Effect of membrane fluidity on tyrosine kinase activity of reconstituted epidermal growth factor receptor

Methoxychalcones as potential anticancer agents for colon cancer: Is membrane perturbing potency relevant?

Chalcones are naturally produced by many plants, and constitute precursors for the synthesis of flavons and flavanons. They were shown to possess antibacterial, antifungal, anti-cancer, and anti- inflammatory properties. The goal of the study was to assess the suitability of three synthetic methoxychalcones as potential anticancer agents. In a panel of colon cancer cell lines they were demonstrated to be cytotoxic, proapoptotic, causing cell cycle arrest, and increasing intracellular level of reactive oxygen species. Anticancer activity of the compounds was not diminished in the presence of stool extract containing microbial enzymes that could change the structure of chalcones. Moreover, methoxychalcones interacted strongly with model phosphatidylcholine membranes as detected by differential scanning calorimetry. Metohoxychalcones particularly affected the properties of lipid domains in giant unilamellar liposomes formed from raft-mimicking lipid composition. This may be of importance since many molecular targets for therapy of metastatic colon cancer are raft-associated receptors (e.g., receptor tyrosine kinases). The importance of membrane perturbing potency of methoxychalcones for their biological activity was additionally corroborated by the results obtained by molecular modelling.

Effect of Lauric vs. Oleic Acid-Enriched Diets on Leptin Autoparacrine Signalling in Male Mice

High-fat diets enriched with lauric acid (SOLF) do not enhance leptin production despite expanding white adipose tissue (WAT). Our study aimed at identifying the influence of SOLF vs. oleic acid-enriched diets (UOLF) on the autoparacrine effect of leptin and was carried out on eight-week-old mice consuming control chow, UOLF or SOLF. Phosphorylation of kinases integral to leptin receptor (LepR) signalling pathways (705Tyr-STAT3, 473Ser-Akt, 172Thr-AMPK), adipocyte-size distribution, fatty acid content, and gene expression were analyzed in WAT. SOLF enhanced basal levels of phosphorylated proteins but reduced the ability of leptin to enhance kinase phosphorylation. In contrast, UOLF failed to increase basal levels of phosphorylated proteins and did not modify the effect of leptin. Both SOLF and UOLF similarly affected adipocyte-size distribution, and the expression of genes related with adipogenesis and inflammation. WAT composition was different between groups, with SOLF samples mostly containing palmitic, myristic and lauric acids (>48% w/w) and UOLF WAT containing more than 80% (w/w) of oleic acid. In conclusion, SOLF appears to be more detrimental than UOLF to the autoparacrine leptin actions, which may have an impact on WAT inflammation. The effect of SOLF and UOLF on WAT composition may affect WAT biophysical properties, which are able to condition LepR signaling.

Cholesterol and Its Derivatives: Multifaceted Players in Breast Cancer Progression

Cholesterol is an essential lipid primarily synthesized in the liver through the mevalonate pathway. Besides being a precursor of steroid hormones, bile acid, and vitamin D, it is an essential structural component of cell membranes, is enriched in membrane lipid rafts, and plays a key role in intracellular signal transduction. The lipid homeostasis is finely regulated end appears to be impaired in several types of tumors, including breast cancer. In this review, we will analyse the multifaceted roles of cholesterol and its derivatives in breast cancer progression. As an example of the bivalent role of cholesterol in the cell membrane of cancer cells, on the one hand, it reduces membrane fluidity, which has been associated with a more aggressive tumor phenotype in terms of cell motility and migration, leading to metastasis formation. On the other hand, it makes the membrane less permeable to small water-soluble molecules that would otherwise freely cross, resulting in a loss of chemotherapeutics permeability. Regarding cholesterol derivatives, a lower vitamin D is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, while steroid hormones, coupled with the overexpression of their receptors, play a crucial role in breast cancer progression. Despite the role of cholesterol and derivatives molecules in breast cancer development is still controversial, the use of cholesterol targeting drugs like statins and zoledronic acid appears as a challenging promising tool for breast cancer treatment.

Fatty acids: facts vs. fiction

During the last 100 years official dietary guidelines have recommended an increased consumption of fats derived from seeds while decreasing the consumption of traditional fats, especially saturated fats. These recommendations are being challenged by recent studies. Furthermore, the increased use of refining processes in fat production had deleterious health effects. Today, the number of high-quality studies on fatty acids is large enough to make useful recommendations on clinical application and everyday practice. Saturated fats have many beneficial functions and palmitic acid appears to be problematic only when it is synthesized due to excess fructose consumption. Trans fatty acids were shown to be harmful when they are manmade but beneficial when of natural origin. Conjugated linoleic acid has many benefits but the isomer mix that is available in supplement form differs from its natural origin and may better be avoided. The ω3 fatty acid linolenic acid has rather limited use as an anti-inflammatory agent - a fact that is frequently overlooked. On the other hand, the targeted use of long chain ω3 fatty acids based on blood analysis has great potential to supplement or even be an alternative to various pharmacological therapies. At the same time ω6 fatty acids like linoleic acid and arachidonic acid have important physiological functions and should not be avoided but their consumption needs to be balanced with long chain ω3 fatty acids. The quality and quantity of these fats together with appropriate antioxidative protection are critical for their positive health effects.

Role of Cholesterol in Transmembrane Dimerization of the ErbB2 Growth Factor Receptor

The association of ErbB2 growth factor receptors is critical for cell growth and potentiates tumor proliferation in several cancer types. An important aspect in ErbB2 association is the role of lipids such as cholesterol, especially since their metabolism is often reprogrammed in cancer cells. Here, we have coupled metadynamics with coarse-grain simulations to identify cholesterol effects in the transmembrane dimerization of ErbB2 receptors. Overall, cholesterol interactions are observed with the receptor that directly tunes the association energetics. Several dimer conformations are identified both in the presence and absence of cholesterol, although the dimer regime appears to be more favorable in the presence of cholesterol. We observe an overall modulation of the underlying energy profile and the symmetric active and inactive conformational states are not distinguished in the presence of cholesterol. We show that cholesterol binds to the receptor transmembrane domain at a site (CRAC motif) that overlaps with the dimer interface (SmXXXSm motif). The competition between the transmembrane interactions and cholesterol interactions decides the final conformational landscape. Our work is an important step toward characterizing cholesterol effects in ErbB2 membrane receptor function.

The Lysosomotropic Activity of Hydrophobic Weak Base Drugs is Mediated via Their Intercalation into the Lysosomal Membrane

Lipophilic weak base therapeutic agents, termed lysosomotropic drugs (LDs), undergo marked sequestration and concentration within lysosomes, hence altering lysosomal functions. This lysosomal drug entrapment has been described as luminal drug compartmentalization. Consistent with our recent finding that LDs inflict a pH-dependent membrane fluidization, we herein demonstrate that LDs undergo intercalation and concentration within lysosomal membranes. The latter was revealed experimentally and computationally by (a) confocal microscopy of fluorescent compounds and drugs within lysosomal membranes, and (b) molecular dynamics modeling of the pH-dependent membrane insertion and accumulation of an assortment of LDs, including anticancer drugs. Based on the multiple functions of the lysosome as a central nutrient sensory hub and a degradation center, we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying the alteration of morphology and impairment of lysosomal functions as consequences of LDs’ intercalation into lysosomes. Our findings bear important implications for drug design, drug induced lysosomal damage, diseases and pertaining therapeutics.

Inhibition of SREBP increases gefitinib sensitivity in non-small cell lung cancer cells

The clinical success of EGFR inhibitors in patients with lung cancer is limited by the inevitable development of treatment resistance. Here, we show that inhibition of SREBP increase gefitinib sensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Interference of SREBP1 binding partner MARVELD1 potentiate the therapeutic effect of gefitinib as well. Mechanistically, SREBP inhibition decreases the cell membrane fluidity, results in a decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR. Therefore, targeting lipid metabolism combined with EGFR-TKIs is potentially a novel therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.

Exogenous lipids promote the growth of breast cancer cells via CD36

Cancer cells present sustained de novo fatty acid (FA) synthesis with increased production of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). This change in FA metabolism is associated with overexpression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), which catalyses the transformation of SFAs into MUFAs (e.g., oleic acid). In this study, we provide new evidence that SCD1 inhibition leads to the anti-proliferation effect of breast cancer cells through induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and migration prevention. However, the antitumor effect of the SCD1 inhibitor can be reversed by exogenous oleic acid. We hypothesize that, in addition to de novo synthesis, cancer cells may uptake exogenous FAs actively. CD36, also known as FA translocase (FAT), that functions as a transmembrane protein and mediates the uptake of FAs, is observed to be highly expressed in breast cancer tissues. Furthermore, the anti-proliferation effect caused by the SCD1 inhibitor can not be reversed by exogenous oleic acid supplementation in CD36 knockdown breast cancer cells. Our study revealed that the lipid metabolism of breast cancer is regulated not only by de novo lipogenesis but also by the availability of lipids outside cancer cells. Consistent with FA synthesis, FA uptake and transport will be another important target pathway for anticancer therapy, and the FA channel protein CD36 may provide a promising therapeutic target. Lipogenesis combined with FA transport will be a new orientation for antitumor therapy.

Synthesis and biochemical characterization of EGF receptor in a water-soluble membrane model system

ErbB (Erythroblastic Leukemia Viral Oncogene Homolog) receptor tyrosine kinases are critical for tissue development and maintenance, and frequently become oncogenic when mutated or overexpressed. In vitro analysis of ErbB receptor kinases can be difficult because of their large size and poor water solubility. Here we report improved production and assembly of the correctly folded full-length EGF receptor (EGFR) into nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs). NLPs are ~10 nm in diameter discoidal cell membrane mimics composed of apolipoproteins surrounding a lipid bilayer. NLPs containing EGFR were synthesized via incubation of baculovirus-produced recombinant EGFR with apolipoprotein and phosphoplipids under conditions that favor self-assembly. The resulting EGFR-NLPs were the correct size, formed dimers and multimers, had intrinsic autophosphorylation activity, and retained the ability to interact with EGFR-targeted ligands and inhibitors consistent with previously-published in vitro binding affinities. We anticipate rapid adoption of EGFR-NLPs for structural studies of full-length receptors and drug screening, as well as for the in vitro characterization of ErbB heterodimers and disease-relevant mutants.

Stearoyl CoA desaturase-1: New insights into a central regulator of cancer metabolism

The processes of cell proliferation, cell death and differentiation involve an intricate array of biochemical and morphological changes that require a finely tuned modulation of metabolic pathways, chiefly among them is fatty acid metabolism. The critical participation of stearoyl CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), the fatty acyl Δ9-desaturing enzyme that converts saturated fatty acids (SFA) into monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), in the mechanisms of replication and survival of mammalian cells, as well as their implication in the biological alterations of cancer have been actively investigated in recent years. This review examines the growing body of evidence that argues for a role of SCD1 as a central regulator of the complex synchronization of metabolic and signaling events that control cellular metabolism, cell cycle progression, survival, differentiation and transformation to cancer.

Biological and Nutritional Properties of Palm Oil and Palmitic Acid: Effects on Health

A growing body of evidence highlights the close association between nutrition and human health. Fat is an essential macronutrient, and vegetable oils, such as palm oil, are widely used in the food industry and highly represented in the human diet. Palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid, is the principal constituent of refined palm oil. In the last few decades, controversial studies have reported potential unhealthy effects of palm oil due to the high palmitic acid content. In this review we provide a concise and comprehensive update on the functional role of palm oil and palmitic acid in the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The atherogenic potential of palmitic acid and its stereospecific position in triacylglycerols are also discussed.

Dietary intake of specific fatty acids and breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women in the VITAL cohort

Studies of dietary fat intake and breast cancer have been inconsistent and few have examined specific fatty acids. We examined the association between specific monounsaturated (MUFA), polyunsaturated (PUFA), saturated (SFA), and trans-fatty acids (TFA) and breast cancer risk. Participants, 50-76 yr, were female members of the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) Cohort, who were postmenopausal at baseline. In 2000-2002, participants completed a food frequency questionnaire. Seven hundred seventy-two incident, primary breast cancer cases were identified using a population-based cancer registry. Cox proportional hazard models estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the association between fatty acid intake and breast cancer risk. Intake of total MUFAs (highest vs. lowest quintile: HR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.08-2.38, P trend = 0.02), particularly myristoleic and erucic acids, was associated with increased breast cancer risk. Whereas total SFA was suggestive of an increased risk (HR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.00-2.15, P trend = 0.09), strong associations were observed for palmitic, margaric, and stearic acids. Total TFA and PUFA intake were not associated with breast cancer. However, among TFAs, linolelaidic acid was positively associated with risk; among PUFAs, intake of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids were inversely associated with risk. Our findings show that fatty acids are heterogeneous in their association with postmenopausal breast cancer risk.

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase activity modulates the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor in human lung cancer cells

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), the main enzyme that converts saturated fatty acids into monounsaturated fatty acids, is a key factor in the mechanisms of cancer cell proliferation, survival and tumorigenesis. Evidence indicates that SCD1 activity regulates these events in part by targeting the phosphatidylinositol-3 phosphate kinase/Akt and Ras/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways, but the molecular mechanisms remain unknown. We now show that in H460 lung cancer cells, the suppression of SCD activity with CVT-11127, a specific small molecule SCD inhibitor, impairs the ligand-induced phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, causing the inactivation of its downstream targets Akt, ERK and mammalian target of rapamycin. Importantly, the mitogenic response to EGF was markedly defective in SCD-depleted cancer cells. The inactivation of EGF receptor (EGFR) promoted by SCD inhibition may be caused by perturbations in the lipid microenvironment surrounding the receptor, since we detected significant alterations in the lateral mobility of plasma lipid microdomains. Finally, incubation of lung cancer cells with SCD blockers potentiated the antigrowth effect of gefitinib, an EGFR inhibitor employed in cancer treatment. Altogether, our data indicate that SCD activity may control cancer cell metabolism, proliferation and survival by modulating the EGFR→Akt/ERK signaling platforms. Our studies also suggest a value for SCD inhibitors as novel pharmacological agents in lung cancer, one of the most common and lethal forms of cancer for which therapeutic options remain very limited.

Roles of StearoylCoA Desaturase-1 in the Regulation of Cancer Cell Growth, Survival and Tumorigenesis

The development and maintenance of defining features of cancer, such as unremitting cell proliferation, evasion of programmed cell death, and the capacity for colonizing local tissues and distant organs, demand a massive production of structural, signaling and energy-storing lipid biomolecules of appropriate fatty acid composition. Due to constitutive activation of fatty acid biosynthesis, cancer cell lipids are enriched with saturated (SFA) and, in particular, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), which are generated by StearoylCoA desaturase-1, the main enzyme that transforms SFA into MUFA. An increasing number of experimental and epidemiological studies suggest that high levels of SCD1 activity is a major factor in establishing the biochemical and metabolic perturbations that favors the oncogenic process. This review examines evidence that suggests the critical implication of SCD1 in the modulation of multiple biological mechanisms, specifically lipid biosynthesis and proliferation and survival signaling pathways that contribute to the development and progression of cancer.

Inhibition of stearoylCoA desaturase activity blocks cell cycle progression and induces programmed cell death in lung cancer cells

Lung cancer is the most frequent form of cancer. The survival rate for patients with metastatic lung cancer is approximately 5%, hence alternative therapeutic strategies to treat this disease are critically needed. Recent studies suggest that lipid biosynthetic pathways, particularly fatty acid synthesis and desaturation, are promising molecular targets for cancer therapy. We have previously reported that inhibition of stearoylCoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), the enzyme that produces monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), impairs lung cancer cell proliferation, survival and invasiveness, and dramatically reduces tumor formation in mice. In this report, we show that inhibition of SCD activity in human lung cancer cells with the small molecule SCD inhibitor CVT-11127 reduced lipid synthesis and impaired proliferation by blocking the progression of cell cycle through the G(1)/S boundary and by triggering programmed cell death. These alterations resulting from SCD blockade were fully reversed by either oleic (18:1n-9), palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7) or cis-vaccenic acid (18:1n-7) demonstrating that cis-MUFA are key molecules for cancer cell proliferation. Additionally, co-treatment of cells with CVT-11127 and CP-640186, a specific acetylCoA carboxylase (ACC) inhibitor, did not potentiate the growth inhibitory effect of these compounds, suggesting that inhibition of ACC or SCD1 affects a similar target critical for cell proliferation, likely MUFA, the common fatty acid product in the pathway. This hypothesis was further reinforced by the observation that exogenous oleic acid reverses the anti-growth effect of SCD and ACC inhibitors. Finally, exogenous oleic acid restored the globally decreased levels of cell lipids in cells undergoing a blockade of SCD activity, indicating that active lipid synthesis is required for the fatty acid-mediated restoration of proliferation in SCD1-inhibited cells. Altogether, these observations suggest that SCD1 controls cell cycle progression and apoptosis and, consequently, the overall rate of proliferation in cancer cells through MUFA-mediated activation of lipid synthesis.

Modified epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-bearing liposomes (MRBLs) are sensitive to EGF in solution

Cancers often overexpress EGF and other growth factors to promote cell replication and migration. Previous work has not produced targeted drug carriers sensitive to abnormal amounts of growth factors. This work demonstrates that liposomes bearing EGF receptors covalently crosslinked to p-toluic acid or methyl-PEO(4)-NHS ester (or, in short, MRBLs) exhibit an increased rate of release of encapsulated drug compounds when EGF is present in solution. Furthermore, the modified EGF receptors retain the abilities to form dimers in the presence of EGF and bind specifically to EGF. These results demonstrate that MRBLs are sensitive to EGF in solution and indicate that MRBL-reconstituted modified EGF receptors, in the presence of EGF in solution, form dimers which increase MRBL permeability to encapsulated compounds.

Endosomal transport of neurotrophins: roles in signaling and neurodegenerative diseases

The internalization and retrograde axonal transport of neurotrophin receptors is important for their retrograde signal transduction supporting neuronal differentiation, plasticity, and survival. To influence transcription, neurotrophin signals initiated at synapses have to be conveyed retrogradely to the cell body. Signaling endosomes containing neurotrophin receptor signaling complexes mediate retrograde neurotrophin signaling from synapses to the nucleus. Interestingly, many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Niemann Pick disease Type C, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathies, show alterations of vesicular transport, suggesting that traffic jams within neuronal processes may cause neurodegeneration. Although most of these diseases are complex and may be modulated by diverse pathways contributing to neuronal death, altered neurotrophin transport is emerging as a strong candidate influence on neurodegeneration. In this article, we review the mechanisms of internalization and endocytic trafficking of neurotrophin receptors, and discuss the potential roles of perturbations in neurotrophin trafficking in a number of neurodegenerative diseases.

The Enantiomer of Cholesterol

Cholesterol plays a variety of significant roles in biological systems. However, the mechanisms by which cholesterol functions remain largely unclear. The enantiomer of cholesterol (ent-cholesterol)--which has identical physical properties, but opposite three-dimensional configuration compared to cholesterol--is a unique tool that can be used to better understand the mechanisms of cholesterol function. We review the literature pertaining to ent-cholesterol, focusing in particular on its use in biological studies.

Interactions of EGFR and caveolin-1 in human glioblastoma cells: evidence that tyrosine phosphorylation regulates EGFR association with caveolae

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) amplification and type III mutation (EGFRvIII), associated with constitutive tyrosine kinase activation and high malignancy, are commonly observed in glioblastoma tumors. The association of EGFR and EGFRvIII with caveolins was investigated in human glioblastoma cell lines, U87MG and U87MG-EGFRvIII. Caveolin-1 expression, determined by RT-PCR, real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot, was upregulated in glioblastoma cell lines (two-fold) and tumors (20-300-fold) compared to primary human astrocytes and nonmalignant brain tissue, respectively. U87MG-EGFRvIII expressed higher levels of caveolin-1 than U87MG. In contrast, the expression of caveolin-2 and -3 were downregulated in glioblastoma cells compared to astrocytes. A colocalization of EGFR, but not of EGFRvIII, with lipid rafts and caveolin-1 was observed by immunocytochemistry. Association of EGFR and EGFRvIII with caveolae, assessed in vitro by binding to caveolin scaffolding domain peptides and in vivo by immunocolocalization studies in cells and caveolae-enriched cellular fraction, was phosphorylation-dependent: ligand-induced phosphorylation of EGFR resulted in dissociation of EGFR from caveolae. In contrast, inhibition of the EGFRvIII constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation by AG1478 increased association of EGFRvIII with caveolin-1. AG1478 also increased caveolin-1 expression and reduced glioblastoma cell growth in a semi-solid agar. The evidence suggests that the phosphorylation-regulated sequestration of EGFR in caveolae may be involved in arresting constitutive or ligand-induced signaling through EGFR responsible for glial cell transformation.

Overexpressed GM1 Suppresses Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) Signals by Modulating the Intracellular Localization of NGF Receptors and Membrane Fluidity in PC12 Cells

Ganglioside GM1 has been considered to have a neurotrophic factor-like activity. To analyze the effects of endogenously generated GM1, the rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12 was transfected with the GM1/GD1b/GA1 synthase gene and showed increased expression levels of GM1. To our surprise, GM1+-transfectant cells (GM1+ cells) showed no neurite formation after stimulation with nerve growth factor (NGF). Autophosphorylation of NGF receptor TrkA and activation of ERK1/2 after NGF treatment were scarcely detected in GM1+ cells. Binding of 125I-NGF to PC12 cells was almost equivalent between GM1+ cells and controls. However, dimer formation of TrkA upon NGF treatment was markedly suppressed in GM1+ cells in both cross-linking analysis with Bis(sulfosuccinimidyl)suberate 3 and 125I-NGF binding assay. The sucrose density gradient fractionation of the cell lysate revealed that TrkA primarily located in the lipid raft fraction moved to the non-raft fraction in GM1+ cells. p75NTR and Ras also moved from the raft to non-raft fraction in GM1+ cells, whereas flotillin and GM1 persistently resided in the lipid raft. TrkA kinase activity was differentially regulated when GM1 was added to the kinase assay system in vitro, suggesting suppressive/enhancing effects of GM1 on NGF signals based on the concentration. Measurement of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching revealed that the membrane fluidity was reduced in GM1+ cells. These results suggested that overexpressed GM1 suppresses the differentiation signals mediated by NGF/TrkA by modulating the properties of the lipid raft and the intracellular localization of NGF receptors and relevant signaling molecules.

Rapid and efficient incorporation of tissue factor into liposomes

Tissue factor (TF), the physiological trigger of the blood clotting cascade, is also the active ingredient in thromboplastin preparations which are widely used in clotting assays such as the prothrombin time (PT) test. A type I integral membrane protein, TF must be incorporated into suitable phospholipid membranes for full procoagulant activity. Several methods exist for incorporating TF into phospholipid vesicles, typically employing the formation of mixed micelles containing detergent, phospholipid and TF, followed by detergent removal or dilution below the critical micelle concentration (CMC). These methods have certain drawbacks: they may take several days to complete, employ expensive detergents, are difficult to scale up, and do not always result in complete detergent removal. In this study we have investigated the use of a variety of detergents [Triton X-100, octaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C(12)E(8)), cholate, deoxycholate, and n-octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside], and the use of adsorbent beads (Bio-Beads SM-2) for removing detergent, in processes to incorporate TF into proteoliposomes with high specific activity in coagulation assays. The method we have developed is rapid and readily scalable, yielding thromboplastin preparations with specific activities in plasma clotting assays that are at least as high as those made with detergent dialysis.

Cholesterol is important in control of EGF receptor kinase activity but EGF receptors are not concentrated in caveolae

We have investigated the localization and function of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in normal cells, in cholesterol-depleted cells and in cholesterol enriched cells. Using immunoelectron microscopy we find that the EGFR is randomly distributed at the plasma membrane and not enriched in caveolae. Binding of EGF at 4°C does not change the localization of EGFR,and by immunoelectron microscopy we find that only small amounts of bound EGF localize to caveolae. However, upon patching of lipid rafts, we find that a significant amount of the EGFR is localized within rafts. Depletion of the plasma membrane cholesterol causes increased binding of EGF, increased dimerization of the EGFR, and hyperphosphorylation of the EGFR. Addition of cholesterol was found to reduce EGF binding and reduce EGF-induced EGFR activation. Our results suggest that the plasma membrane cholesterol content directly controls EGFR activation.

Activation mechanism of solubilized epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase

Dimerization of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) leads to the activation of its tyrosine kinase. To elucidate whether dimerization is responsible for activation of the intracellular tyrosine kinase domain or just plays a role in the stabilization of the active form, the activated status of wild-type EGFR moiety in the heterodimer with kinase activity-deficient mutant receptors was investigated. The kinase activity of the wild-type EGFR was partially activated by EGF in the heterodimer with intracellular domain deletion (sEGFR) or ATP binding-deficient mutant (K721A) EGFRs, while the wild-type EGFR in the heterodimer of wild-type and phosphate transfer activity-deficient mutant receptor D813N could be fully activated. After treatment with EGF, the ATP binding affinity and the V(max) of the wild-type EGFR increased. In the presence of sEGFR, a similar increase in the affinity for ATP was observed, but V(max) did not change. A two-step activation mechanism for EGFR was proposed: upon binding of EGF, the affinity for ATP increased and then, as a result of interaction between the neighboring tyrosine kinase domain, V(max) increased.