residues and that one or more of these tyrosines may function as an SH2-binding motif. Mutagenesis of just two tyrosines in either the amino terminus (Y93/Y94) or in the carboxy terminus (Y451/Y453) to phenylalanine had only a modest effect on steady-state levels of tyrosine phosphorylation and was not sufficient to abrogate stable-complex formation. These data suggest that Src527F can form a stable complex with AFAP-110 through either of two independently functional SH2-binding motifs. Triple-tyrosine mutation demonstrated that Y93 was not significantly phosphorylated on tyrosine and would not facilitate stable complex formation, whereas Y94, Y451, and Y453 could be phosphorylated on tyrosine and would facilitate stable-complex formation. We hypothesize that Src527F and AFAP-110 interact through a multistep binding mechanism that may either extend interactions between Src527F and actin filaments or permit reorientation of Src527F on AFAP-110, which could facilitate the presentation of Src527F toward other signaling molecules.

Multiple Grb2-mediated integrin-stimulated signaling pathways to ERK2/mitogen-activated protein kinase: summation of both c-Src- and focal adhesion kinase-initiated tyrosine phosphorylation events

Fibronectin receptor integrin-mediated cell adhesion triggers intracellular signaling events such as the activation of the Ras/mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade. In this study, we show that the nonreceptor protein-tyrosine kinases (PTKs) c-Src and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) can be independently activated after fibronectin (FN) stimulation and that their combined activity promotes signaling to extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2)/MAP kinase through multiple pathways upstream of Ras. FN stimulation of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts promotes c-Src and FAK association in the Triton-insoluble cell fraction, and the time course of FN-stimulated ERK2 activation paralleled that of Grb2 binding to FAK at Tyr-925 and Grb2 binding to Shc. Cytochalasin D treatment of fibroblasts inhibited FN-induced FAK in vitro kinase activity and signaling to ERK2, but it only partially inhibited c-Src activation. Treatment of fibroblasts with protein kinase C inhibitors or with the PTK inhibitor herbimycin A or PP1 resulted in reduced Src PTK activity, no Grb2 binding to FAK, and lowered levels of ERK2 activation. FN-stimulated FAK PTK activity was not significantly affected by herbimycin A treatment and, under these conditions, FAK autophosphorylation promoted Shc binding to FAK. In vitro, FAK directly phosphorylated Shc Tyr-317 to promote Grb2 binding, and in vivo Grb2 binding to Shc was observed in herbimycin A-treated fibroblasts after FN stimulation. Interestingly, c-Src in vitro phosphorylation of Shc promoted Grb2 binding to both wild-type and Phe-317 Shc. In vivo, Phe-317 Shc was tyrosine phosphorylated after FN stimulation of human 293T cells and its expression did not inhibit signaling to ERK2. Surprisingly, expression of Phe-925 FAK with Phe-317 Shc also did not block signaling to ERK2, whereas FN-stimulated signaling to ERK2 was inhibited by coexpression of an SH3 domain-inactivated mutant of Grb2. Our studies show that FN receptor integrin signaling upstream of Ras and ERK2 does not follow a linear pathway but that, instead, multiple Grb2-mediated interactions with Shc, FAK, and perhaps other yet-to-be-determined phosphorylated targets represent parallel signaling pathways that cooperate to promote maximal ERK2 activation.

Overexpression of C-terminal Src kinase homologous kinase suppresses activation of Lyn tyrosine kinase required for VLA5-mediated Dami cell spreading

The Csk homologous kinase (Chk), which is co-expressed with C-terminal Src kinase (Csk) in hematopoietic cells, negatively regulates Src family kinases in vitro with selectivity toward Lyn but not c-Src in platelets. To explore the role of Src family kinases in hematopoietic cell adhesion, we overexpressed Chk in the megakaryocytic cell line Dami and established clones exhibiting a 10-fold increase in the amount of Chk. Overexpression of Chk was found to suppress VLA5 integrin-mediated cell spreading, but not cell attachment, throughout fibronectin (FN) stimulation. Deletion and point mutagenesis analyses of Chk showed that this suppression was dependent upon both the SH3 domain, which is responsible for membrane anchoring, and kinase activity. FN-induced cell spreading accompanied a sustained increase in Lyn activity with coincidental kinetics and the activation of Lyn was also suppressed by overexpression of Chk but not a Chk mutant lacking the SH3 domain. Expression of a truncated Lyn mutant lacking the kinase domain inhibited both cell spreading and Lyn activation upon stimulation with FN. These results suggest that sustained activation of Lyn, which is regulated by membrane-anchored Chk, plays a crucial role in VLA5-mediated cell spreading but not cell attachment to a FN substrate.

Embryonic implantation in galectin 1/galectin 3 double mutant mice

Galectin 1 and galectin 3 are first expressed in the trophectoderm cells of the implanting embryo and have been implicated in the process of implantation. However, we had previously shown that the lack of galectin 1 in galectin 1 null mutant mice is compatible with implantation. In this study, we describe the generation of galectin 3 null mutant mice and show that they are viable and have no overt abnormalities. The importance of galectin 1 and galectin 3 in implantation was assessed by obtaining double mutant mice [gal1 -/-; gal3 -/-]. We find that implantation can still occur in the absence of both galectin 1 and galectin 3. However, we show that galectin 5, a third member of this gene family, is also present in the blastocyst at the time of implantation.

Expression of the pRb-binding regions of E1A enables efficient transformation of primary epithelial cells by v-src

Primary cultures of rat embryo fibroblasts have been shown to be resistant to transformation by dominant oncogenes such as v-src. We sought to determine if similar resistance is displayed by primary epithelial cells, and, if so, whether an immortalizing oncogene such as E1A could enhance transformation of primary epithelial cells by v-src. Transformation of primary rat epithelial cells by v-src was synergistically enhanced when E1A expression plasmids were cotransfected with a v-src expression plasmid. Foci were more numerous and observed earlier (9 to 14 days) with E1A plus v-src than with v-src alone (18 to 28 days). This cotransformation ability was abrogated by deletions in CR1 or CR2 of E1A, which encode the binding regions for the pRb family and are responsible for E1A-mediated cell cycle activation. Mutations in the p300 binding site or the second exon, which abolish immortalization, did not affect v-src cooperation, in contrast to ras and adenovirus E1B. While kinase activation was required for growth in soft agar, differential activation of Src kinase did not correlate with transformation efficiency. Cell morphology and actin structures were not dramatically impacted by E1A expression; thus, hypertransformation, as previously described for ras cotransformation, was not observed with v-src and second-exon mutants of E1A. However, growth rates for cells expressing both E1A and v-Src were higher than those for cells expressing only v-Src. These results suggest that functions involved in cell cycle activation encoded by E1A first exon can enhance v-src transformation of primary epithelial cells.

Cellular functions regulated by Src family kinases

Src family protein tyrosine kinases are activated following engagement of many different classes of cellular receptors and participate in signaling pathways that control a diverse spectrum of receptor-induced biological activities. While several of these kinases have evolved to play distinct roles in specific receptor pathways, there is considerable redundancy in the functions of these kinases, both with respect to the receptor pathways that activate these kinases and the downstream effectors that mediate their biological activities. This chapter reviews the evidence implicating Src family kinases in specific receptor pathways and describes the mechanisms leading to their activation, the targets that interact with these kinases, and the biological events that they regulate.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activation by mechanical stretch is integrin-dependent and matrix-specific in rat cardiac fibroblasts

Integrins, which connect the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix and mediate a variety of signaling cascades, may transduce mechanical stimuli into biochemical signals. We studied integrin- and matrix-dependent activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK2), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK1), and p38 in response to 4% static biaxial stretch in rat cardiac fibroblasts. ERK2 and JNK1, but not p38, were rapidly activated by stretch when the fibroblasts were allowed to synthesize their own matrices. When the cells were limited to specific matrix substrates, ERK2 and JNK1 were differentially activated: ERK2 was only activated when the cells were plated on fibronectin, while JNK1 was activated when the cells were plated on fibronectin, vitronectin, or laminin. Plating cells on collagen before stretching did not activate either kinase. Adhesion to all matrices was integrin-dependent because it could be blocked by inhibitors of specific integrins. ERK2 activation could be blocked with a combination of anti-alpha4 and -alpha5 antibodies and an arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide, while the antibodies or peptide used separately failed to block ERK2 activation. This result suggests that at least two integrins, alpha4beta1 and an RGD-directed, non-alpha5beta1 integrin, activate ERK2 in response to mechanical stimulation. Activation of JNK1 could not be blocked with the inhibitors, suggesting that an RGD-independent integrin or integrins other than alpha4beta1 can activate JNK1 in cells adherent to fibronectin. This study demonstrates that integrins act as mechanotransducers, providing insight into potential mechanisms for in vivo responses to mechanical stimuli.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase association with the osteoclast cytoskeleton, and its involvement in osteoclast attachment and spreading

Osteoclast activation involves attachment to the mineralized bone matrix and reorganization of the cytoskeleton, leading to polarization of the cell. Signaling molecules, PI3-kinase, rho A, and pp60c-src, were shown to be essential for osteoclastic bone resorption. In this study we have focused on the involvement of these signaling molecules in the early event of osteoclast activation: attachment, spreading, and organization of the cytoskeleton. Highly purified osteoclasts were fractionated into Triton X-100-soluble or cytosolic and Triton X-100-insoluble or cytoskeletal fractions, and the distribution of above-mentioned signaling molecules between the two fractions was examined. PI3-kinase, rho A, and pp60c-src all showed translocation to the cytoskeletal fraction upon osteoclast attachment to plastic. However, PI3-kinase and rho A, but not pp60c-src, showed further translocation of 2.4- and 3.2-fold, respectively, upon attachment of osteoclasts to bone. PI3-kinase translocation to the cytoskeleton was inhibited by either cytochalasin B or colchicine. Furthermore, treatment of osteoclasts with the PI3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin decreased its translocation, suggesting that PI3-kinase activity was needed for its translocation. Moreover, wortmannin inhibited osteoclast attachment to both bone and plastic and caused drastic changes in osteoclast morphology resulting in rounding of the cells, disappearance of F-actin structures or podosomes, and appearance of punctate or vesicular structures inside the cells. Osteoblastic MB1.8 cells and IC-21 macrophages did not show additional translocation of PI3-kinase or rho A upon attachment to bone or changes in attachment or morphology in response to wortmannin. Finally, PI3-kinase coimmunoprecipitated with alpha v beta 3 integrin from osteoclasts.

Inhibition of cell spreading by expression of the C-terminal domain of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is rescued by coexpression of Src or catalytically inactive FAK: a role for paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation

pp125FAK is a tyrosine kinase that appears to regulate the assembly of focal adhesions and thereby promotes cell spreading on the extracellular matrix. In some cells, the C terminus of pp125FAK is expressed as a separate protein, pp41/43FRNK. We have previously shown that overexpression of pp41/43FRNK inhibits tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125FAK and paxillin and, in addition, delays cell spreading and focal adhesion assembly. Thus, pp41/43FRNK functions as a negative inhibitor of adhesion signaling and provides a tool to dissect the mechanism by which pp125FAK promotes cell spreading. We report here that the inhibitory effects of pp41/43FRNK expression can be rescued by the co-overexpression of wild-type pp125FAK and partially rescued by catalytically inactive variants of pp125FAK. However, coexpression of an autophosphorylation site mutant of pp125FAK, which fails to bind the SH2 domain of pp60c-Src, or a mutant that fails to bind paxillin did not promote cell spreading. In contrast, expression of pp41/43FRNK and pp60c-Src reconstituted cell spreading and tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin but did so without inducing tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125FAK. These data provide additional support for a model whereby pp125FAK acts as a "switchable adaptor" that recruits pp60c-Src to phosphorylate paxillin, promoting cell spreading. In addition, these data point to tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin as being a critical step in focal adhesion assembly.

The role of pp60c-src in the regulation of calcium entry via store-operated calcium channels

In many cell types, G protein-coupled receptors stimulate a transient Ca2+ release from internal stores followed by a sustained, capacitative Ca2+ entry, which is mediated by store-operated channels (SOCs). Although it is clear that SOCs are activated by depletion of internal Ca2+ stores, the mechanism for this process is not well understood. Previously, we have reported that inhibitors of tyrosine kinase activity block the bradykinin- and thapsigargin-stimulated Ca2+ entry in fibroblasts, suggesting that a tyrosine kinase activity may be involved in relaying the message from the empty internal Ca2+ stores to the plasma membrane Ca2+ channel (Lee, K.-M., Toscas, K., and Villereal, M. L. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 9945-9948). We also have demonstrated that bradykinin activates the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase c-src (Lee, K.-M., and Villereal, M. L. (1996) Am. J. Physiol. 270, C1430-C1437). We investigated whether c-src plays a role in the regulation of SOCs by monitoring capacitative Ca2+ entry in 3T3-like embryonic fibroblast lines derived from either wild type or src-/src- (Src-) transgenic mice. We report that Ca2+ entry, following store depletion by either bradykinin or thapsigargin, is dramatically lower in Src- fibroblasts than in wild type fibroblasts. The level of capacitative Ca2+ entry in Src- cells is restored to nearly normal levels by transfecting Src- cells with chicken c-src. These data suggest that c-src may play a major role in the regulation of SOCs.

Colony-stimulating factor-1 induces cytoskeletal reorganization and c-src-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of selected cellular proteins in rodent osteoclasts

Colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) stimulates motility and cytoplasmic spreading in mature osteoclasts. Therefore, we examined the cellular events and intracellular signaling pathways that accompany CSF-1-induced spreading in normal osteoclasts. To explore the role c-src plays in these processes, we also studied osteoclasts prepared from animals with targeted disruption of the src gene. In normal osteoclasts, CSF-1 treatment induces rapid cytoplasmic spreading, with redistribution of F-actin from a well-delineated central attachment ring to the periphery of the cell. CSF-1 increases membrane phosphotyrosine staining in osteoclasts and induces the phosphorylation of several cellular proteins in cultured, osteoclast-like cells, including c-fms, c-src, and an 85-kD Grb2-binding protein. Src kinase activity is increased threefold after CSF-1 treatment. In src- cells, no attachment ring is present, and CSF-1 fails to induce spreading or a change in the pattern of F-actin distribution. Although c-fms becomes phosphorylated after CSF-1 treatment, the 85-kD protein is significantly less phosphorylated in src- osteoclast-like cells. These results indicate that c-src is critical for the normal cytoskeletal architecture of the osteoclast, and, in its absence, the spreading response induced by CSF-1 is abrogated, and downstream signaling from c-fms is altered.

Regulation of the pp72syk protein tyrosine kinase by platelet integrin alpha IIb beta 3

pp72syk is essential for development and function of several hematopoietic cells, and it becomes activated through tandem SH2 interaction with ITAM motifs in immune response receptors. Since Syk is also activated through integrins, which do not contain ITAMs, a CHO cell model system was used to study Syk activation by the platelet integrin, alpha IIb beta 3. As in platelets, Syk underwent tyrosine phosphorylation and activation during CHO cell adhesion to alpha IIb beta 3 ligands, including fibrinogen. This involved Syk autophosphorylation and the tyrosine kinase activity of Src, and it exhibited two novel features. Firstly, unlike alpha IIb beta 3-mediated activation of pp125FAK, Syk activation could be triggered by the binding of soluble fibrinogen and abolished by truncation of the alpha IIb or beta 3 cytoplasmic tail, and it was resistant to inhibition by cytochalasin D. Secondly, it did not require phosphorylated ITAMs since it was unaffected by disruption of an ITAM-interaction motif in the SH2(C) domain of Syk or by simultaneous overexpression of the tandem SH2 domains. These studies demonstrate that Syk is a proximal component in alpha IIb beta 3 signaling and is regulated as a consequence of intimate functional relationships with the alpha IIb beta 3 cytoplasmic tails and with Src or a closely related kinase. Furthermore, there are fundamental differences in the activation of Syk by alpha IIb beta 3 and immune response receptors, suggesting a unique role for integrins in Syk function.

Rescue of osteoclast function by transgenic expression of kinase-deficient Src in src-/- mutant mice

The Src tyrosine kinase has been implicated in a wide variety of signal transduction pathways, yet despite the nearly ubiquitous expression of c-src, src-/- mice show only one major phenotype-osteopetrosis caused by an intrinsic defect in osteoclasts, the cells responsible for resorbing bone. To explore further the role of Src both in osteoclasts and other cell types, we have generated transgenic mice that express the wild-type and mutated versions of the chicken c-src proto-oncogene from the promoter of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), a gene that is expressed highly in osteoclasts. We demonstrate here that expression of a wild-type transgene in only a limited number of tissues can fully rescue the src-/- phenotype. Surprisingly, expression of kinase-defective alleles of c-src also reduces osteopetrosis in src-/- animals and partially rescues a defect in cytoskeletal organization observed in src-/- osteoclasts. These results suggest that there are essential kinase-independent functions for Src in vivo. Biochemical examination of osteoclasts from these mice suggest that Src may function in part by recruiting or activating other tyrosine kinases.

Activation of Src family kinases by hepatitis B virus HBx protein and coupled signaling to Ras

The HBx protein of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a small transcriptional transactivator that is essential for infection by the mammalian hepadnaviruses and is thought to be a cofactor in HBV-mediated liver cancer. HBx stimulates signal transduction pathways by acting in the cytoplasm, which accounts for many but not all of its transcriptional activities. Studies have shown that HBx protein activates Ras and downstream Ras signaling pathways including Raf, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase kinase (MEK), and MAP kinases. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of activation of Ras by HBx because it has been found to be central to the ability of HBx protein to stimulate transcription and to release growth arrest in quiescent cells. In contrast to the transient but strong stimulation of Ras typical of autocrine factors, activation of Ras by HBx protein was found to be constitutive but moderate. HBx induced the association of Ras upstream activating proteins Shc, Grb2, and Sos and stimulated GTP loading onto Ras, but without directly participating in complex formation. Instead, HBx is shown to stimulate Ras-activating proteins by functioning as an intracellular cytoplasmic activator of the Src family of tyrosine kinases, which can signal to Ras. HBx protein stimulated c-Src and Fyn kinases for a prolonged time. Activation of Src is shown to be indispensable for a number of HBx activities, including activation of Ras and the Ras-Raf-MAP kinase pathway and stimulation of transcription mediated by transcription factor AP-1. Importantly, HBx protein expressed in cultured cells during HBV replication is shown to activate the Ras signaling pathway. Mechanisms by which HBx protein might activate Src kinases are discussed.

Roles of C-terminal Src kinase in the initiation and the termination of the high affinity IgE receptor-mediated signaling

As an attempt to analyze the roles of C-terminal Src kinase (Csk) in the high affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonRI)-mediated signaling, we overexpressed Csk, a membrane-targeted form of Csk (mCsk), and a kinase-defective, membrane-targeted form of Csk (mCsk(-)) in rat basophil leukemia (RBL) 2H3 cells. Specific activity of Lyn at the basal state was decreased in Csk-expressing cells, and further decreased in mCsk-expressing cells. In mCsk(-)-expressing cells, basal specific activity of Lyn was increased, thereby indicating that mCsk(-) functioned as a dominant negative molecule. The onset of FcepsilonRI-mediated Lyn activation was delayed in Csk-expressing cells, and further delayed in mCsk-expressing cells. In mCsk(-)-expressing cells, Lyn activation was rapid and quite long lasting. These findings indicate (i) Csk negatively regulates rapid FcepsilonRI/Lyn coupling, and (ii) Csk activity is potentially required for its termination. The onsets of the series of events including tyrosyl phosphorylation of Syk, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation, elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), and histamine release were all stepwisely delayed in Csk-expressing cells and in mCsk-expressing cells. The durations of Syk phosphorylation and MAP kinase activation also closely correlated with those of Lyn activation, but [Ca2+]i elevation and histamine release followed different temporal patterns: the delayed responses in Csk-expressing cells and in mCsk-expressing cells led to sustained [Ca2+]i oscillation and histamine release, while the prompt responses in parent cells and mCsk(-)-expressing cells rapidly subsided. These findings provide further evidence that the initiations of the FcepsilonRI-mediated signals are upstreamly regulated by Src family protein tyrosine kinases and revealed that their terminations are regulated by Lyn-dependent (Syk and MAP kinase) and -independent ([Ca2+]i elevation and histamine release) mechanisms.

Integrins in morphogenesis and signaling

Integrins are a family of heterodimeric transmembrane receptors that provide a physical and biochemical bridge between components of the extracellular matrix and the intracellular physiological environment. Binding of integrins to their ligands results in the formation of cytoplasmic multi-protein assemblies composed of both cytoskeletal and signaling molecules. The composition and activity of these assemblies is regulated by the nature of integrin-ligand interactions, as well as by intracellular regulators that include tyrosine kinases and phosphatases, PKC, and small GTPases. Integrin-mediated cellular physiological responses include the activation of signal transduction, cytoskeletal rearrangements, and co-regulation of growth factor activities. These responses, combined with integrin-mediated cell adhesion, play a major role in tissue morphogenesis and developmental processes.

Calpain regulation of cytoskeletal signaling complexes in von Willebrand factor-stimulated platelets. Distinct roles for glycoprotein Ib-V-IX and glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (integrin alphaIIbbeta3) in von Willebrand factor-induced signal transduction

The adhesion of platelets to sites of vascular injury is critically dependent on the binding of subendothelial bound von Willebrand factor (vWf) to the platelet surface glycoprotein complexes, GP Ib-V-IX and GP IIb-IIIa (integrin alphaIIbbeta3). There is growing evidence that the binding of vWf to these receptors is not only essential for stable platelet adhesion but is also important for the transduction of activation signals required for changes in platelet morphology, granule secretion, and platelet aggregation. In this study we have investigated signaling events induced by vWf binding to GP Ib-V-IX in both spreading and aggregated platelets. The adhesion of platelets to vWf resulted in dramatic actin filament reorganization, as assessed by immunofluorescence with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated phalloidin, and the cytoskeletal recruitment of various structural proteins (talin and integrin alphaIIbbeta3) and signaling enzymes (pp60c-src, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase), and protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP)-1B). Time course experiments in both spreading and aggregated platelets revealed that talin, FAK, and PTP-1B were proteolyzed after translocation to the cytoskeleton. The proteolysis of these proteins was dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium and was specifically inhibited by pretreating platelets with the membrane-permeable calpain inhibitors calpeptin, E64d, and MDL 28,170, but not with the membrane-impermeable inhibitors leupeptin, E64, and calpastatin. The cytoskeletal translocation of signaling enzymes in vWf-stimulated platelets was abolished by pretreating platelets with an anti-GP Ib-V-IX antibody but was unaffected by blocking ligand binding to integrin alphaIIbbeta3. In contrast, calpain activation in vWf-stimulated platelets required ligand binding to both GP Ib-V-IX and integrin alphaIIbbeta3. The activation of calpain in both spreading and aggregated platelets resulted in a substantial decrease in the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple platelet proteins and was associated with a 50-80% reduction in the amount of cytoskeletal associated talin, integrin alphaIIbbeta3, PI 3-kinase, FAK, pp60(c-)src, and PTP-1B. These studies suggest a potentially important role for calpain in regulating the formation and/or stability of cytoskeletal signaling complexes in vWf-stimulated platelets. Furthermore, they demonstrate distinct roles for GP Ib-V-IX and integrin alphaIIbbeta3 in vWf-induced signal transduction.

High-level expression of human c-Src can cause a spherical morphology without loss of anchorage-dependent growth of NIH 3T3 cells

To investigate whether overexpression of human c-Src leads to cell rounding in anchorage-dependent NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, we have established c-Src-inducible cell lines using a lac repressor-operator system. RN1 cells, which expressed c-Src at a high level after induction, exhibited a spherical morphology and ceased to grow in monolayer culture. RN1 cells, however, exhibited neither focus-forming ability nor anchorage-independent growth potential with or without induction. Induced RN1 c-Src was phosphorylated at Ser75, a previously reported spherical cell-associated site, and at Tyr419. These data demonstrated for the first time that highly elevated human c-Src tyrosine kinase activity can cause NIH 3T3 cells to have a spherical morphology without loss of anchorage-dependent growth. The inducible cell line should be useful to study the mechanism for cell rounding by c-Src.

The role of the Src homology domains in morphological transformation by v-src

The Src homology (SH2 and SH3) domains of v-Src are required for transformation of Rat-2 cells and for wild-type (morphr) transformation of chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs). We report herein that the N-terminal domains of v-Src, when expressed in trans, cannot complement the transformation defect of a deletion mutant lacking the "unique," SH3, and SH2 regions. However, the same regions of Src can promote transformation when translocated to the C terminus of v-Src, although the transformation of CEFs is somewhat slower. We conclude that the SH3 and SH2 domains must be present in cis to the catalytic domain to promote transformation but that transformation is not dependent on the precise intramolecular location of these domains. In CEFSs and in Rat-2 cells, the expression of wild-type v-Src results in tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins that bind to the v-Src SH3 and SH2 domains in vitro; mutations in the SH2 or SH3 and SH2 domains prevent the phosphorylation of these proteins. These findings are most consistent with models in which the SH3 and SH2 domains of v-Src directly or indirectly target the catalytic domain to substrates involved in transformation. However, the N-terminal domains of v-Src can promote tyrosine phosphorylation of certain proteins, in particular p130Cas, even when expressed in the absence of the catalytic domain, indicating that the N-terminal domains of v-Src have effects that are independent of the catalytic domain.

Requirements for localization of p130cas to focal adhesions

p130cas (Cas) is an adapter protein that has an SH3 domain followed by multiple SH2 binding motifs in the substrate domain. It also contains a tyrosine residue and a proline-rich sequence near the C terminus, which are the binding sites for the SH2 and SH3 domains of Src kinase, respectively. Cas was originally identified as a major tyrosine-phosphorylated protein in v-Crk- and v-Src-transformed cells. Subsequently, Cas was shown to be inducibly tyrosine phosphorylated upon integrin stimulation; it is therefore regarded as one of the focal adhesion proteins. Using an immunofluorescence study, we examined the subcellular localization of Cas and determined the regions required for its localization to focal adhesions. In nontransformed cells, Cas was localized predominantly to the cytoplasm and partially to focal adhesions. However, in 527F-c-Src-transformed cells, Cas was localized mainly to podosomes, where the focal adhesion proteins are assembled. The localization of Cas to focal adhesions was also observed in cells expressing the kinase-negative 527F/295M-c-Src. A series of analyses with deletion mutants expressed in various cells revealed that the SH3 domain of Cas is necessary for its localization to focal adhesions in nontransformed cells while both the SH3 domain and the C-terminal Src binding domain of Cas are required in 527F-c-Src-transformed cells and fibronectin-stimulated cells. In addition, the localization of Cas to focal adhesions was abolished in Src-negative cells. These results demonstrate that the SH3 domain of Cas and the association of Cas with Src kinase play a pivotal role in the localization of Cas to focal adhesions.

Adhesion of HT-29 colon carcinoma cells to E-selectin results in increased tyrosine phosphorylation and decreased activity of c-src

Adhesion of metastatic cancer cells at secondary sites is known to be regulated by several families of adhesion proteins, including selectins and integrins. Colon carcinoma cells have been shown to tether to and roll on both stimulated endothelial cells and purified E-selectin. We have demonstrated that HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells adhere specifically to an E-selectin-IgG chimera. Upon adhesion to E-selectin, the amount of tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins in HT-29 cell lysates increases compared with cells in bovine serum albumin-coated wells on phosphotyrosine Western blots; this increase is statistically significant. This effect is specific for adhesion to E-selectin, since addition of an E-selectin blocking monoclonal antibody (MAb), E3, to the wells causes a statistically significant decrease in tyrosine phosphorylation relative to E-selectin alone on phosphotyrosine Western blots. One protein that is affected this way has been identified as c-src. Kinase assays show a dose-dependent and statistically significant decrease in c-src activity upon adhesion to E-selectin, which correlates with an increase in phosphorylation of Tyr 527, the negative regulatory tyrosine. CnBr digestion of 32P-labeled c-src shows an increase in phosphorylation of tyrosine 527 after adhesion to E-selectin. Our results may identify a signaling pathway involving the E-selectin ligand on HT-29 cells and c-src.

Focal adhesion kinase overexpression enhances ras-dependent integrin signaling to ERK2/mitogen-activated protein kinase through interactions with and activation of c-Src

Cell adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins such as fibronectin (FN) triggers a number of intracellular signaling events including the increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic focal adhesion protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK) and also the stimulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK2. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) associates with integrin receptors, and FN-stimulated phosphorylation of FAK at Tyr-397 and Tyr-925 promotes the binding of Src family PTKs and Grb2, respectively. To investigate the mechanisms by which FAK, c-Src, and Grb2 function in FN-stimulated signaling events to ERK2, we expressed wild type and mutant forms of FAK in human 293 epithelial cells by transient transfection. FAK overexpression enhanced FN-stimulated activation of ERK2 approximately 4-fold. This was blocked by co-expression of the dominant negative Asn-17 mutant Ras, indicating that FN stimulation of ERK2 was Ras-dependent. FN-stimulated c-Src PTK activity was enhanced by wild type FAK expression, whereas FN-stimulated activation of ERK2 was blocked by expression of the c-Src binding site Phe-397 mutant of FAK. Expression of the Grb2 binding site Phe-925 mutant of FAK enhanced activation of ERK2, whereas a kinase-inactive Arg-454 mutant FAK did not. Expression of wild type and Phe-925 FAK, but not Phe-397 FAK, enhanced p130(Cas) association with FAK, Shc tyrosine phosphorylation, and Grb2 binding to Shc after FN stimulation. FN-induced Grb2-Shc association is another pathway leading to activation of ERK2 via Ras. The inhibitory effects of Tyr-397 FAK expression show that FAK-mediated association and activation of c-Src is essential for maximal signaling to ERK2. Moreover, multiple signaling pathways are activated upon the formation of an FAK.c-Src complex, and several of these can lead to Ras-dependent ERK2 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation.

Src family protein tyrosine kinases: cooperating with growth factor and adhesion signaling pathways

The Src family of protein tyrosine kinases functionally interacts with several receptor and nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinases. Recent developments show that Src family kinases may cooperate with the epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor receptors and the integrin-linked focal adhesion kinase to diversify signals that regulate growth and cell movement.

Fibronectin-stimulated signaling from a focal adhesion kinase-c-Src complex: involvement of the Grb2, p130cas, and Nck adaptor proteins

The focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK), associates with integrin receptors and is activated by cell binding to extracellular matrix proteins, such as fibronectin (FN). FAK autophosphorylation at Tyr-397 promotes Src homology 2 (SH2) domain binding of Src family PTKs, and c-Src phosphorylation of FAK at Tyr-925 creates an SH2 binding site for the Grb2 SH2-SH3 adaptor protein. FN-stimulated Grb2 binding to FAK may facilitate intracellular signaling to targets such as ERK2-mitogen-activated protein kinase. We examined FN-stimulated signaling to ERK2 and found that ERK2 activation was reduced 10-fold in Src- fibroblasts, compared to that of Src- fibroblasts stably reexpressing wild-type c-Src. FN-stimulated FAK phosphotyrosine (P.Tyr) and Grb2 binding to FAK were reduced, whereas the tyrosine phosphorylation of another signaling protein, p130cas, was not detected in the Src- cells. Stable expression of residues 1 to 298 of Src (Src 1-298, which encompass the SH3 and SH2 domains of c-Src) in the Src- cells blocked Grb2 binding to FAK; but surprisingly, Src 1-298 expression also resulted in elevated p130cas P.Tyr levels and a two- to threefold increase in FN-stimulated ERK2 activity compared to levels in Src- cells. Src 1-298 bound to both FAK and p130cas and promoted FAK association with p130cas in vivo. FAK was observed to phosphorylate p130cas in vitro and could thus phosphorylate p130cas upon FN stimulation of the Src 1-298-expressing cells. FAK-induced phosphorylation of p130cas in the Src 1-298 cells promoted the SH2 domain-dependent binding of the Nck adaptor protein to p130cas, which may facilitate signaling to ERK2. These results show that there are additional FN-stimulated pathways to ERK2 that do not involve Grb2 binding to FAK.

Complexes of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Crk-associated substrate (p130(Cas)) are elevated in cytoskeleton-associated fractions following adhesion and Src transformation. Requirements for Src kinase activity and FAK proline-rich motifs

The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Crk-associated substrate, p130(Cas) (Cas), have been implicated in diverse signaling pathways including those mediated by integrins, G-protein-coupled receptors, tyrosine kinase receptors, and the v-src and v-crk oncogenes. The recent identification of a direct interaction between FAK and Cas prompted the examination of potential regulation of FAK.Cas complexes by factors that result in concomitant increase in their phosphotyrosine content, namely cell adhesion and transformation by Src. Both conditions resulted in elevated FAK.Cas complex levels in nonionic detergent-insoluble fractions, indicating increased association with the cytoskeleton. For activated Src, this effect requires an active Src catalytic domain but not its Src homology 2 (SH2) or Src homology 3 (SH3) domains. FAK kinase domain tyrosines 576 and 577 are also required, suggesting that direct phosphorylation of these sites by Src may influence the solubility and/or stability of the complex. FAK-Cas association was only observed in the context of Cas binding to at least one of two distinct proline-rich sites on FAK. These findings firmly establish a direct interaction between FAK and Cas and demonstrate that Src can influence the subcellular localization of the complex by a tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent mechanism.

Association between receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase RPTPalpha and the Grb2 adaptor. Dual Src homology (SH) 2/SH3 domain requirement and functional consequences

Receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase RPTPalpha is found associated in vivo with the adaptor protein Grb2. Formation of this complex, which contains no detectable levels of Sos, is known to depend on a C-terminal phosphorylated tyrosine residue (Tyr798) in RPTPalpha and on the Src homology (SH) 2 domain in Grb2 (, ). We show here that association of Grb2 with RPTPalpha also involves a critical function for the C-terminal SH3 domain of Grb2. Furthermore, Grb2 SH3 binding peptides interfere with RPTPalpha-Grb2 association in vitro, and the RPTPalpha protein can dissociate the Grb2-Sos complex in vivo. These observations constitute a novel mode of Grb2 association and suggest a model in which association with a tyrosine-phosphorylated protein restricts the repertoire of SH3 binding proteins with which Grb2 can simultaneously interact. The function of the Tyr798 tyrosine phosphorylation/Grb2 binding site in RPTPalpha was studied further by expression of wild type or mutant RPTPalpha proteins in PC12 cells. In these cells, wild type RPTPalpha interferes with acidic fibroblast growth factor-induced neurite outgrowth; this effect requires both the catalytic activity and the Grb2 binding Tyr798 residue in RPTPalpha. In contrast, expression of catalytically active RPTPalpha containing a mutated tyrosine phosphorylation/Grb2 association site enhances neurite outgrowth. Our observations associate a functional effect with tyrosine phosphorylation of, and ensuing association of signaling proteins with, a receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase and raise the possibility that RPTPalpha association may modulate Grb2 function and vice versa.

Bombesin, bradykinin, vasopressin, and phorbol esters rapidly and transiently activate Src family tyrosine kinases in Swiss 3T3 cells. Dissociation from tyrosine phosphorylation of p125 focal adhesion kinase

Treatment of quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells with bombesin induces a rapid (</=40 s) and transient increase in the kinase activity of the Src family of tyrosine kinases, as determined by autophosphorylation in immune complex kinase assays (4.6 +/- 0.2-fold stimulation, n = 44) and phosphorylation of exogenous substrates. Phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate increased the activity of Src family kinases with similar kinetics but was less effective than bombesin. However, Src family kinase activation by bombesin is not dependent either on protein kinase C or Ca2+. Bombesin stimulation of Src family kinase activity could also be dissociated from p125 focal adhesion kinase tyrosine phosphorylation. Neither treatment with cytochalasin D nor placement of the cells in suspension prevented the stimulation of Src family kinase activity induced by bombesin, but both abolished bombesin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of p125 focal adhesion kinase. The stimulation of the Src family kinase activity by bombesin was completely prevented by treatment with vanadate, a potent inhibitor of protein-tyrosine phosphatases. Bradykinin and vasopressin also stimulated Src family kinase activity transiently, and this stimulation was also inhibited by vanadate. Our results dissect two separate pathways that lead to protein tyrosine phosphorylation in neuropeptide-stimulated Swiss 3T3 cells.