Transphosphorylation as a possible mechanism for insulin and epidermal growth factor receptor activation

The RTK Interactome: Overview and Perspective on RTK Heterointeractions

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) play important roles in cell growth, motility, differentiation, and survival. These single-pass membrane proteins are grouped into subfamilies based on the similarity of their extracellular domains. They are generally thought to be activated by ligand binding, which promotes homodimerization and then autophosphorylation in trans. However, RTK interactions are more complicated, as RTKs can interact in the absence of ligand and heterodimerize within and across subfamilies. Here, we review the known cross-subfamily RTK heterointeractions and their possible biological implications, as well as the methodologies which have been used to study them. Moreover, we demonstrate how thermodynamic models can be used to study RTKs and to explain many of the complicated biological effects which have been described in the literature. Finally, we discuss the concept of the RTK interactome: a putative, extensive network of interactions between the RTKs. This RTK interactome can produce unique signaling outputs; can amplify, inhibit, and modify signaling; and can allow for signaling backups. The existence of the RTK interactome could provide an explanation for the irreproducibility of experimental data from different studies and for the failure of some RTK inhibitors to produce the desired therapeutic effects. We argue that a deeper knowledge of RTK interactome thermodynamics can lead to a better understanding of fundamental RTK signaling processes in health and disease. We further argue that there is a need for quantitative, thermodynamic studies that probe the strengths of the interactions between RTKs and their ligands and between different RTKs.

Kinase activator-receiver preference in ErbB heterodimers is determined by intracellular regions and is not coupled to extracellular asymmetry

The EGF receptor (EGFR) family comprises four homologs in humans collectively known as the ErbB or HER proteins. ErbB proteins are receptor tyrosine kinases that become activated when ligands bind to their extracellular regions and promote formation of specific homo- and heterodimers with enhanced tyrosine kinase activity. An essential feature of ErbB activation is formation of an asymmetric kinase dimer in which the C-terminal lobe of one kinase serves as the activator or donor kinase by binding the N-terminal lobe of a receiver or acceptor kinase and stabilizing its active conformation. ErbB extracellular regions are also thought to form active asymmetric dimers in which only one subunit binds ligand. The observation that the unliganded ErbB2 kinase preferentially serves as the activator kinase when paired with EGFR/ErbB1 implied that extracellular asymmetry in ErbB proteins might be coupled to intracellular asymmetry with unliganded partners favoring the activator kinase position. Using cell-based stimulation assays and chimeric ErbB proteins, we show that extracellular asymmetry is not coupled to intracellular asymmetry and that ErbB intracellular regions are sufficient to determine relative kinase activator-receiver orientation. We further show a hierarchy of activator-receiver preferences among ErbB proteins, with EGFR/ErbB1 being the strongest receiver, followed by ErbB2 and then ErbB4, and that cis-phosphorylation of EGFR and ErbB2 appears to be negligible. This hierarchy shapes the nature of signaling responses to different ligands in cells expressing multiple ErbB proteins.

Receptor clustering affects signal transduction at the membrane level in the reaction-limited regime

Many types of membrane receptors are found to be organized as clusters on the cell surface. We investigate the potential effect of such receptor clustering on the intracellular signal transduction stage. We consider a canonical pathway with a membrane receptor (R) activating a membrane-bound intracellular relay protein (G). We use Monte Carlo simulations to recreate biochemical reactions using different receptor spatial distributions and explore the dynamics of the signal transduction. Results show that activation of G by R is severely impaired by R clustering, leading to an apparent blunted biological effect compared to control. Paradoxically, this clustering decreases the half maximal effective dose (ED50) of the transduction stage, increasing the apparent affinity. We study an example of inter-receptor interaction in order to account for possible compensatory effects of clustering and observe the parameter range in which such interactions slightly counterbalance the loss of activation of G. The membrane receptors' spatial distribution affects the internal stages of signal amplification, suggesting a functional role for membrane domains and receptor clustering independently of proximity-induced receptor-receptor interactions.

Tyrosine kinase receptor alteration of renal vasoconstriction in rats is sex- and age-related

Male rat renal blood vessels undergo reduced contraction to norepinephrine with aging. There is a greater renal vascular impairment in male compared with female rats. We investigated specific tyrosine kinase receptor inhibition of renal interlobar artery responsiveness to phenylephrine in male and female rats at specifically designated ages. Vessels from young male rats contracted much less to phenylephrine when the vessels were pretreated with the tyrosine kinase inhibitors Lavendustin A, HNMPA-(AM)₃, or AG1478. Vessels from adult female rats pretreated with Lavendustin A showed no difference in contraction from control, but did demonstrate a slightly reduced contraction when pretreated with AG1478. Middle-aged male rat vessels treated with Lavendustin A demonstrated no inhibition, but the insulin and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antagonists both induced a decline in contraction. Vessels from aged male rats demonstrated no effect related to the 3 pretreatments. Middle-aged and aged female rats pretreated with any inhibitor demonstrated no inhibitor-dependent alterations. We conclude that maximum contraction of interlobar arteries from adult male rats is reduced when tyrosine kinase receptor activity is reduced. Female rats demonstrated much less inhibitor-related change of contraction.

Suppression of EGFR autophosphorylation by FKBP12

FK506 binding proteins (FKBPs) represent a subfamily of peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerases that can control receptor-mediated intracellular signaling. The prototypic PPIase FKBP12 functionally interacts with EGFR. FKBP12 was shown to inhibit EGF-induced EGFR autophosphorylation with all internal phosphorylation sites equally affected. The inhibition of EGFR catalytic activity is conducted by targeting the EGFR kinase domain. The change of intracellular FKBP12 levels resulted in a change of EGFR autophosphorylation level. Collectively, our results demonstrate that FKBP12 forms an endogenous inhibitor of EGFR phosphorylation directly involved in the control of cellular EGFR activity.

Receptor tyrosine kinase coactivation networks in cancer

Cancer cells employ multiple mechanisms to evade tightly regulated cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, and senescence. Systems-wide analyses of tumors have recently identified receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) coactivation as an important mechanism by which cancer cells achieve chemoresistance. This mini-review discusses our current understanding of the complex and dynamic process of RTK coactivation. We highlight how systems biology and computational modeling have been employed to predict integrated signaling outcomes and cancer phenotypes downstream of RTK coactivation. We conclude by providing an outlook on the feasibility of targeting RTK networks to overcome chemoresistance in cancer.

Symmetric signaling by an asymmetric 1 erythropoietin: 2 erythropoietin receptor complex

Via sites 1 and 2, erythropoietin binds asymmetrically to two identical receptor monomers, although it is unclear how asymmetry affects receptor activation and signaling. Here we report the design and validation of two mutant erythropoietin receptors that probe the role of individual members of the receptor dimer by selectively binding either site 1 or site 2 on erythropoietin. Ba/F3 cells expressing either mutant receptor do not respond to erythropoietin, but cells co-expressing both receptors respond to erythropoietin by proliferation and activation of the JAK2-Stat5 pathway. A truncated receptor with only one cytosolic tyrosine (Y343) is sufficient for signaling in response to erythropoietin, regardless of the monomer on which it is located. Similarly, only one receptor in the dimer needs a juxtamembrane hydrophobic L253 or W258 residue, essential for JAK2 activation. We conclude that despite asymmetry in the ligand-receptor interaction, both sides are competent for signaling, and appear to signal equally.

Mechanism of activation and inhibition of the HER4/ErbB4 kinase

HER4/ErbB4 is a ubiquitously expressed member of the EGF/ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases that is essential for normal development of the heart, nervous system, and mammary gland. We report here crystal structures of the ErbB4 kinase domain in active and lapatinib-inhibited forms. Active ErbB4 kinase adopts an asymmetric dimer conformation essentially identical to that observed to be important for activation of the EGF receptor/ErbB1 kinase. Mutagenesis studies of intact ErbB4 in Ba/F3 cells confirm the importance of this asymmetric dimer for activation of intact ErbB4. Lapatinib binds to an inactive form of the ErbB4 kinase in a mode equivalent to its interaction with the EGF receptor. All ErbB4 residues contacted by lapatinib are conserved in the EGF receptor and HER2/ErbB2, which lapatinib also targets. These results demonstrate that key elements of kinase activation and inhibition are conserved among ErbB family members.

Molecular Mechanisms that Regulate Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inactivation

The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is the prototypical receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK). These cell surface receptors are integral membrane proteins that bind ligands on their extracellular domain and relay that information to within the cell. The activated EGFR regulates diverse cell fates such as growth, proliferation, differentiation, migration, and apoptosis. These signaling properties are important for the appropriate development and maintenance of an organism. However, when inappropriately controlled, due to EGFR overexpression or hyperactivation, these signaling events are characteristic of many cancers. It remains unclear whether the uncontrolled EGFR activity leads to cell transformation or is a consequence of cell transformation. Regardless of the cause, increased EGFR activity serves both as a biomarker in the diagnosis of some cancers and is a molecular target for anti-cancer therapies. The promising results with current anti-EGFR therapies suggest that the receptor is a viable molecular target for a limited number of applications. However, to become an effective therapeutic target for other cancers that have elevated levels of EGFR activity, current approaches for inhibiting EGFR signaling will need to be refined. Here we describe the molecular mechanisms that regulate EGFR inactivation and discuss their potential as therapeutic targets for inhibiting EGFR signaling.

Mutational activation of ErbB family receptor tyrosine kinases: insights into mechanisms of signal transduction and tumorigenesis

Signaling by the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and related ErbB family receptor tyrosine kinases can be deregulated in human malignancies as the result of mutations in the genes that encode these receptors. The recent identification of EGFR mutations that correlate with sensitivity and resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in lung and colon tumors has renewed interest in such activating mutations. Here we review current models for ligand stimulation of receptor dimerization and for activation of receptor signaling by receptor dimerization. In the context of these models, we discuss ErbB receptor mutations that affect ligand binding and those that cause constitutive receptor phosphorylation and signaling as a result of constitutive receptor dimerization. We discuss mutations in the cytoplasmic regions that affect enzymatic activity, substrate specificity and coupling to effectors and downstream signaling pathways. Finally, we discuss how emergent mechanisms of ErbB receptor mutational activation could impact the search for clinically relevant ErbB receptor mutations.

Preparation and characterization of Alexa Fluor 594-labeled epidermal growth factor for fluorescence resonance energy transfer studies: application to the epidermal growth factor receptor

We have prepared and characterized a new fluorescent derivative of murine epidermal growth factor (EGF), Alexa Fluor 594-labeled EGF (A-EGF), for fluorescence studies of EGF-EGF receptor interactions. We describe the synthesis of this derivative and its physical and biological characterization. The significant overlap between the excitation and the emission spectra of A-EGF makes this probe well suited to fluorescence resonance energy homo-transfer. Using time-resolved fluorescence to examine the oligomeric state of the EGF receptor, we have observed resonance energy homo-transfer of A-EGF bound to EGF receptors in cells, but not of A-EGF bound to EGF receptors in membrane vesicles. Our results, interpreted in the context of recent crystallographic studies of the ligand-binding domains of EGF receptors, suggest that observed fluorescence resonance energy transfer does not result from transfer within receptor dimers, but rather results from transfer within higher-order oligomers. Furthermore, our results support a structural model for oligomerization of EGF receptors in which dimers are positioned head-to-head with respect to the ligand-binding site, consistent with the head-to-head interactions observed between adjacent receptor dimers by X-ray crystallography.

The influence of ageing on the insulin signalling system in rat lacrimal and salivary glands

PURPOSE

Ageing adversely affects the structure and function of lacrimal and salivary glands (LG and SG) and leads to marked insulin resistance that correlates with reduced insulin signal transduction. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ageing affects insulin signal transduction in LG and SG in vivo.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats aged 20 months and 2 months (control group) were compared (n=8/group). Samples were removed under anaesthesia after i.v. injection of insulin, homogenized, immunoprecipitated with anti-insulin receptor (IR), Shc and STAT-1 antibodies and immunoblotted with antiphosphotyrosine antibody.

RESULTS

The 20-month-old rats were significantly hyperinsulinaemic and presented a reduced rate of blood glucose disappearance in response to insulin, compared to the 2-month-old rats. The level of phosphorylation determined by densitometry in the older group of rats showed that ageing significantly reduced insulin-induced IR phosphorylation in LG and SG and STAT-1 phosphorylation in SG, compared to in the control group, but did not alter Shc phosphorylation.

CONCLUSIONS

Ageing influences insulin signal transduction in the LG and SG of rats. Considering the major anabolic actions of insulin, these observations may help to explain the mechanisms of LG and SG dysfunctions observed in ageing.

Sam68 associates with the SH3 domains of Grb2 recruiting GAP to the Grb2-SOS complex in insulin receptor signaling

The 68 kDa Src substrate associated during mitosis (Sam68) is an RNA binding protein with Src homology (SH) 2 and 3 domain binding sites. We have recently found that Sam68 is a substrate of the insulin receptor (IR) that translocates from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and that Tyr-phosphorylated Sam68 associates with the SH2 domains of p85 PI3K and GAP, in vivo and in vitro. In the present work, we have further demonstrated the cytoplasmic localization of Sam68, which is increased in cells overexpressing IR. Besides, we sought to further study the association of Sam68 with the Ras-GAP pathway by assessing the interactions with SH3 domains of Grb2. We employed GST-fusion proteins containing the SH3 domains of Grb2 (N or C), and recombinant Sam68 for in vitro studies. In vivo studies of protein-protein interaction were assessed by co-immunoprecipitation experiments with specific antibodies against Sam68, GAP, Grb2, SOS, and phosphotyrosine; and by affinity precipitation with the fusion proteins (SH3-Grb2). Insulin stimulation of HTC-IR cells promotes phosphorylation of Sam68 and its association with the SH2 domains of GAP. Sam68 is constitutively associated with the SH3 domains of Grb2 and it does not change upon insulin stimulation, but Sam68 is Tyr-phosphorylated and promotes the association of GAP with the Grb2-SOS complex. In vitro studies with fusion proteins showed that Sam68 association with Grb2 is preferentially mediated by the C-terminal SH3 domains of Grb2. In conclusion, Sam68 is a substrate of the IR and may have a role as a docking protein in IR signaling, recruiting GAP to the Grb2-SOS complex, and in this way it may modulate Ras activity.

Retroviral expression of a kinase-defective IGF-I receptor suppresses growth and causes apoptosis of CHO and U87 cells in-vivo

BACKGROUND

Phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate (PtdInsP3) signaling is elevated in many tumors due to loss of the tumor suppressor PTEN, and leads to constitutive activation of Akt, a kinase involved in cell survival. Reintroduction of PTEN in cells suppresses transformation and tumorigenicity. While this approach works in-vitro, it may prove difficult to achieve in-vivo. In this study, we investigated whether inhibition of growth factor signaling would have the same effect as re-expression of PTEN.

METHODS

Dominant negative IGF-I receptors were expressed in CHO and U87 cells by retroviral infection. Cell proliferation, transformation and tumor formation in athymic nude mice were assessed.

RESULTS

Inhibition of IGF-IR signaling in a CHO cell model system by expression of a kinase-defective IGF-IR impairs proliferation, transformation and tumor growth. Reduction in tumor growth is associated with an increase in apoptosis in-vivo. The dominant-negative IGF-IRs also prevented growth of U87 PTEN-negative glioblastoma cells when injected into nude mice. Injection of an IGF-IR blocking antibody alphaIR3 into mice harboring parental U87 tumors inhibits tumor growth and increases apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Inhibition of an upstream growth factor signal prevents tumor growth of the U87 PTEN-deficient glioma to the same extent as re-introduction of PTEN. This result suggests that growth factor receptor inhibition may be an effective alternative therapy for PTEN-deficient tumors.

Sam68 is a docking protein linking GAP and PI3K in insulin receptor signaling

The 68 kDa Src substrate associated during mitosis (Sam68) is an RNA binding protein with Src homology (SH) 2 and 3 domain binding sites. We have recently found that Sam68 is a substrate of the insulin receptor (IR) and that Tyr-phosphorylated Sam68 associates with the SH2 domains of p85 PI3K. In the present work, using HTC-IR cells, we have found that insulin stimulation promotes the relocalization of Sam68 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and we have further studied the role of Sam68 in insulin receptor signaling complexes, by co-precipitating experiments. Thus, Sam68 is co-precipitated with p85 PI3K, IRS-1 and IR. The association of Sam68 with these complexes is mediated by the SH2 domains of PI3K. Moreover, we have found that Sam68 is a p120GAP associated protein after Tyr-phosphorylation by the IR. This association is mediated by the SH2 domains of GAP (preferentially the C-terminal SH2). Thus, Sam68 is linking p120GAP to PI3K signaling pathway. In fact, PI3K activity was increased in both anti-Sam68 and anti-GAP immmunoprecipitates upon insulin stimulation. We propose that the recruitment of the docking protein Sam68 to the PI3K pathway may serve to allow the association of other signaling molecules, i.e. p120GAP. In this way, these signaling complexes may modulate other signaling cascades of IR, such as p21Ras pathway.

Evidence for heterotypic interaction between the receptor tyrosine kinases TIE-1 and TIE-2

The orphan receptor tyrosine kinase Tie-1 is expressed in endothelial cells and is essential for vascular development. Nothing is known about the signaling pathways utilized by this receptor. In this study we have used chimeric receptors composed of the TrkA ectodomain fused to the transmembrane and intracellular domains of Tie-1, or the related receptor Tie-2, to examine Tie-1 signaling capacity. In contrast to TrkA/Tie-2, the Tie-1 chimera was unable to phosphorylate cellular proteins or undergo autophosphorylation. Consistent with this Tie-1 exhibited negligible kinase activity. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis revealed Tie-1 was present in endothelial cells bound to Tie-2. Full-length Tie-1 and truncated receptor, formed by regulated endoproteolytic cleavage, were found to complex with Tie-2. Association was mediated by the intracellular domains of the receptors and did not require Tie-1 to be membrane-localized. Tie-1 bound to Tie-2 was not tyrosine-phosphorylated under basal conditions or following Tie-2 stimulation. This study provides the first evidence for the existence of a pre-formed complex of Tie-1 and Tie-2 in endothelial cells. The data suggest Tie-1 does not signal via ligand-induced kinase activation involving homo-oligomerization. The physical association between Tie-1 and Tie-2 is consistent with Tie-1 having a role in modulating Tie-2 signaling.

The interaction between the Drosophila secreted protein argos and the epidermal growth factor receptor inhibits dimerization of the receptor and binding of secreted spitz to the receptor

Drosophila Argos (Aos), a secreted protein with an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain, has been shown to inhibit the activation of the Drosophila EGF receptor (DER). However, it has not been determined whether Aos binds directly to DER or whether regulation of the DER activation occurs through some other mechanism. Using DER-expressing cells (DER/S2) and a recombinant DER extracellular domain-Fc fusion protein (DER-Fc), we have shown that Aos binds directly to the extracellular domain of DER with its carboxyl-terminal region, including the EGF-like domain. Furthermore, Aos can block the binding of secreted Spitz (sSpi), a transforming growth factor alpha-like ligand of DER, to the extracellular domain of DER. We observed that sSpi stimulates the dimerization of both the soluble DER extracellular domain (sDER) and the intact DER in the DER/S2 cells and that Aos can block the sSpi-induced dimerization of both sDER and intact DER. Moreover, we have shown that, by directly interacting with DER, Aos and SpiAos (a chimeric protein that is composed of the N-terminal region of Spi and the C-terminal region of Aos) inhibit the dimerization and phosphorylation of DER that are induced by DER's overexpression in the absence of sSpi. These results indicate that Aos exerts its inhibitory function through dual molecular mechanisms: by blocking both the receptor dimerization and the binding of activating ligand to the receptor. This is the first description of this novel inhibitory mechanism for receptor tyrosine kinases.

The regulatory beta subunit of protein kinase CK2 mediates formation of tetrameric CK2 complexes

Protein kinase CK2 is a tetrameric enzyme composed of two catalytic (alpha and/or alpha') subunits and two regulatory (beta) subunits. Because CK2beta is synthesized in excess of CK2alpha, we hypothesized that formation of CK2beta homodimers precedes the incorporation of the catalytic subunits of CK2 into complexes. To test this hypothesis, we cotransfected cells with two epitope-tagged variants of CK2beta. The results of these cotransfection studies demonstrate that interactions between two CK2beta subunits take place in the absence of CK2alpha. Together with results from previous biosynthetic labeling studies, these results suggest that formation of CK2beta homodimers occurs before incorporation of catalytic subunits of CK2 into CK2 complexes. We also cotransfected Cos-7 cells with a deletion fragment of CK2beta (i.e. Myc-beta1-166) together with full-length hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged CK2beta and/or CK2alpha'. Although complexes between Myc-beta1-166 and HA-beta were readily detected, we obtained no evidence of direct interactions between Myc-beta1-166 and HA-CK2alpha'. These results suggest that residues within the N-terminal 166 amino acids of CK2beta are sufficient for interactions between CK2beta subunits, whereas the C-terminal domain of CK2beta is required for complex formation with the catalytic subunits of CK2. Finally, we observed that expression of full-length HA-beta promotes phosphorylation of Myc-beta1-166 by HA-CK2alpha'.

Genetic analysis of punt, a type II Dpp receptor that functions throughout the Drosophila melanogaster life cycle

TGF-beta (transforming growth factor-beta-) mediated signal transduction affects growth and patterning in a variety of organisms. Here we report a genetic characterization of the Drosophila punt gene that encodes a type II serine/threonine kinase TGF-beta/Dpp (Decapentaplegic) receptor. Although the punt gene was originally identified based on its requirement for embryonic dorsal closure, we have documented multiple periods of punt activity throughout the Drosophila life cycle. We demonstrate that potentially related embryonic punt phenotypes, defects in dorsoventral patterning and dorsal closure, correspond to distinct maternal and zygotic requirements for punt. In addition, we document postembryonic requirements for punt activity. The tight correspondence between both embryonic and postembryonic loss-of-function punt and dpp phenotypes implicates a role for Punt in mediating virtually all Dpp signaling events in Drosophila. Finally, our comparison of punt homoallelic and heteroallelic phenotypes provides direct evidence for interallelic complementation. Taken together, these results suggest that the Punt protein functions as a dimer or higher order multimer throughout the Drosophila life cycle.

Stoichiometric structure-function analysis of the prolactin receptor signaling domain by receptor chimeras

The intracellular domain of the prolactin (PRL) receptor (PRLr) is required for PRL-induced signaling and proliferation. To identify and test the functional stoichiometry of those PRLr motifs required for transduction and growth, chimeras consisting of the extracellular domain of either the alpha or beta subunit of human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor (GM-CSFr) and the intracellular domain of the rat PRLr were synthesized. Because the high-affinity binding of GM-CSF results from the specific pairing of one alpha- and one beta-GM-CSFr, use of GM-CSFr/PRLr chimera enabled targeted dimerization of the PRLr intracellular domain. To that end, the extracellular domains of the alpha- and beta-GM-CSFr were conjugated to one of the following mutations: (i) PRLr C-terminal truncations, termed alpha278, alpha294, alpha300, alpha322, or beta322; (ii) PRLr tyrosine replacements, termed Y309F, Y382F, or Y309+382F; or, (iii) PRLr wild-type short, intermediate, or long isoforms. These chimeras were cotransfected into the cytokine-responsive Ba/F3 line, and their expression was confirmed by ligand binding and Northern and Western blot analyses. Data from these studies revealed that heterodimeric complexes of the wild type with C-terminal truncation mutants of the PRLr intracellular domain were incapable of ligand-induced signaling or proliferation. Replacement of any single tyrosine residue (Y309F or Y382F) in the dimerized PRLr complex resulted in a moderate reduction of receptor-associated Jak2 activation and proliferation. In contrast, trans replacement of these residues (i.e., alphaY309F and betaY382F) markedly reduced ligand-driven Jak2 activation and proliferation, while cis replacement of both tyrosine residues in a single intracellular domain (i.e., alphaY309+382F) produced an inactive signaling complex. Analysis of these GM-CSFr-PRLr complexes revealed equivalent levels of Jak2 in association with the mutant receptor chains, suggesting that the tyrosine residues at 309 and 382 do not contribute to Jak association, but instead to its activation. Heterodimeric pairings of the intracellular domains from the known PRLr receptor isoforms (short-intermediate, short-long, and intermediate-long) also yielded inactive receptor complexes. These data demonstrate that the tyrosine residues at 309 and 382, as well as additional residues within the C terminus of the dimerized PRLr complex, contribute to PRL-driven signaling and proliferation. Furthermore, these findings indicate a functional requirement for the pairing of Y309 and Y382 in trans within the dimerized receptor complex.

Self-phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor is an intermolecular reaction

The binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF receptor) results in the dimerization and self-phosphorylation of the receptor. Both of these responses were followed as a function of time and the concentration of EGF receptor. Dimerization of EGF receptor was monitored by immunoblotting the protein after it had been cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. The capacity for self-phosphorylation was followed by measuring the relative level of incorporation of [32P]phosphate into EGF receptor on autoradiograms of the same immunoblots used for the assay of its dimerization. When these two properties were followed as a function of time, it was found that dimerization preceded the appearance of the capacity for self-phosphorylation. Both dimeric and monomeric forms of EGF receptor were self-phosphorylated in the presence of EGF, but the dimeric form was phosphorylated preferentially to the monomeric form. When the dimerization and the capacity for self-phosphorylation were followed as a function of the concentration of dimeric EGF receptor, it was observed that the self-phosphorylation of dimeric EGF receptor increased as the concentration of dimeric EGF receptor increased. An equation including terms representing both intramolecular and intermolecular rates of self-phosphorylation was fit to the plots of self-phosphorylation as a function of concentration of EGF receptor. These fits demonstrate that intramolecular self-phosphorylation within dimers of EGF receptor is insignificant and that self-phosphorylation is an intermolecular process between dimers of EGF receptor.

Dominant negative and cooperative effects of mutant forms of prolactin receptor

In addition to a long form of 591 amino acids (aa), two other forms of PRL receptor (PRLR), differing in the length of their cytoplasmic domains, have been identified in the rat. The Nb2 form, lacking 198 aa in the cytoplasmic domain, is able to transmit a lactogenic signal similar to the long form, whereas the short form of 291 aa is inactive. The ability of PRL to activate the promoter of the beta-casein gene or the lactogenic hormone responsive element fused to the luciferase reporter was assessed in Chinese hamster ovary cells or 293 fibroblasts transiently transfected with PRLR cDNAs. The function of the short form was examined after cotransfection of both the long and short forms. These results clearly show that the short form acts as a dominant negative inhibitor through the formation of inactive heterodimers, resulting in an inhibition of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) activation. The present study also investigates the possible participation of cytoplasmic receptors in the signal transduction pathway, using cotransfection experiments and a new approach that selectively determines the contribution of cytoplasmic receptors in the process of signal transduction. We cotransfected Chinese hamster ovary cells with two cDNA constructs: a cytoplasmic (soluble) form of the receptor with a deleted signal peptide (delta-19), which is unable to bind PRL, and a functionally inactive receptor mutant (lacking box 1), which is anchored in the plasma membrane and able to bind PRL. This approach has allowed us to show that delta-19, lacking expression at the plasma membrane, can transduce the hormonal message, at least to a limited extent (up to 30% of wild type efficiency), providing that association/activation occurs with a PRL-PRLR complex initiated at the cell surface level; box 1 of the cytoplasmic form is necessary to rescue this partial transcriptional activity of the inactive mutant. This partial recovery is also parallel to the partial activation of JAK2, indicating that the signal transduction pathway implicated JAK2. Our results provide evidence that heterodimerization of receptors can be implicated either in the positive or in negative activation of gene transcription.

An aspartate/insulin receptor chimera mitogenically activates fibroblasts

A gene encoding the ligand-binding domain of the Escherichia coli aspartate receptor fused to the cytoplasmic domain of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase to produce the chimeric aspartate insulin receptor (AIR) was expressed in mammalian cells. A murine fibroblast transfectant line designated CA3 was generated that stably expressed the AIR receptor. This 70,000 Mr receptor containing the tyrosine kinase of the insulin receptor was recognized by aspartate receptor-specific antisera. When isolated in cellular membrane preparations, AIR was found to be capable of autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of histone H2B on tyrosine. The receptor was found to be predominately cytoplasmic and to be situated in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi membranes by immunofluorescence imaging of CA3 cells. Mitogenic effects of AIR were observed; CA3 cells continued DNA synthesis under serum deprivation conditions that prevented parental cells from cycling. These results demonstrate that a chimeric receptor containing procaryotic transmembrane sequences is expressed by a eucaryotic cell in intracellular membranes and functionally couples to cellular signaling pathways.

Effect of mutations at serines 1280-1283 on the mitogenic and transforming activities of the insulin-like growth factor I receptor

The insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) controls the extent of cell proliferation in a variety of cell types by at least 3 different ways: it is mitogenic, it causes transformation, and it protects cells from apoptosis. Previous reports indicated that certain domains in the C terminus of the IGF-IR transmitted a transforming signal that is additional to and separate from the mitogenic signal. We have now mutated the four serine residues at 1280-1283 of the IGF-IR, and transfected the mutant receptor into R- cells. Cells expressing the mutant receptor are fully responsive to IGF-I mediated mitogenesis, but are not transformed (no colony formation in soft agar). Several downstream signal transducers are not affected by the mutation, again suggesting a separate pathway for transformation. The mutant receptor can act as a dominant negative for growth, but cannot induce apoptosis in cells with endogenous wild-type receptors.

Two naturally occurring mutant insulin receptors phosphorylate insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) but fail to mediate the biological effects of insulin. Evidence that IRS-1 phosphorylation is not sufficient for normal insulin action

Two naturally occurring mutant insulin receptors, Arg-1174 --> Gln and Leu-1178 --> Pro, found in patients with dominantly inherited Type A insulin resistance, showed unusual signaling properties when stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Both mutant receptors were expressed on the cell surface and bound insulin normally, but showed markedly impaired autophosphorylation in response to insulin. In addition, the in vitro tyrosine kinase activity of both mutant receptors toward an artificial substrate was also severely impaired. Despite these defects of kinase activity, anti-phosphotyrosine immunoblotting of whole cell lysates and anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitation of 32P-labeled cells showed insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of a protein of approximately 185 kDa to an extent comparable to that seen in CHO cells expressing wild-type human insulin receptors. Anti-insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) immunoprecipitation followed by anti-phosphotyrosine immunoblotting confirmed that this tyrosine-phosphorylated protein was IRS-1. In contrast, CHO cells expressing an insulin receptor mutated at the ATP binding site (Lys-1030 --> Arg) showed no insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation or phosphorylation of IRS-1. Despite exhibiting apparently normal insulin stimulation of IRS-1 tyrosine-phosphorylation, cells expressing the Arg-1174 --> Gln or Pro-1178 --> Leu receptors showed marked impairment in insulin stimulation of glycogen synthesis, thymidine incorporation, and activation of MAP kinase. The inability of these mutant receptors to signal normally to metabolic and mitogenic responses suggests that insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 alone is insufficient to fully mediate insulin action.

Transphosphorylation of the neurotrophin Trk receptors

The potential for the activation of one Trk receptor by ligand binding to another Trk receptor was explored by determining if transphosphorylation on tyrosine residues can occur between receptors. For most of these experiments, functional chimeric receptors were used that contained the extracellular domain of the human type 2 tumor necrosis factor receptor and the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of rat TrkA, TrkB, or TrkC and that, when activated by the tumor necrosis factor, mediated the nerve growth factor-like biological activities in PC12 cells. Cotransfection experiments in COS-7 cells and fibroblasts showed that despite the presence of different extracellular regions, intermolecular transphosphorylation of homologous cytoplasmic domains occurred between TrkA or TrkB and their cognate chimeras. Heterologous transphosphorylation between TrkB and TrkC kinase domains was also observed when one partner was a chimeric receptor; however, TrkA did not transphosphorylate the TrkB or TrkC kinase domains of chimeric receptors or act as a transphosphorylation substrate for these two receptors. The failure of TrkA to take part in transphosphorylation reactions with TrkB and TrkC was confirmed using the natural receptors. Trk receptor transphosphorylation occurs in the two non-neuronal cell types, but TrkA is excluded from these reactions.

Mutant insulin receptors in syndromes of insulin resistance

To date, mutations of the insulin receptor remain the only well-established causes of severe insulin resistance. There is a broad correlation between the extent of impairment of signal transduction seen when the mutant receptors are expressed in vitro with the severity of the clinical phenotype. Thus leprechaunism, Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome and Type A insulin resistance appear to represent points on a continuum of severity of receptor dysfunction, rather than completely distinct syndromes. In other syndromes of insulin resistance, insulin receptor abnormalities remain the exception. However, functional studies of expressed naturally occurring insulin receptor mutations have acted as experiments of nature and greatly aided attempts to dissect the structure-function relationships of the receptor. The next few years will no doubt begin to reveal the contributions made by defects in the post-receptor signalling cascade to the syndromes of insulin resistance in man.

Histone H4 stimulates glucose uptake through the insulin receptor

Histone H4 stimulates the uptake of glucose in rat adipocytes and muscle cells. However, the mechanism of this unusual activity is not known. Therefore, we have begun to investigate the mechanism by which histone H4 stimulates the glucose uptake in rat adipocytes. We report that histone H4 requires 15-20 min to achieve its maximum effect and its time course is virtually indistinguishable from the time course of insulin itself. Reduction of the concentration of insulin receptors on the surface of adipocytes, either by trypsin digestion of the receptor, or by insulin-induced down regulation of the receptor, reduced the histone H4 effect as well as the insulin effects. Also, quercetin, a bioflavenoid that inhibits the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity, inhibits the actions of both histone H4 and insulin. However, histone H4 activity is somewhat more resistant to these interventions than insulin activity. In contrast to the activity of insulin, histone H4 does not appear to be able to down regulate the insulin receptor, since the pretreatment of adipocytes with histone H4 did not affect the subsequent actions of either insulin or histone H4. Finally, Scatchard analysis of the binding of 125I-insulin in the presence and absence of histone H4 increases the specific binding of insulin in a concentration dependent fashion. Histone H2b, a histone that does not have insulin-like activity, does not affect insulin binding. Taken together, these data suggest that the greatest portion of the insulin-like activity of histone H4 is initiated at the insulin receptor. However, the interaction of histone H4 and the insulin receptor is more complex than a simple binding of H4 to the insulin binding site. These studies may provide additional insight into alternate mechanisms for activation of the insulin receptor.

Intermolecular phosphorylation between insulin holoreceptors does not stimulate substrate kinase activity

We photocoupled benzoylphenylalanineB25, B29 epsilon-biotin insulin (BBpa-insulin) to native insulin receptors to obtain a uniform receptor population with covalently bound, non-dissociable ligand. We employed BBpa-insulin-bound and autophosphorylated (activated) receptor to phosphorylate substrate insulin receptor under conditions where the substrate receptor never interacts with insulin. The substrate receptor becomes phosphorylated in this inter-receptor fashion and reaches a phosphorylation state 50% of the maximal obtainable by autophosphorylation. However, this phosphorylation does not activate the substrate receptor to any measurable degree. We conclude that intermolecular phosphorylation of the insulin holoreceptors is unlikely to be of physiological significance.

Deletion of 343 amino acids from the carboxyl terminus of the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor inhibits insulin signaling

Naturally occurring mutations in the insulin receptor gene that impair the receptor tyrosine kinase activity cause insulin resistance in vivo in a dominant fashion. Previously, two unrelated families have been described that express an insulin receptor with a truncation due to a premature chain termination at codon 1000 (delta 1000), thereby deleting 343 amino acids from the carboxyl terminus of the beta-subunit. While clinical findings suggest that the truncated receptor does not mediate insulin action in vivo, a recent study suggested that a similarly truncated receptor enhanced insulin sensitivity in transfected cells by augmenting the signaling by endogenous receptors [Sasaoka, T., Takata, Y., Kusari, J., Anderson, C. M., Langlois, W. J., & Olefsky, J. M. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90, 4379-4383]. To investigate these paradoxical data, we studied the structure and function of delta 1000 truncated insulin receptors when expressed in NIH-3T3 cells. We found that, despite the deletion of most of the tyrosine kinase domain and all of the C-terminal domain of the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor, the delta 1000 mutant receptors were processed normally and were transported to the plasma membrane where they bind insulin with high affinity. Following ligand addition, the truncated receptors are degraded with a normal half-life. However, they fail to undergo insulin-stimulated internalization, do not regulate the phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1, and are unable to mediate an insulin-stimulated increase in DNA synthesis and c-jun and c-fos expression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Protein tyrosine phosphatases: characterization of extracellular and intracellular domains

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) play an important role in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. With over 30 PTPs identified, the specific functions of these enzymes are now being addressed. The identification of extracellular domain receptor-like PTP interactions and the characterization of intracellular PTP 'targeting' domains represent recent efforts in this pursuit.

Detergent solubilization is a prerequisite for aggregation-induced stimulation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor kinase

Unlike EGF, concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin do not increase EGF receptor-kinase activity in intact A-431 membranes. However, they increase both autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of exogenous substrates about twice as much as EGF if the membranes are solubilized in detergent. Following solubilization, autophosphorylation due to the combined presence of a lectin and EGF is additive suggesting that each increases kinase activity by a different mechanism. These different mechanisms were studied by autophosphorylating membranes at increasing detergent concentrations after they had been permeabilized to [gamma-32P]ATP with alamethicin. As the detergent concentration increased, EGF stimulated autophosphorylation decreased 3-fold and 6-fold for the native 170 kDa receptor and for a protease-generated 150 kDa receptor form, respectively. However, in the presence of either lectin the same increase in detergent concentration only slightly altered the autophosphorylation rates which never exceeded the rate measured in the absence of EGF and detergent. Hence, the lectins increase kinase activity in solubilized membranes by preventing the adverse effects of detergent on the receptor-kinase and may not be useful models for how EGF activates its receptor.

Growth factor second messenger systems: oncogenes and the heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein connection

We feel that there is now compelling evidence that the GTP-binding proteins play more than just a coordinating role in the actions of both tyrosine kinase and nontyrosine kinase receptor signal transduction. These similarities appear to represent just a small component of the convergence in the signaling pathways for structurally dissimilar receptor subsets. Future years will see further understanding of the intricacies of these G-protein-proto-oncogene interactions, and the extension into the potential role in growth factor action played by the expanding number of known members of this G-protein family.

Modulating effects of the extracellular sequence of the human insulinlike growth factor I receptor on its transforming and tumorigenic potential

We reported previously that an N-terminally truncated insulinlike growth factor I receptor (IGFR) fused to avian sarcoma virus UR2 gag p19 had a greater transforming potential than did the native IGFR, but it failed to cause tumors in vivo. To investigate whether the 36 amino acids (aa) of the IGFR extracellular (EC) sequence in the gag-IGFR fusion protein encoded by the retrovirus UIGFR have a modulatory effect on the biological and biochemical properties of the protein, four mutants, NM1, NM2, NM3, and NM4 of the EC sequence were constructed. NM1 lacks the entire 36 aa residues; NM2 lacks the N-terminal 16 aa residues (aa 870 to 885), including two potential N-linked glycosylation sites of the EC sequence; NM3 contains a deletion of the C-terminal 20 aa residues (aa 886 to 905) of the EC sequence; and NM4 contains N-to-Q substitutions at both N-linked glycosylation sites. NM1 was the strongest of the four mutants in promoting anchorage-independent growth of transfected chicken embryo fibroblasts, while NM2 and NM4 had weaker transforming potential than did the original UIGFR virus. Only NM1 and NM3 were able to induce sarcomas in chickens. The four NM mutant-transformed cells expressed the expected proteins with comparable steady-state levels. The in vitro tyrosine kinase activity of P53NM1 was about fourfold higher than that of the parental P57-75UIGFR, whereas NM2 and NM4 proteins exhibited four- to fivefold-lower kinase activities. Despite lacking the IGFR EC sequence, P53NM1 formed covalent dimers similar to those formed by the parental P57-75UIGFR. Increased phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activity was found to be associated with the mutant IGFR proteins. Among NM4 proteins. Elevated tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins of 35, 120, 140, 160, and 170 kDa was detected in all mutant IGFR-transformed cells. We conclude that the EC 36-aa sequence of IGFR in the gag-IGFR fusion protein exerts intricate modulatory effects on the protein's transforming and tumorigenic potential. The 20 aa residues immediately upstream of the transmembrane domain have an inhibitory effect on the tumorigenic potential of gag-IGFR, whereas N-linked glycosylation within the EC sequence appears to have a positive effect on the transforming potential of UIGFR. Increased in vitro kinase activity and, to a lesser extent, in vivo tyrosine phosphorylation as well as the elevated association of PI 3-kinase activity with IGFR proteins seem to be correlated with the transforming potential of IGFR mutant proteins.

Insulin receptors and insulin-like growth factor I receptors in embryos from gastrula until organogenesis

The demonstration of growth factor receptors in very young embryos is limited by the difficulty in obtaining sufficient tissue to yield adequate membrane preparations. We have developed an in situ binding technique that allowed quantitation of [125I]insulin and [125I]insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) binding to individual chick embryos. Specific binding per embryo increased from the youngest stage studied (Hamburger and Hamilton (HH) stages 3-4, gastrulating embryo of approximately 18-20 h) until the third day of development. At all ages, the binding of [125I]IGF-I was several fold higher than the binding of [125I]insulin. Autophosphorylation of the beta-subunit of the receptors was stimulated by insulin and IGF-I in a stage- and dose-dependent manner. The two peptides did not have an additive effect. The present studies further support our previous data showing the early developmental appearance of insulin and IGF-I receptors, which very likely are essential for normal embryo development. In addition, this in situ method for demonstration of receptors can be applied to other types of receptors present in isolated organs and young embryos.