Substrate affinity of the protein tyrosine kinase pp60c-src is increased on thrombin stimulation of human platelets

Caveolin scaffolding region and the membrane binding region of SRC form lateral membrane domains

Formation of domains by the membrane binding motifs of caveolin and src were studied in large unilamellar vesicles using fluorescence digital imaging microscopy. Caveolin, a major structural protein of caveolae, contains a scaffolding region (residues 82-101) that contributes to the binding of the protein to the plasma membrane. A caveolin peptide (82-101) corresponding to this scaffolding region induced the formation of membrane domains enriched in the acidic lipids phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate. Cholesterol, another predominant component of caveolae, was also enriched in these domains. Caveolae also contain many different signaling molecules including src family tyrosine kinases. Src proteins bind to the plasma membrane via a N-terminal myristate chain and a cluster of basic residues that can interact electrostatically with negatively charged lipids. A peptide corresponding to the src membrane binding motifs (residues myr-2-19) sequestered acidic lipids into lateral membrane domains. Both the src and the caveolin peptides colocalized together with acidic lipids in the domains. Control experiments show the domains are not the result of vesicle aggregation. Two-photon fluorescence correlation spectroscopy experiments suggest diffusion in the domains was slower, but the domains were dynamic. Protein kinase C phosphorylated src in its N-terminal membrane binding region; however, the caveolin scaffolding peptide inhibited this activity. Consequently, protein-induced membrane domains may affect cell signaling by organizing signal transduction components within the membrane and changing reaction rates.

Differential activation and redistribution of c-Src and Fyn in platelets, assessed by MoAb specific for C-terminal tyrosine-dephosphorylated c-Src and Fyn

Tyrosine kinases, c-Src and Fyn, in their active form, have their C-terminal tyrosine residue dephosphorylated. In this study, we used clone 28, a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) that recognizes dephosphorylated C-terminal tyrosine of c-Src and Fyn, to investigate the mode of activation and mobilization of these kinases. Independently of integrin alphaIIbbeta3 signaling, the Fyn activity increased by 8.3-fold 5 s after stimulation with 20 microM TRAP (thrombin receptor agonist peptide), while that of c-Src increased only by 2.9-fold 15 s after stimulation. Both c-Src and Fyn translocated to the Triton-insoluble cytoskeletal fraction in an aggregation-dependent manner. Five minutes after TRAP-stimulation, 85% of Fyn translocated to the cytoskeleton, while only about 20% of c-Src was recovered in this fraction. The Triton-insoluble fraction was further fractionated by RIPA (radioimmunoprecipitation assay) buffer containing 0.1% SDS. While active c-Src was predominantly present in the Triton-insoluble/RIPA-insoluble fraction, clone 28-negative c-Src was present in the Triton-insoluble/RIPA-soluble fraction. On the other hand, Fyn was present only in the Triton-insoluble/RIPA-insoluble fraction. These findings suggest that the mode of activation and redistribution into the cytoskeleton differs between c-Src and Fyn, and that clone 28 provides a useful tool for investigating the activation and mobilization of Src family tyrosine kinases.

Serum ras (p21) as a marker for occupationally derived lung cancer?

Certain subsets of the population are especially sensitive to carcinogens, and this can be determined using molecular biological methods. In the literature there has been evidence presented for the use of p21ras (ras) as a tumor marker for human carcinogenic substances such as asbestos, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and vinyl chloride in the workplace. In this study we have examined whether serum ras could serve as a biomarker for the early detection of occupationally derived lung cancer, with an emphasis on Schneeberger (radon-induced) lung cancer. Sera were taken from 65 male tumor patients. Fifty-nine patients suffered from primary lung cancer (including 18 patients with Schneeberger lung cancer and 12 patients with asbestos-related lung cancer). Additionally, 29 patients with non-malignant lung disease, and a healthy control group (44) including 32 former uranium miners of SDAG Wismut exposed to ionizing radiation (radon and its decay products) were examined. Ras protein was determined via three different methods: 1) immunoprecipitation followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blotting; 2) SDS-PAGE using 5-17% gradient gels followed by Western blotting; 3) pre-incubation with Blue Sepharose, SDS-PAGE on 5-17% gradient gels, and Western blotting. The results show that 1 ng ras protein was measurable in serum standards. This protein could not be detected in patient sera or in sera from any of the study groups. Thus, ras cannot be considered useful as a marker for the early detection of asbestos-induced or Schneeberger lung cancer.

Review article: platelet-collagen interactions: membrane receptors and intracellular signalling pathways

Platelet adhesion to and activation by exposed subendothelial collagen plays a critical role in normal haemostasis and pathological thrombosis. Recent advances in elucidating the mechanisms underlying platelet-collagen interaction support a 'two-site, two-step' model. Direct platelet binding to integrin alpha2beta1 mainly sustains adhesion and allows recognition of glycoprotein VI. The latter interaction is responsible for characteristic intracellular signalling events leading to p72Syk and PLCgamma2 activation. The present review describes the known collagen receptors on platelets and discusses the current understanding of signal transduction promoted by collagen.

Aquaporin-2 expression in primary cultured rat inner medullary collecting duct cells

Cultured renal epithelial cells rapidly downregulate expression of the vasopressin-regulated water channel aquaporin-2 (AQP-2). Our aim was to define conditions that favor maintenance of AQP-2 expression in vitro without genetic manipulation. We show here that primary cultures of rat inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells retain AQP-2 expression for at least 6 days when grown with dibutyryl cAMP (DBcAMP) supplementation. We also found that coating the culture dishes with type IV collagen, rather than rat-tail collagen, retards AQP-2 downregulation. Immunofluorescence and biochemical studies indicate a shuttling of AQP-2-bearing vesicles after stimulation with vasopressin or forskolin. Rab3 proteins, known to be involved in regulated exocytosis, were detected only in cells grown in the presence of DBcAMP. Using the adenylyl cyclase assay, we confirmed the functional integrity of the vasopressin V2 receptor in a broken cell preparation. Our data show that cAMP supplementation is sufficient for the maintenance of AQP-2 expression in primary cultured cells. The model system established here allows the study of the regulation of genes encoding the antidiuretic machinery at the cellular level.

Differential involvement of tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases in platelet integrin alphaIIbbeta3 exposure

The relative contributions of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein kinase C isoenzymes (PKCs), a family of serine/threonine kinases, in integrin alpha(IIb)beta3 (glycoprotein IIb/IIIa) exposure are the subject of much controversy. In the present study we measured the effect of the PTK inhibitor herbimycin A and the PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I on 125I-fibrinogen binding to alpha(IIb)beta3 and on aggregation/secretion induced by different agonists. Dose-response studies showed complete inhibition of alpha(IIb)beta3 exposure by 30 micromol/L (ADP stimulation) and 35 to 40 micromol/L (alpha-thrombin stimulation) herbimycin A. In contrast, inhibition of exposure by bisindolylmaleimide I varied from none (for ADP and epinephrine), to 30% (for platelet-activating factor), and to approximately 80% (for alpha-thrombin). Studies with a submaximal dose of herbimycin A (approximately 50% inhibition of the ADP-response) and a maximal dose of bisindolylmaleimide I showed that optical aggregation had a similar sensitivity to the inhibitors as alpha(IIb)beta3 exposure with minimal interference by secreted ADP. Thus, the relative contributions of tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases in alpha(IIb)beta3 exposure and aggregation differ among the different agonists, with an exclusive role for PTKs in ADP- and epinephrine-induced responses and a role for both PTKs and PKCs in responses induced by platelet-activating factor and alpha-thrombin.

Thrombin aivation of the 9E3/CEF4 chemokine involves tyrosine kinases including c-src and the epidermal growth factor receptor

The 9E3/CEF4 gene codes for a chemokine that is highly homologous to human interleukin-8 and melanoma growth-stimulating activity/groalpha. These chemokines belong to a family of molecular mediators that are importantly involved in inflammation, wound healing, tumor development, and viral entry into cells. On the chorioallantoic membrane the 9E3 protein is chemotactic for monocyte/macrophages and lymphocytes and is angiogenic. In cultured chicken embryo fibroblasts, which have many of the properties of wound fibroblasts, the gene is stimulated by a variety of agents including oncogenes, growth factors, phorbol esters, and thrombin. The strong stimulation of 9E3 by thrombin in culture correlates well with the observation that in young chicks this gene is stimulated to very high levels in fibroblasts upon wounding and remains high throughout wound repair. Activation of 9E3 by thrombin: (i) occurs very rapidly, one minute exposure to thrombin is sufficient to initiate the signals necessary for gene activation; (ii) is independent of mitogenesis; (iii) operates through the proteolytically activated receptor for thrombin; (iv) is mediated by tyrosine kinases, including c-src and the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, rather than Ser/Thr kinases such as protein kinase C and protein kinase A. Inhibition of either c-src or the EGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibits the stimulation of 9E3 by thrombin. We show here for the first time that activation of the EGF receptor through a cell-surface receptor that does not have tyrosine kinase activity can lead to expression of an immediate early response gene which encodes for a secreted protein, a chemokine. This rapidly activated tyrosine kinase pathway may be a general stress response by which in vivo a localized cell population reacts to emergency situations such as viral infection, wounding, or tumor growth.

Electrostatics and the membrane association of Src: theory and experiment

The binding of Src to phospholipid membranes requires both hydrophobic insertion of its myristate into the hydrocarbon interior of the membrane and nonspecific electrostatic interaction of its N-terminal cluster of basic residues with acidic phospholipids. We provide a theoretical description of the electrostatic partitioning of Src onto phospholipid membranes. Specifically, we use molecular models to represent a nonmyristoylated peptide corresponding to residues 2-19 of Src [nonmyr-Src(2-19); GSSKSKPKDPSQRRRSLE-NH2] and a phospholipid bilayer, calculate the electrostatic interaction by solving the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation, and predict the molar partition coefficient using statistical thermodynamics. The theoretical predictions agree with experimental data obtained by measuring the partitioning of nonmyr-Src(2-19) onto phospholipid vesicles: membrane binding increases as the mole percent of acidic lipid in the vesicles is increased, the ionic strength of the solution is decreased, or the net positive charge of the peptide is increased. The theoretical model also correctly predicts the measured partitioning of the myristoylated peptide, myr-Src(2-19); for example, adding 33% acidic lipid to electrically neutral vesicles increases the partitioning of myr-Src(2-19) 100-fold. Phosphorylating either serine 12 (by protein kinase C) or serine 17 (by cAMP-dependent protein kinase) decreases the partitioning of myr-Src(2-19) onto vesicles containing acidic lipid 10-fold. We investigated the effect of phosphorylation on the localization of Src to biological membranes by expressing fusion constructs of Src's N terminus with a soluble carrier protein in COS-1 cells; phosphorylation produces a small shift in the distribution of the Src chimeras from the plasma membrane to the cytosol.

Regulation of the ERK subgroup of MAP kinase cascades through G protein-coupled receptors

The extracellularly-responsive kinase (ERK) subfamily of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) has been implicated in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. Activation of ERKs involves a two-step protein kinase cascade lying upstream from ERK, in which the Raf family are the MAPK kinase kinases and the MEK1/MEK2 isoforms are the MAPK kinases. The linear sequence of Raf --> MEK --> ERK constitutes the ERK cascade. Although the ERK cascade is activated through growth factor-regulated receptor protein tyrosine kinases, they are also modulated through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). All four G protein subfamilies (Gq/11 Gi/o, Gs and G12/13) influence the activation state of ERKs. In this review, we describe the ERK cascade and characteristics of its activation through GPCRs. We also discuss the identity of the intervening steps that may couple agonist binding at GPCRs to activation of the ERK cascade.

Collagen-stimulated activation of Syk but not c-Src is severely compromised in human platelets lacking membrane glycoprotein VI

Activation of circulating platelets by subendothelial collagen is an essential event in vascular hemostasis. In human platelets, two membrane glycoprotein (GP) abnormalities, integrin alpha2 beta1 deficiency and GPVI deficiency, have been reported to result in severe hyporesponsiveness to fibrillar collagen. Although it has been well established that integrin alpha2 beta1, also known as the GPIa-IIa complex, functions as a primary platelet adhesion receptor for collagen, the mechanism by which GPVI contributes to collagen-platelet interaction has been ill defined to date. However, our recent observation that GPVI cross-linking couples to cyclic AMP-insensitive activation of c-Src and Syk tyrosine kinases suggested a potential role for GPVI in regulating protein-tyrosine phosphorylation by collagen (Ichinohe, T., Takayama, H., Ezumi, Y., Yanagi, S., Yamamura, H., and Okuma, M. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 28029-28036). To further investigate this hypothesis, here we examined the collagen-induced protein-tyrosine phosphorylation in GPVI-deficient platelets expressing normal amounts of alpha2 beta1. In response to collagen, these platelets exhibited alpha2 beta1-dependent c-Src activation accompanied by tyrosine phosphorylation of several substrates including cortactin. In contrast, severe defects were observed in collagen-stimulated Syk activation and tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma2, Vav, and focal adhesion kinase, implicating a specific requirement of GPVI for recruiting these molecules to signaling cascades evoked by collagen-platelet interaction.

Endogenous ADP prevents PGE1-induced tyrosine dephosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase in thrombin-activated platelets

Prostaglandin E1(PGE1) inhibits tyrosine phosphorylation induced by low thrombin concentration (0.05 U/ml), but this is overcome by a high thrombin (2.0 U/ml) concentration. Thromboxane A2 and ADP are endogenous platelet agonists released during platelet activation which potentiate platelet responses. We investigated how these endogenous agonists influenced the effects of PGE1 on thrombin (2.0 U/ml)-induced tyrosine phosphorylation by removing released ADP with apyrase (2.0 U/ml) and by inhibiting thromboxane A2 synthesis with indomethacin (1 microM). Adding PGE1 (1 microM) before thrombin in apyrase/indomethacin(A/I)-treated platelets selectively prevented thrombin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of a 117 kDa protein while other substrates were not affected. This selective effect was evident only in the presence of apyrase and was not dependent on indomethacin. Addition of PGE1 to A/I-treated platelets after thrombin also caused selective tyrosine dephosphorylation of the 117 kDa protein. Conditions which prevented thrombin-induced 117 kDa protein tyrosine phosphorylation also decreased fibrinogen binding to platelets. The 117 kDa protein was identified as the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) by immunoprecipitation with a monoclonal antibody to FAK and by absence of its tyrosine phosphorylation in the presence of RGDS peptide which inhibits fibrinogen binding and platelet aggregation. Thus, released endogenous ADP selectively prevents PGE1-mediated tyrosine dephosphorylation of platelet FAK most likely by stabilizing fibrinogen binding to platelets.

Tyrosine kinase is required for long-term depression in the cerebellum

Long-term depression (LTD) at the parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapse in the cerebellum is a well-known example of synaptic plasticity. Although LTD is thought to reflect an enduring loss of postsynaptic AMPA receptor sensitivity, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Protein-tyrosine kinases (PTKs) are able to modulate ionotropic receptor function and are enriched in Purkinje cells. Using intracellular recording from Purkinje cells, it is shown that two structurally and mechanistically distinct PTK inhibitors, lavendustin A and herbimycin A, block LTD induced by pairing parallel fiber stimulation with postsynaptic Ca2+ spiking. Intracellular application of the protein kinase C (PKC) activator, (-)-indolactam V, consistently depressed parallel fiber-Purkinje cells EPSPs and occluded pairing-induced LTD. Herbimycin A nullified the run-down produced by (-)-indolactam V. These data suggest that PTKs are necessary for LTD at the parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapse and that PKC-induced synaptic depression requires PTK activity.

Phosphorylation of threonine 558 in the carboxyl-terminal actin-binding domain of moesin by thrombin activation of human platelets

The phosphorylation and localization of the membrane-linking protein moesin was analyzed during early activation of platelets with thrombin. Activated platelets elaborate filopodia and spread to assume flat pancake-like shapes, and moesin is localized in filopodia and cell body. In resting platelets, approximately 25% of moesin molecules are phosphorylated as shown by metabolic labeling with 32P(i) and by isoelectric focusing. Within seconds after exposure to thrombin, phosphorylation increases, reaching a maximum of 35% labeled molecules by 1 min, followed by a decrease to a new basal level within 5 min. This modification affects a single residue, Thr558, which is located within or close to a binding site for F-actin. Rapid shifts (0-100%) in the number of phosphorylated molecules are observed in the presence of inhibitors of serine/threonine kinases and phosphatases. Inhibitors affecting tyrosine phosphorylation also modulate phosphorylation at this site suggesting that the enzymes involved in the modification of Thr558 are regulated by tyrosine phosphorylation. Platelets respond to both extremes of modification by forming extremely long filopodia and the absence of spreading on glass. Completely phosphorylated moesin is concentrated together with F-actin in the center of the cell. The rapid modification of moesin at or near its actin-binding domain suggests a model for regulated membrane-cytoskeleton interaction during cell activation.

Cyclic AMP-insensitive activation of c-Src and Syk protein-tyrosine kinases through platelet membrane glycoprotein VI

Platelet glycoprotein (GP) VI is a so-far uncharacterized 62-kDa membrane protein, whose deficiency results in selective impairment in collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Our group previously reported a human polyclonal antibody (anti-p62 IgG) that induces activation of normal, but not of GPVI-deficient, platelets in an Fc-independent manner. The F(ab')2 fragments of this antibody (F(ab')2-anti-p62) stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of numerous proteins, which was not prevented even in the presence of cAMP-increasing agents such as prostacyclin. Pretreatment of platelets with the protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor tyrphostin A47 completely abolished F(ab')2-anti-p62-induced platelet aggregation in parallel with dose-dependent inhibition of protein-tyrosine phosphorylation, indicating an essential requirement of PTK activity for generating GPVI-mediated signaling. We found that two cytosolic PTKs, c-Src and Syk, became rapidly activated in response to F(ab')2-anti-p62 in a way insensitive to elevation of cAMP. In contrast, in the presence of prostacyclin, F(ab')2-anti-p62 did not stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of the focal adhesion kinase. cAMP-insensitive activation of c-Src and Syk was also observed in collagen but not thrombin-stimulated platelets. Moreover, either F(ab')2-anti-p62 or collagen stimulated cAMP-insensitive tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma 2. These results indicate that the receptor-mediated activation of several PTKs in platelets is regulated through a cAMP-sensitive or -insensitive mechanism depending on the nature of each stimulus, and also suggest that GPVI engagement is coupled to cAMP-insensitive activation of c-Src and Syk accompanied by tyrosine phosphorylation of numerous substrates including phospholipase C-gamma 2 in a manner similar to collagen stimulation.

Thrombin stimulates phosphorylation of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, insulin receptor substrate-1, and phospholipase C-gamma 1 in rat aortic smooth muscle cells

It has recently been reported that protein-tyrosine kinase activity is required for thrombin-induced growth in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). In the present study, we have identified several phosphoproteins that are tyrosine-phosphorylated in response to thrombin in quiescent VSMC. These proteins are insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor beta-subunit (IGF-IR beta), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma 1). Thrombin-stimulated phosphorylation of these proteins was rapid; it was maximal at 1 min and reduced thereafter. Thrombin also activated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in quiescent VSMC in a biphasic manner with a rapid and larger peak at 10 min (6-fold) followed by a sustained smaller second peak at 2 h (2-fold). Inhibition of protein-tyrosine kinase activity by the use of two structurally different protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitors, genistein and herbimycin A, significantly blocked the thrombin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IGF-1R beta, IRS-1, and PLC-gamma 1 and decreased thrombin-stimulated DNA synthesis. In contrast, however, inhibition of protein-tyrosine kinase activity had no effect on thrombin activation of MAPK. Collectively, these findings suggest a role for tyrosine phosphorylation of IGF-IR beta, IRS-1, and PLC-gamma 1 in thrombin-induced mitogenic signaling events in VSMC. Furthermore, while protein tyrosine phosphorylation is essential for thrombin-induced DNA synthesis, it is not required for thrombin-stimulated MAPK activation. Since thrombin rapidly activated Src in VSMC, Src may be involved in the cross-talk between the G-protein-coupled receptor agonist and a tyrosine kinase receptor such as IGF-1R.

Identification of Rab3-, Rab5a- and synaptobrevin II-like proteins in a preparation of rat kidney vesicles containing the vasopressin-regulated water channel

According to the 'shuttle hypothesis', vasopressin increases the water permeability of renal epithelial cells by exocytotic fusion of vesicles containing the water channel AQP-CD with the apical plasma membrane, whereas withdrawal of vasopressin results in endocytotic uptake of AQP-CD. The proteins involved in the redistribution of AQP-CD have not been identified. With a panel of monoclonal antibodies, we detected Rab3-, Rab5a- and synaptobrevin II-like proteins in a kidney preparation enriched in AQP-CD-containing vesicles. The synaptobrevin II-like proteins is not identical with the ubiquitous cellubrevin. Rab3- and synaptobrevin II- but not Rab5a-like proteins were co-enriched with AQP-CD. The data suggest that the proteins involved in hormonal regulation of water permeability in kidney epithelial cells are identical or similar to those involved in regulated exocytosis in secretory cells.

Src family protein tyrosine kinases and cellular signal transduction pathways

Members of the Src family of protein tyrosine kinases are thought to be involved in signal transduction pathways that control growth and cellular architecture. In recent years it has been shown that they interact with receptor tyrosine kinases (such as the platelet-derived growth factor receptor) and with receptors that themselves lack intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity (such as the interleukin-2 receptor). In some cases they are required for mitogenic signalling by these receptors. They are also activated in response to stress and during mitosis.

Rapid protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the cytoskeleton of stimulated human platelets

Upon activation platelets show elevated protein tyrosine phosphorylation, and translocation of the protein tyrosine kinase pp60c-src from the plasma membrane to the cytoskeleton occurs. We therefore investigated whether tyrosine phosphorylation also increases in the cytoskeletal compartment. Here we show that almost identical patterns of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins are detectable in the cytoskeleton after platelet stimulation with compounds that directly (phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate) or indirectly (thrombin, vasopressin, collagen, ADP) activate protein kinase C. The apparent molecular masses of the proteins phosphorylated at tyrosine residues are 145, 130, 100, 85, 80, 60, 56, 54 and 38 kDa. Elevation of cyclic AMP by prostaglandin E1 had no effect. Concentrations of thrombin as low as 0.01 units per ml are able to cause tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple proteins. The time course of protein tyrosine phosphorylation for thrombin- and vasopressin-stimulated platelets revealed a rapid increase in the cytoskeleton within 5 to 20 s following activation consistent with a role in early events of platelet function.

Activation and translocation of c-Src to the cytoskeleton by both platelet-derived growth factor and epidermal growth factor

We have examined the subcellular distribution and catalytic activity of c-Src tyrosine kinase after stimulation of A172 glioblastoma cells with peptide growth factors. Treatment of resting cells with platelet-derived growth factor resulted in an increase (3.5-fold) in the amount of c-Src protein associated with the cytoskeleton. In addition, an increase in specific c-Src kinase activity was observed in the cytoskeleton as well as in the cytosol and the membrane fraction. Similar effects on both c-Src redistribution and activity were seen after stimulation with epidermal growth factor. These data show that, like other signal transducing components, c-Src also becomes activated and associated to the cytoskeleton in response to growth factor stimulation.

Platelet shape change induced by thrombin receptor activation. Rapid stimulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of novel protein substrates through an integrin- and Ca(2+)-independent mechanism

Activation of human platelets by the peptide YFLLRNP has been shown to induce shape change but not secretion, Ca2+ mobilization, or pleckstrin phosphorylation (Rasmussen, U.B., Gachet, C., Schlesinger, Y., Hanau, D., Ohlmann, P., Van Obberghen-Schilling, E., Pouyssegur, J., Cazenave, J.P., and Pavirani, A. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 14322-14328). YFLLRNP was added to washed human platelets that had been pretreated with EGTA at 37 degrees C or preincubated with the fibrinogen receptor antagonist RGDS to preclude the activation of the integrin alpha IIb beta 3 (fibrinogen receptor). YFLLRNP induced shape change and stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins of 62, 68, and 130 kDa within 7 s. Tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins reached maximum levels (2-3-fold) 15-30 s after addition of YFLLRNP and decreased subsequently. The chelation of intracellular Ca2+ by BAPTA-AM decreased basal tyrosine protein phosphorylation but did not inhibit the increase of tyrosine phosphorylation of P62, P68, and P130 or the shape change induced by YFLLRNP. Preincubation of platelets with the tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein or tyrphostin A23 completely inhibited platelet shape change and protein tyrosine phosphorylation induced by YFLLRNP. The inactive structural analogs daidzein and tyrphostin A1 were barely inhibitory. P62, P68, and P130, which exhibited increased tyrosine phosphorylation upon stimulation with YFLLRNP, were found in the cytoskeleton. P130 was not identical to vinculin or the focal adhesion kinase pp125FAK. The results indicate that stimulation of G-protein-coupled thrombin receptors rapidly induces protein tyrosine kinase activation through a Ca(2+)- and integrin-independent mechanism. Protein tyrosine kinase activation and tyrosine phosphorylation of novel protein substrates seem to play an essential role in the induction of platelet shape change.

Regulation of protein tyrosine kinases in platelets

Platelet activation is accompanied by a dramatic increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of many cellular proteins. Phosphorylation of these proteins occurs in successive waves during the activation process, suggesting that several distinct mechanisms, occurring in a temporal order, regulate protein tyrosine kinases and/or phosphatases in activated platelets. Several tyrosine kinases, including Src family kinases, Syk and FAK, have been implicated in these phosphorylation events. These kinases are regulated by distinct receptor-mediated events involving activation of their catalytic activity and alterations in their cellular localization.

Shear-stress-induced von Willebrand factor binding to platelets causes the activation of tyrosine kinase(s)

Pathological arterial blood flow generates fluid shear stresses that directly cause platelet aggregation. The mechanism of shear-induced platelet aggregation is incompletely understood, but involves von Willebrand factor (vWF) binding to platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib and GP IIb-IIIa, leading to the transmembrane influx of Ca2+ and the activation of protein kinase C. To investigate this further, shear-stress-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation (PTP) of washed platelets was studied in a cone-plate viscometer. A time- and shear-stress-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of substrates with approx. M(r) 29,000-31,000, 36,000, 50,000, 58,000, 64,000, 76,000, 85,000 and 105,000 was observed. PTP in response to a threshold shear stress of 0.3 mN/cm2 (30 dyn/cm2) was enhanced in most cases by exogenous purified human vWF, and PTP in response to a pathological shear stress of 0.9 mN/cm2 (90 dyn/cm2) was inhibited in some cases by inhibiting vWF binding to GP Ib or GP IIb-IIIa, or by inhibiting Ca2+ responses with extracellular EGTA. Shear-induced PTP of a substrate of M(r) approximately 31,000 appeared to be independent of GP Ib, and PTP of a substrate(s) of M(r) approximately 29,000 was shear-stress-dependent but independent of extracellular Ca2+. Cytochalasin D, which inhibits GP Ib-cytoskeleton interactions, inhibits the PTP of a substrate of M(r) approximately 76,000. These results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation may be involved in transmembrane signalling that mediates platelet adhesion and aggregation in response to pathological shear stresses generated at sites of arterial vaso-occlusion.

Calcium mobilisation controls tyrosine protein phosphorylation independently of the activation of protein kinase C in human platelets

We have investigated the regulation of tyrosine proteins phosphorylation by intracellular Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i) and protein kinase C (PKC) during platelet stimulation. We found that chelation of extracellular calcium completely prevented phosphorylation of tyrosine proteins induced by thapsigargin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), whereas, when induced by thrombin, it prevented a subset of tyrosine proteins. The selective inhibition of PKC by GF 109203X did not abolish tyrosine protein phosphorylation when induced by thrombin and thapsigargin. The results suggest that in human platelets tyrosine protein phosphorylation is dependent on [Ca2+]i, although direct PKC activation can also induce phosphorylation of tyrosine proteins.