Binding of Shc to the NPXY motif is mediated by its N-terminal domain

Plasma membrane phospholipid scramblase 1 promotes EGF-dependent activation of c-Src through the epidermal growth factor receptor

Phospholipid scramblase (PLSCR1) is a multiply palmitoylated, calcium-binding endofacial membrane protein proposed to mediate transbilayer movement of plasma membrane phospholipids. PLSCR1 is a component of membrane lipid rafts and has been shown to both physically and functionally interact with activated epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors and other raft-associated cell surface receptors. Cell stimulation by EGF results in Tyr phosphorylation of PLSCR1, its association with both Shc and EGF receptors, and rapid cycling of PLSCR1 between plasma membrane and endosomal compartments. We now report evidence that upon EGF stimulation, PLSCR1 is phosphorylated by c-Src, within the tandem repeat sequence 68VYNQPVYNQP77. The in vivo interaction between PLSCR1 and Shc requires the Src-mediated phosphorylation on tyrosines 69 and 74. In in vitro pull down studies, phosphorylated PLSCR1 was found to bind directly to Shc through the phosphotyrosine binding domain. Consistent with the potential role of PLSCR1 in growth factor signaling pathways, granulocyte precursors derived from mice deficient in PLSCR1 show impaired proliferation and maturation under cytokine stimulation. Using PLSCR1-/- embryonic fibroblasts and kidney epithelial cells, we now demonstrate that deletion of PLSCR1 from the plasma membrane reduces the activation of c-Src by EGF, implying that PLSCR1 normally facilitates receptor-dependent activation of this kinase. We propose that PLSCR1, through its interaction with Shc, promotes Src kinase activation through the EGF receptor.

PKB-mediated negative feedback tightly regulates mitogenic signalling via Gab2

Heregulin (HRG)-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the Gab2 docking protein was enhanced by pretreatment with wortmannin, indicating negative regulation via a PI3-kinase-dependent pathway. This represents phosphorylation by the serine/threonine kinase protein kinase B (PKB), since PKB constitutively associates with Gab2, phosphorylates Gab2 on a consensus phosphorylation site, Ser159, in vitro and inhibits Gab2 tyrosine phosphorylation. However, expression of Gab2 mutated at this site (S159A Gab2) not only enhanced HRG-induced Gab2 tyrosine phosphorylation and association with Shc and ErbB2, but also markedly increased tyrosine phosphorylation of ErbB2 and other cellular proteins and amplified activation of the ERK and PKB pathways. The impact of this negative regulation was further emphasized by a potent transforming activity for S159A Gab2, but not wild-type Gab2, in fibroblasts. These studies establish Gab2 as a proto-oncogene, and a model in which receptor recruitment of Gab2 is tightly regulated via an intimate association with PKB. Release of this negative constraint enhances growth factor receptor signalling, possibly since Gab2 binding limits dephosphorylation and disassembly of receptor-associated signalling complexes.

Non-redundant signal transduction of interleukin-6-type cytokines. The adapter protein Shc is specifically recruited to rhe oncostatin M receptor

The common use of the cytokine receptor gp130 has served as an explanation for the extremely redundant biological activities exerted by interleukin (IL)-6-type cytokines. Indeed, hardly any differences in signal transduction initiated by these cytokines are known. In the present study, we demonstrate that oncostatin M (OSM), but not IL-6 or leukemia inhibitory factor, induces tyrosine phosphorylation of the Shc isoforms p52 and p66 and their association with Grb2. Concomitantly, OSM turns out to be a stronger activator of ERK1/2 MAPKs. Shc is recruited to the OSM receptor (OSMR), but not to gp130. Binding involves Tyr(861) of the OSMR, located within a consensus binding sequence for the Shc PTB domain. Moreover, Tyr(861) is essential for activation of ERK1/2 and for full activation of the alpha(2)-macroglobulin promoter, but not for an exclusively STAT-responsive promoter. This study therefore provides evidence for qualitative differential signaling mechanisms exerted by IL-6-type cytokines.

The Shc-related adaptor protein, Sck, forms a complex with the vascular-endothelial-growth-factor receptor KDR in transfected cells

Despite much progress in recent years, the precise signalling events triggered by the vascular-endothelial-growth-factor (VEGF) receptors, fms-like tyrosine kinase (Flt1) and kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR), are incompletely defined. Results obtained when Flt1 and KDR are individually expressed in fibroblasts or porcine aortic endothelial cells have not been entirely consistent with those observed in other endothelial cells expressing both receptors endogenously. It has also been difficult to demonstrate VEGF-induced phosphorylation of Flt1, which has led to speculation that KDR may be the more important receptor for the mitogenic action of VEGF on endothelial cells. In an attempt to identify physiologically important effectors which bind to KDR, we have screened a yeast two-hybrid mouse embryo library with the cytoplasmic domain of KDR. Here we describe the identification of the adaptor protein, Shc-like protein (Sck), as a binding partner for KDR. We demonstrate that this interaction requires phosphorylation of KDR, and identify the binding site for the Src-homology 2 (SH2) domain as tyrosine-1175 of KDR. We have also shown that the SH2 domain of Sck, but not that of Src-homology collagen protein (Shc), can precipitate phosphorylated KDR from VEGF-stimulated porcine aortic endothelial cells expressing KDR, and that an N-terminally truncated Sck protein can associate with KDR, in a phosphorylation-dependent fashion, when co-expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that in the two-hybrid assay, both Shc and Sck SH2 domains can associate with the related receptor Flt1.

The role of amino acids surrounding tyrosine 1062 in ret in specific binding of the shc phosphotyrosine-binding domain

We investigated the role of the I-E-N-K-L (amino acids 1057-1061) sequence amino-terminal to Tyr1062 in Ret for binding of the Shc phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domain. Substitution of Ser for Ile1057 (I1057S), Ala for Asn1059 (N1059A), or Pro for Leu1061 (L1061P) in this sequence significantly decreased the transforming activity of Ret with the multiple endocrine neoplasm type 2A (MEN2A) mutation as well as the binding affinity of Shc to it in vivo and in vitro, indicating that these three amino acids play a role in Shc binding. In addition, as the RET protooncogene is translated as three isoforms of 1114 amino acids (Ret 51), 1106 amino acids (Ret 43), and 1072 amino acids (Ret 9) that differ from one another in the sequence carboxyl-terminal to Tyr1062, we examined whether these sequence differences influence the binding affinity of Shc to Ret. As a result, we found that the transforming activity of Ret 43 isoform with the MEN2A mutation and the binding affinity of Shc to it were very low, although the consensus sequence for the binding of the Shc PTB domain is conserved in the Ret 43 isoform. This finding suggested that the sequence carboxyl-terminal to Tyr1062 in Ret could also influence the binding affinity to Shc.

Insulin receptor has tyrosine kinase activity toward Shc in rat liver

Insulin induces tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc in cell cultures and in insulin-sensitive tissues of the intact rat. However, the ability of insulin receptor (IR) tyrosine kinase to phosphorylate Shc has not been previously demonstrated. In the present study, we investigated insulin-induced IR tyrosine kinase activity towards Shc. Insulin receptor was immunoprecipitated from liver extracts, before and after a very low dose of insulin into the portal vein, and incubated with immunopurified Shc from liver of untreated rats. The kinase assay was performed in vitro in the presence of exogenous ATP and the phosphorylation level was quantified by immunoblotting with antiphosphotyrosine antibody. The results demonstrate that Shc interacted with insulin receptor after infusion of insulin, and, more important, there was insulin receptor kinase activity towards immunopurified Shc. The description of this pathway in animal tissue may have an important role in insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity toward mitogenic transduction pathways.

Modulation of insulin-like growth factor I mitogenic signaling in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) stimulates mitogenesis in proliferating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. However, IGF-I functions to stimulate differentiation once growth arrest occurs at confluence. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is also a potent mitogen in these cells, but inhibits differentiation of preadipocytes. We compared mitogenic signaling via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in response to IGF-I or EGF in proliferating, growth-arrested, and differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. IGF-I stimulation of MAPK was rapid and maximal in proliferating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, but decreased greatly in differentiating cells. EGF was more potent than IGF-I in stimulating MAPK activity in 3T3-L1 cells, and activation of MAPK was maintained in differentiating cells. These results suggest an uncoupling of MAPK activation specific to IGF-I-mediated 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation. Studies of proximal signaling revealed Shc phosphorylation and Shc/Grb2 complex formation in IGF-I-treated proliferating, but not differentiating, cells. Insulin receptor substrate-1 phosphorylation after IGF-I treatment was present in proliferating, quiescent, and differentiating preadipocytes. Shc phosphorylation and Grb2 association after EGF treatment were present throughout all phases of growth. The change in IGF-I signaling via Shc phosphorylation and MAPK activity during 3T3-L1 differentiation indicates that loss of IGF-I mitogenic signaling via the MAPK pathway is part of the differentiation process.

Shc phosphotyrosine-binding domain dominantly interacts with epidermal growth factor receptors and mediates Ras activation in intact cells

The adaptor protein Shc contains a phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain and a Src homology 2 (SH2) domain, both of which are known to interact with phosphorylated tyrosines. We have shown previously that tyrosine 1148 of the activated epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is a major binding site for Shc while tyrosine 1173 is a secondary binding site in intact cells. In the present study, we investigated the interaction between the PTB and SH2 domains of Shc and the activated human EGF receptor. Mutant 52-kDa Shc with an arginine-to-lysine substitution at residue 175 in the PTB domain (Shc R175K) or 397 in the SH2 domain (Shc R397K) was coexpressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing the wild-type or mutant EGF receptors that retained only one of the autophosphorylation sites at tyrosine 1148 (QM1148) or 1173 (QM1173). Shc R397K was coprecipitated with the QM1148 and QM1173 receptors, was tyrosine-phosphorylated, and associated with Grb2 and Sos. In contrast, coprecipitation of Shc R175K with the mutant receptors was barely detectable. In cells expressing the QM1173 receptor, Shc R175K was tyrosine-phosphorylated and associated with Grb2, while association of Sos was barely detectable. In cells expressing the QM1148 receptor, tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc R175K was markedly reduced. When both Shc R175K and 46-kDa Shc R397K were coexpressed with the mutant receptors, p46 Shc R397K was dominantly tyrosine-phosphorylated. In cells expressing the wild-type receptor, Shc R397K, but not Shc R175K, translocated to the membrane in an EGF-dependent manner. In addition, Ras activity stimulated by the immunoprecipitates of Shc R397K was significantly higher than that by the immunoprecipitates of Shc R175K. The present results indicate that tyrosine 1148 of the activated EGF receptor mainly interacts with the Shc PTB domain in intact cells. Tyrosine 1173 interacts with both the PTB and SH2 domains, although the interaction with the PTB domain is dominant. In addition, Shc bound to the activated EGF receptor via the PTB domain dominantly interacts with Grb2-Sos complex and plays a major role in the Ras-signaling pathway.

Analysis of Grb7 recruitment by heregulin-activated erbB receptors reveals a novel target selectivity for erbB3

Heregulin-mediated activation of particular erbB receptor combinations was used as a model system to investigate the interaction of erbB3 and erbB4 with the adaptor protein growth factor receptor-bound (Grb)7. In human breast cancer cell lines, co-immunoprecipitation of Grb7 with both receptors was detected upon heregulin stimulation. This association was direct and mediated by the Grb7 Src homology (SH)2 domain. Co-expression of erbB2 with erbB3 point mutants was used to map Grb7 binding sites. This demonstrated that tyrosine 1180 and 1243 represent the major and minor sites of Grb7 interaction, respectively. Although these recognition sequences possess an Asn residue at +2 relative to the phosphotyrosine and therefore represent potential Grb2 binding sites, phosphopeptide competition and "pull-down" experiments demonstrated that they interact preferentially with the Grb7 versus the Grb2 SH2 domain. Substitution analysis indicated that an Arg residue at +3 could act as a selectivity determinant, but the effect was context-dependent. Consequently, the Grb2 and Grb7 SH2 domains possess overlapping, but distinct, specificities. These studies therefore identify Grb7 as an in vivo target of erbB3 and erbB4 and provide an underlying mechanism for the ability of erbB3 to recruit Grb7 and not Grb2, a property unique among erbB receptors.

Interleukin 5 signals through Shc and Grb2 in human eosinophils

Eosinophils are potent effector cells contributing to allergic inflammation and asthma. The differentiation, recruitment, and effector functions of eosinophils are greatly affected by interleukin (IL)-5. In the eosinophil, signal transduction pathways including Jak-STAT and Ras-Raf-MAP kinase are stimulated by IL-5 and enzymatic activation of tyrosine kinases Jak-2 and Lyn has been demonstrated. The participation of adapter proteins in the responses of the Ras-Raf-MAP kinase pathway has been documented in many cytokine family receptors but the expression and activation of these proteins have not been demonstrated in eosinophils. In these studies, we have found three isoforms of the adapter protein, Shc, to be expressed in eosinophils. One of these isoforms, p52 Shc, was tyrosine phosphorylated following IL-5 treatment of eosinophils. A second adapter protein, Grb2, coimmunoprecipitated with Shc following IL-5 stimulation of eosinophils. Furthermore, p52 Shc was increasingly associated with a cell fraction resistant to detergent solubilization, following IL-5 administration. This cell fraction of limited detergent solubility is a complex mixture of proteins and the adapter protein Grb2, the tyrosine kinases Jak-2 and Lyn, the nucleotide exchange factor Vav, and the serine-threonine kinases p45 MAP kinase, Raf-1, and PKCbeta, were distributed either wholly or partially in the same fraction, as were the cytoskeletal proteins actin and vimentin. Only p52 Shc, however, demonstrated discernibly increased association with this fraction following IL-5 stimulation of eosinophils. These data suggest that IL-5 activates a signal transduction pathway utilizing the adapter proteins Shc and Grb2 in the human eosinophil.

The 66-kDa Shc isoform is a negative regulator of the epidermal growth factor-stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway

In addition to tyrosine phosphorylation of the 66-, 52-, and 46-kDa Shc isoforms, epidermal growth factor (EGF) treatment of Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the human EGF receptor also resulted in the serine/threonine phosphorylation of approximately 50% of the 66-kDa Shc proteins. The serine/threonine phosphorylation occurred subsequent to tyrosine phosphorylation and was prevented by pretreatment of the cells with the MEK-specific inhibitor PD98059. Surprisingly, only the gel-shifted 66-kDa Shc isoform (serine/threonine phosphorylated) was tyrosine phosphorylated and associated with Grb2. In contrast, only the non-serine/threonine-phosphorylated fraction of 66-kDa Shc was associated with the EGF receptor. To assess the relationship between the three Shc isoforms in EGF-stimulated signaling, the cDNA encoding the 66-kDa Shc species was cloned from a 16-day-old mouse embryo library. Sequence alignment confirmed that the 66-kDa Shc cDNA resulted from alternative splicing of the primary Shc transcript generating a 110-amino acid extension at the amino terminus. Co-immunoprecipitation of Shc and Grb2 from cells overexpressing the 52/46-kDa Shc isoforms versus the 66-kDa Shc species directly demonstrated a competition of binding for a limited pool of Grb2 proteins. Furthermore, expression of the 66-kDa Shc isoform markedly accelerated the inactivation of ERK following EGF stimulation. Together, these data indicate that the serine/threonine phosphorylation of 66-kDa Shc impairs its ability to associate with the tyrosine-phosphorylated EGF receptor and can function in a dominant-interfering manner by inhibiting EGF receptor downstream signaling pathways.

Differential utilization of ShcA tyrosine residues and functional domains in the transduction of epidermal growth factor-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in 293T cells and nerve growth factor-induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. Identification of a new Grb2.Sos1 binding site

By transient expression of both truncated forms of p52(SHCA) and those with point mutations in 293T cells, it has been shown that, in addition to Tyr-317, Tyr-239/240 is a major site of phosphorylation that serves as a docking site for Grb2.Sos1 complexes. In addition, analysis of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase in 293T cells showed that the overexpression Shc SH2 or phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domains of ShcA alone has a more potent negative effect than the overexpression of the forms of ShcA lacking Tyr-317 or Tyr 239/240 or both. In transiently transfected PC12 cells, the ShcA PTB domain and tyrosine phosphorylation in the CH1 domain, especially on Tyr-239/240, are crucial for mediating nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neurite outgrowth. These findings suggest that the EGF and NGF (TrkA) receptor can utilize Shc in different ways to promote their activity. For EGF-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in 293T cells, both Shc PTB and SH2 domains are essential for optimal activation, indicating that a mechanism independent of Grb2 engagement with Shc may exist. For NGF-induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells, Shc PTB plays an essential role, and phosphorylation on Tyr-239/240, but not on Tyr-317, is required.

Purification and Molecular Cloning of SH2- and SH3-Containing Inositol Polyphosphate-5-Phosphatase, Which Is Involved in the Signaling Pathway of Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor, Erythropoietin, and Bcr-Abl

Grb2/Ash and Shc are the adapter proteins that link tyrosine-kinase receptors to Ras and make tyrosine-kinase functionally associated with receptors and Ras in fibroblasts and hematopoietic cells. Grb2/Ash and Shc have the SH3, SH2, or phosphotyrosine binding domains. These domains bind to proteins containing proline-rich regions or tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins and contribute to the association of Grb2/Ash and Shc with other signaling molecules. However, there could remain unidentified signaling molecules that physically and functionally interact with these adapter proteins and have biologically important roles in the signaling pathways. By using the GST fusion protein including the full length of Grb2/Ash, we have found that c-Cbl and an unidentified 135-kD protein (pp135) are associated with Grb2/Ash. We have also found that they become tyrosine-phosphorylated by treatment of a human leukemia cell line, UT-7, with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF ). We have purified the pp135 by using GST-Grb2/Ash affinity column and have isolated the full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding the pp135 using a cDNA probe, which was obtained by the degenerate polymerase chain reaction based on a peptide sequence of the purified pp135. The cloned cDNA has 3,958 nucleotides that contain a single long open reading frame of 3,567 nucleotides, encoding a 1,189 amino acid protein with a predicted molecular weight of approximately 133 kD. The deduced amino acid sequence reveals that pp135 is a protein that has one SH2, one SH3, and one proline-rich domain. The pp135, which contains two motifs conserved among the inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase proteins, was shown to have the inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase activity. The pp135 was revealed to associate constitutively with Grb2/Ash and inducibly with Shc using UT-7 cells stimulated with GM-CSF. In the cell lines derived from human chronic myelogenous leukemia, pp135 was constitutively tyrosine-phosphorylated and associated with Shc and Bcr-Abl. These facts suggest that pp135 is a signaling molecule that has a unique enzymatic activity and should play an important role in the signaling pathway triggered by GM-CSF and in the transformation of hematopoietic cells caused by Bcr-Abl.

Roles of ErbB-3 and ErbB-4 in the physiology and pathology of the mammary gland

ErbB-3 and ErbB-4 are the most recently discovered and least characterized of the class I tyrosine kinase receptors. ErbB-3 is noteworthy for its low tyrosine kinase activity, suggesting that it may function more as an adaptor in signaling than as a kinase. Heregulin serves as a ligand for both receptors. A primary mechanism of heregulin action involves heterodimerization of its targeted receptors with other members of the class I family to promote cross-phosphorylation and cellular responses. Betacellulin also acts as a ligand for ErbB-4 to stimulate its kinase activity in both homo- and hetero-dimers. A new ligand (ASGP-2) for ErbB-2 has been discovered which operates by an intramembrane mechanism and may be able to modulate external ligand-dependent ErbB-3 or ErbB-4 heterodimeric interactions with ErbB-2. Heterodimerization stimulated by the ligands is a key feature of mitogenic signaling in mammary epithelial cells and tumors. Characterization of the signaling pathways for these receptors is still incomplete, but phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and SHC have been implicated. Heregulin synthesized by the mesenchyme has been implicated in mammary development, modulated by systemic hormones. Observations on cultured mammary cells and mammary tumors have suggested linkages of ErbB-3 and ErbB-4 to proliferation and differentiation, respectively, but further work is needed to establish their definitive roles.

Cellular effects of phosphotyrosine-binding domain inhibitors on insulin receptor signaling and trafficking

Shc and insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) are cytoplasmic substrates of tyrosine kinase receptors that engage, localize, and activate downstream SH2 enzymes. Each contains a phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domain that is structurally unrelated to SH2 domains. We have designed high-affinity, cellular inhibitors of the Shc PTB domain by incorporating nonnatural, phosphatase-resistant amino acids into short peptides. None of the inhibitors bind the IRS-1 PTB domain, consistent with distinct specificities for domains. The best inhibitor of the Shc domain was introduced by electroporation into Rat1 fibroblasts that express human insulin receptors. Insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Shc was inhibited, with no effect on IRS-1, and downstream effects on mitogen-activated protein kinase and DNA synthesis were both inhibited. The PTB domain inhibitor had less influence on epidermal growth factor-induced effects and essentially no impact on serum- or phorbol ester-induced effects. The inhibitor did not affect insulin internalization and its degradation. We conclude that the PTB domain of Shc is critical for its phosphorylation by the insulin receptor, that Shc is an important mediator of insulin's mitogenic effects, and that Shc is not central to insulin receptor cycling in these cells. PTB domains can be inhibited selectively in cells and represent potential targets for drug discovery.

Characterization of the phosphotyrosine-binding domain of the Drosophila Shc protein

The phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domain of Drosophila Shc (dShc) binds in vitro to phosphopeptides containing the sequence motif NPXpY, and physically associates with the activated Drosophila epidermal growth factor receptor homologue (DER) in vivo. The structural elements, specificity and binding kinetics of the dShc PTB domain have now been characterized. The dShc PTB domain appeared similar to the insulin-like receptor substrate-1 PTB domain in secondary structure as suggested by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Surface plasmon resonance measurements indicated that the dShc PTB domain bound with high affinity to phosphopeptides (Der) derived from the Tyr1228 site of the DER receptor. The kinetics of the dShc PTB domain-Der phosphopeptide interaction differed from those of a typical SH2 domain-ligand interaction, in that the PTB domain displayed slower on/off rates. Competition binding assays using truncated versions of the Der peptides revealed that high affinity binding to the dShc PTB domain requires, in addition to the NPXpY motif, the presence of hydrophobic residues at both positions -5 and -7 relative to phosphotyrosine. The dShc PTB domain showed a similar binding specificity to the human Shc (hShc) PTB domain, but subtle differences were noted; such that the hShc PTB domain bound preferentially to a phosphopeptide from the mammalian nerve growth factor receptor, whereas the dShc PTB domain bound preferentially to phosphopeptides from the Drosophila DER receptor. The invertebrate dShc PTB domain therefore possesses a binding specificity for tyrosine-phosphorylated peptides that is optimally suited for recognition of the activated DER receptor.

Inducible tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta3 integrin requires the alphaV integrin cytoplasmic tail

We have found that the integrin beta3 chain can be phosphorylated on tyrosine residues in K562 cells transfected with alphavbeta3. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta3 cytoplasmic tail is induced by adhesion to alphavbeta3-specific ligand or antibody or by incubation in manganese-containing buffer. Under the same conditions, beta5 does not become tyrosine-phosphorylated in K562 transfected with alphavbeta5. Phosphorylation of the beta3 subunit requires the simultaneous presence of the alphav subunit cytoplasmic tail, because neither the alphaIIb subunit nor a truncated alphav subunit is sufficient to permit phosphorylation of beta3 when coexpressed as a heterodimer with beta3. Finally, tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta3 cytoplasmic tail occurs on both human and murine beta3 and is inducible in the ovarian carcinoma OV10 as well, independent of expression of integrin-associated protein (CD47). Tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta3 integrin subunit facilitates association of Grb-2, an adaptor protein leading to activation of the Ras signaling pathway, and may contribute to the unique functional and signaling capabilities of alphavbeta3.

Growth and survival signals transmitted via two distinct NPXY motifs within leukocyte tyrosine kinase, an insulin receptor-related tyrosine kinase

Leukocyte tyrosine kinase (LTK) is a receptor tyrosine kinase, which belongs to the insulin receptor family and is mainly expressed in pre-B cells and brain. In this study, we show that LTK utilizes insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and Shc as major two substrates and possesses two NPXY motifs for them separately, tyrosine 485 of one NPXY motif at the juxtamembrane domain for IRS-1 and tyrosine 862 of another NPXY motif at the carboxyl-terminal domain for Shc. By using Ba/F3 cells expressing epidermal growth factor receptor-LTK chimeric receptors containing a mutation at each NPXY site, we showed that while both NPXY motifs equally contribute to activation of the Ras pathway and generation of mitogenic signals, only tyrosine 485 of LTK transmits cell survival signals. These data suggest that IRS-1 possesses anti-apoptotic function at least in LTK signaling. Moreover, our data indicate that the survival signaling pathway of LTK is distinct from the Ras pathway and the p70(S6) kinase pathway. Our results provide a useful insight in understanding the distinctive roles of Shc and IRS-1 in the signal transduction system of the insulin receptor family, and this anti-apoptotic function of IRS-1 may explain the survival effects of insulin, IGF-1, and interleukin 4.

Functional roles of the Shc phosphotyrosine binding and Src homology 2 domains in insulin and epidermal growth factor signaling

Shc is involved in the activation of Ras in response to many growth factors. Shc contains two phosphotyrosine binding domains, an Src homology 2 (SH2) domain in the carboxyl terminus of the protein and a phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain in the amino terminus. Since functional roles for these two domains have not been established, we microinjected glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins of either the Shc PTB or SH2 domains into fibroblasts expressing insulin and epidermal growth factor receptors and measured their effects on DNA synthesis. We found that the Shc PTB was necessary for insulin-induced mitogenic signaling, whereas the SH2 domain was not. In contrast, for epidermal growth factor signaling, the Shc SH2 was functionally more important. These differential modes of signal transduction may be an important factor in determining the specificity of the response of a cell to external stimuli.

Enhanced tumorigenic behavior of glioblastoma cells expressing a truncated epidermal growth factor receptor is mediated through the Ras-Shc-Grb2 pathway

A mutant epidermal growth factor receptor (DeltaEGFR) containing a deletion of 267 amino acids from the extracellular domain is common in human glioblastomas. We have previously shown that the mutant receptor fails to bind EGF, is constitutively phosphorylated, and confers upon U87MG glioblastoma cells expressing it (U87MG. DeltaEGFR), an increased ability to form tumors in mice. Here we demonstrate that the constitutively phosphorylated DeltaEGFR enhances growth of glioblastoma cells through increased activity of Ras: 1) there was an increase in the proportion of Ras present in the GTP-bound form, and 2) introduction of neutralizing anti-Ras 259 antibodies into U87MG and U87MG.DeltaEGFR cells by microinjection inhibited DNA synthesis to the same low level in both cell populations. We also show that the truncated EGF receptor constitutively associates with the adapter proteins Shc and Grb2 which are involved in the recruitment of Ras to activated receptors. Several derivatives of DeltaEGFR containing single, or multiple mutations at critical autophosphorylation sites were constructed and used to demonstrate that the major Shc binding site is Tyr-1148, and that Grb2 association occurs primarily through Tyr-1068. We conclude that the increased tumorigenic potential of glioblastoma cells expressing the truncated EGF receptor is due at least in part to Ras activation presumably involving the Shc and Grb2 adapter proteins.

Signal-transducing protein phosphorylation cascades mediated by Ras/Rho proteins in the mammalian cell: the potential for multiplex signalling

The features of three distinct protein phosphorylation cascades in mammalian cells are becoming clear. These signalling pathways link receptor-mediated events at the cell surface or intracellular perturbations such as DNA damage to changes in cytoskeletal structure, vesicle transport and altered transcription factor activity. The best known pathway, the Ras-->Raf-->MEK-->ERK cascade [where ERK is extracellular-signal-regulated kinase and MEK is mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase/ERK kinase], is typically stimulated strongly by mitogens and growth factors. The other two pathways, stimulated primarily by assorted cytokines, hormones and various forms of stress, predominantly utilize p21 proteins of the Rho family (Rho, Rac and CDC42), although Ras can also participate. Diagnostic of each pathway is the MAP kinase component, which is phosphorylated by a unique dual-specificity kinase on both tyrosine and threonine in one of three motifs (Thr-Glu-Tyr, Thr-Phe-Tyr or Thr-Gly-Tyr), depending upon the pathway. In addition to activating one or more protein phosphorylation cascades, the initiating stimulus may also mobilize a variety of other signalling molecules (e.g. protein kinase C isoforms, phospholipid kinases, G-protein alpha and beta gamma subunits, phospholipases, intracellular Ca2+). These various signals impact to a greater or lesser extent on multiple downstream effectors. Important concepts are that signal transmission often entails the targeted relocation of specific proteins in the cell, and the reversible formation of protein complexes by means of regulated protein phosphorylation. The signalling circuits may be completed by the phosphorylation of upstream effectors by downstream kinases, resulting in a modulation of the signal. Signalling is terminated and the components returned to the ground state largely by dephosphorylation. There is an indeterminant amount of cross-talk among the pathways, and many of the proteins in the pathways belong to families of closely related proteins. The potential for more than one signal to be conveyed down a pathway simultaneously (multiplex signalling) is discussed. The net effect of a given stimulus on the cell is the result of a complex intracellular integration of the intensity and duration of activation of the individual pathways. The specific outcome depends on the particular signalling molecules expressed by the target cells and on the dynamic balance among the pathways.

The PI/PTB domain: a new protein interaction domain involved in growth factor receptor signaling

In summary, a new domain called the PI/PTB domain has been identified in the Shc adapter protein. This motif binds the NPXpY motif that is found in a large number of signal transduction molecules. The presence in Shc of both a PI/PTB domain and an SH2 domain presumably gives Shc the ability to interact with a large number of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins. The structure of the PI/PTB domain has been solved and is very similar to the PH domain. Highly related in binding specificity is the PTB domain of IRS-1 and IRS-2, which also binds an NPXpY motif. Several other PI domains have been identified that may also have binding specificity for the NPXY motif. The terminology used at present to define these domains is unclear. The original terms PI and PTB domain stood for phosphotyrosine interaction and phosphotyrosine binding domain, respectively. The name may be inappropriate for some members of this family in which phosphotyrosine may not be essential for binding. Furthermore, these domains are structurally related to the previously named PH domains. At present we feel the use of the name PTB domain should be reserved for Shc and IRS-1/IRS-2, where phosphotyrosine binding has been demonstrated. We place the other proteins we have identified in the PI domain family, with PI now representing the protein interaction rather than the phosphotyrosine interaction domain. The role of several of the PI domains in other proteins is beginning to be studied. It seems clear that our understanding of these domains and their function in cell biology will rapidly expand over the next several years.

Phosphotyrosine-independent binding of SHC to the NPLH sequence of murine protein-tyrosine phosphatase-PEST. Evidence for extended phosphotyrosine binding/phosphotyrosine interaction domain recognition specificity

The phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) or phosphotyrosine interaction (PI) domain of the proto-oncoprotein p52SHC binds to an NPXpY consensus sequence found in several growth factor receptors (Kavanaugh, W. M., Turck, C. W., and Williams, L. T. (1994) Science 268, 1177-1179). The amino-terminal region of p52SHC, which includes the PTB/PI domain, has been previously shown to associate with protein-tyrosine phosphatase-PEST (PTP-PEST) in vivo (Habib, T. , Herrera, R., and Decker, S. J. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 25243-25246). We report here the detailed mapping of this interaction in a murine context using glutathione S-transferase fusion protein binding studies and peptide competition assays. We show that the interaction between murine SHC and murine PTP-PEST is mediated through the PTB/PI domain of murine SHC and an NPLH sequence found in the carboxyl terminus of murine PTP-PEST. Since this interaction is not dependent on the presence of a tyrosine-phosphorylated residue in the target sequence, this reveals that the PTB/PI domain of SHC can recognize both tyrosine-phosphorylated sequences and non-tyrosine-based recognition motifs.

Interaction between the phosphotyrosine binding domain of Shc and the insulin receptor is required for Shc phosphorylation by insulin in vivo

Stimulation of the insulin receptor (IR) results in tyrosine phosphorylation of the intermediate molecules insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), IRS-2, and Shc, which then couple the IR to downstream signaling pathways by serving as binding sites for signaling molecules with SH2 domains. It has been proposed that direct binding of IRS-1, IRS-2, and Shc to an NPX-Tyr(P) motif in the juxtamembrane region of the IR is required for tyrosine phosphorylation of these molecules by the IR. In this regard, Shc and IRS-1 contain domains that are distinct from SH2 domains, referred to as the phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) or phosphotyrosine interaction (PI) domains, which bind phosphotyrosine in the context of an NPX-Tyr(P) motif. To further clarify the role of the Shc PTB/PI domain, we identified a mutation in this domain that abrogated binding of Shc to the IR in vitro. Interestingly, this mutation completely abolished Shc phosphorylation by the IR in vivo whereas mutation of the arginine in the FLVRES motif of the Shc SH2 domain did not affect Shc phosphorylation by insulin. In addition, we identified specific amino acids on the IR that are required for the IR to stimulate Shc but not IRS-1 phosphorylation in vivo. As with the PTB/PI domain Shc mutant, the ability of these mutant receptors to phosphorylate Shc correlates with the binding of the PTB/PI domain of Shc to similar sequences in vitro. These findings support a model in which binding of the PTB/PI domain of Shc directly to the NPX-Tyr(P) motif on the IR mediates Shc phosphorylation by insulin.