Deletions in the SH2 domain of p60v-src prevent association with the detergent-insoluble cellular matrix

Signaling Enzymes and Ion Channels Being Modulated by the Actin Cytoskeleton at the Plasma Membrane

A cell should deal with the changing external environment or the neighboring cells. Inevitably, the cell surface receives and transduces a number of signals to produce apt responses. Typically, cell surface receptors are activated, and during this process, the subplasmalemmal actin cytoskeleton is often rearranged. An intriguing point is that some signaling enzymes and ion channels are physically associated with the actin cytoskeleton, raising the possibility that the subtle changes of the local actin cytoskeleton can, in turn, modulate the activities of these proteins. In this study, we reviewed the early and new experimental evidence supporting the notion of actin-regulated enzyme and ion channel activities in various cell types including the cells of immune response, neurons, oocytes, hepatocytes, and epithelial cells, with a special emphasis on the Ca²⁺ signaling pathway that depends on the synthesis of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Some of the features that are commonly found in diverse cells from a wide spectrum of the animal species suggest that fine-tuning of the activities of the enzymes and ion channels by the actin cytoskeleton may be an important strategy to inhibit or enhance the function of these signaling proteins.

Synthesis of the Src SH2 domain and its application in bioassays for mirror-image screening

Mirror-image screening systems for Src SH2 domain inhibitors were established using a synthetic Src SH2 domain.

A novel nuclear Src and p300 signaling axis controls migratory and invasive behavior in pancreatic cancer

The presence of Src in the nuclear compartment has been previously reported, although its significance has remained largely unknown. We sought to delineate the functions of the nuclear pool of Src within the context of malignant progression. Active Src is localized within the nuclei of human pancreatic cancer cells and mouse fibroblasts over-expressing c-Src where it is associated with p300. Nuclear Src additionally promotes the tyrosine phosphorylation of p300 in pancreatic cancer Panc-1 cells. Src, together with p300, is associated with the high-mobility group AT-hook (HMGA)2 and SET and MYND domain-containing protein (SMYD)3 gene promoters and regulates their expression in a Src-dependent manner. These nuclear Src-dependent events correlate with anchorage-independent soft-agar growth and the migratory properties in both pancreatic Panc-1 cells and mouse fibroblasts over-expressing Src. Moreover, analyses of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumor tissues detected the association of nuclear Src with the HMGA2 and SMYD3 gene promoters. Our findings for the first time show the critical importance of nuclear Src and p300 function in the migratory properties of pancreatic cancer cells. Further, data together identify a previously unknown role of nuclear Src in the regulation of gene expression in association with p300 within the context of cells harboring activated or over-expressing Src. This novel mechanism of nuclear Src-p300 axis in PDAC invasiveness and metastasis may provide an opportunity for developing more effective early clinical interventions for this lethal disease.

Active Src is complexed with and phosphorylates p300 in the nucleus, and the complex is bound to HMGA2 and SMYD3 genes, thereby regulating their expression to promote pancreatic tumor cell migration and invasiveness.

The membrane targeting and spatial activation of Src, Yes and Fyn is influenced by palmitoylation and distinct RhoB/RhoD endosome requirements

Src activation is a tightly regulated process which requires RhoB endosome-associated actin assembly and transit to the cell periphery. We show here that although two other ubiquitous Src family kinases (SFKs) Yes and Fyn also require intact actin filaments for peripheral membrane targeting, they display distinct spatial activation and endosomal requirements. Unlike Src, both Yes and Fyn are constitutively membrane-localized to some extent, and Fyn is present in RhoD-positive endosomes whereas Yes does not visibly colocalize with either of the endosomal markers RhoB or RhoD. By modulating amino acid acceptor sites for palmitoylation in Src, Yes and Fyn, we show that Src S3C/S6C, which is palmitoylated (unlike wild-type Src) behaves in a manner more similar to Fyn, by predominantly colocalizing with RhoD endosomes, and the targeting of both Fyn and Src S3C/S6C is inhibited by siRNA-mediated knockdown of RhoD. Moreover, Fyn C3S/C6S, which is no longer palmitoylated, behaves much more like Src by colocalizing with RhoB endosomes and by requiring RhoB for activation and membrane translocation. These data imply that distinct modes of spatial activation and membrane delivery, at least partly under the control of specific acylation attachment sequences and endosome sub-type requirements, define distinct properties of the three ubiquitously expressed SFKs.

Rapid trafficking of c-Src, a non-palmitoylated Src-family kinase, between the plasma membrane and late endosomes/lysosomes

Src-family kinases (SFKs) are co-expressed with multiple combinations of each member in a single cell and involved in various signalings. Recently, we showed by sucrose-density gradient fractionation that the subcellular distribution of c-Src is distinct from that of Lyn. However, little is known about the trafficking of c-Src in living cells. Here, we show by time-lapse monitoring combined with photobleaching techniques that c-Src, a non-palmitoylated SFK, is rapidly exchanged between the plasma membrane and intracellular organelles representing late endosomes/lysosomes possibly through its cytosolic release. Although Lyn, a palmitoylated SFK, is exocytosed to the plasma membrane via the Golgi apparatus along the secretory pathway, lack of palmitoylation directs Lyn away from the exocytotic transport to the c-Src-type trafficking between the plasma membrane and late endosomes/lysosomes. Intriguingly, c-Src and a non-palmitoylated Lyn mutant are efficiently delivered and immobilized to focal adhesions when their SH2 domains are able to mediate protein-protein interactions in place of intramolecular bindings. However, palmitoylation of Lyn inhibits its recruitment to focal adhesions. These results suggest that palmitoylation of SFKs is critical for SFK localization and trafficking and implicate that two distinct trafficking pathways for SFKs may be involved in SFKs' specific functions.

Lipid-dependent recruitment of neuronal Src to lipid rafts in the brain

Although most Src family tyrosine kinases are modified by palmitoylation as well as myristoylation, Src itself is only myristoylated. Dual acylation is important for attachment to liquid-ordered microdomains or lipid rafts. Accordingly, Src is excluded from lipid rafts in fibroblasts. Evidence of partial genetic redundancy between Src and Fyn for brain-specific targets suggests that these two kinases may occupy overlapping subcellular locations. Neuronal Src (NSrc), an alternative isoform of Src with a 6-amino acid insert in the Src homology 3 domain, is highly expressed in neurons. We investigated whether this structural difference in NSrc allows it to associate with lipid rafts. We found that perinatal mouse brains express predominantly NSrc, which is partly (10-20%) in a lipid raft fraction from brain but not fibroblasts. The association of Src with brain lipid rafts does not depend on the NSrc insert but depends on the amino-terminal myristoylation signal. A crude lipid fraction from brain promotes NSrc entry into rafts in vitro. Moreover, lipid raft-localized NSrc is more catalytically active than NSrc from the soluble fraction, possibly because raft localization alters access to other tyrosine kinases and phosphatases. These findings suggest that NSrc may be involved in signaling from lipid rafts in mouse brain.

c-Src and HSP72 interact in ATP-depleted renal epithelial cells

Disruption of cell contact sites during ischemia contributes to the loss of organ function in acute renal failure. Because prior heat stress protects cell contact sites in ATP-depleted renal epithelial cells in vitro, we hypothesized that heat shock protein 72 (HSP72), the major inducible cytoprotectant in mammalian cells, interacts with protein kinases that regulate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. ATP depletion increased the content of Tyr(416) Src, the activated form of this kinase. c-Src activation was associated with an increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation state of beta-catenin, paxillin, and vinculin, three c-Src substrate proteins that localize to and regulate cell contact sites. Prior heat stress inhibited c-Src activation and decreased the degree of tyrosine phosphorylation of all three Src substrates during ATP depletion and/or early recovery. HSP72 coimmunoprecipitated with c-Src only in cells subjected to heat stress. ATP depletion markedly increased the interaction between HSP72 and c-Src, supporting the hypothesis that HSP72 regulates Src kinase activity. These results suggest that alterations in the tyrosine phosphorylation state of proteins located at the cell-cell and cell-matrix interface mediate, at least in part, the functional state of these structures during ATP depletion and may be modulated by interactions between HSP72 and c-Src.

The actin filament-associated protein AFAP-110 is an adaptor protein that modulates changes in actin filament integrity

The actin filament-associated protein of 110 kDa (AFAP-110) was first identified as an SH3/SH2 binding partner for the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, Src. Subsequent data have demonstrated that AFAP-110 can interact with other Src family members. AFAP-110 contains additional protein binding modules including two pleckstrin homology domains, a leucine zipper motif and a target sequence for serine/threonine phosphorylation. AFAP-110 interacts with actin filaments directly via a carboxy terminal actin-binding domain. Thus AFAP-110 may function as an adaptor protein by linking Src family members and/or other signaling proteins to actin filaments. AFAP-110 also has an intrinsic capability to alter actin filament integrity that can be revealed upon conformational changes associated with phosphorylation or mutagenesis. Recent data has indicated that AFAP-110 may also serve to activate cSrc in response to this conformational change as well. Thus, AFAP-110 may function in several ways by (1) acting as an adaptor protein that links signaling molecules to actin filaments, (2) serving as a platform for the construction of larger signaling complexes, (3) serving as an activator of Src family kinases in response to cellular signals that alter its conformation and (4) directly effecting actin filament organization as an actin filament cross-linking protein. Here, we will review the structure and function of AFAP-110 as well as potential binding partners and effectors of AFAP-110's ability to alter actin filament integrity.

UCS15A, a non-kinase inhibitor of Src signal transduction

Src tyrosine kinase plays key roles in signal transduction following growth factor stimulation and integrin-mediated cell-substrate adhesion. Since src-signal transduction defects are implicated in a multitude of human diseases, we have sought to develop new ways to identify small molecule inhibitors using a yeast-based, activated-src over-expression system. In the present study, we describe the identification of a unique src-signal transduction inhibitor, UCS15A. UCS15A was found to inhibit the src specific tyrosine phosphorylation of numerous proteins in v-src-transformed cells. Two of these phosphoproteins were identified as bona-fide src substrates, cortactin and Sam68. UCS15A differed from conventional src-inhibitors in that it did not inhibit the tyrosine kinase activity of src. In addition, UCS15A appeared to differ from src-destabilizing agents such as herbimycin and radicicol that destabilize src by interfering with Hsp90. Our studies suggest that UCS15A exerted its src-inhibitory effects by a novel mechanism that involved disruption of protein-protein interactions mediated by src. One of the biological consequences of src-inhibition by UCS15A was its ability to inhibit the bone resorption activity of osteoclasts in vitro. These data suggest that UCS15A may inhibit the bone resorption activity of osteoclasts, not by inhibiting src tyrosine kinase activity, but by disrupting the interaction of proteins associated with src, thereby modulating downstream events in the src signal transduction pathway.

Tyrosine kinases activate store-mediated Ca2+ entry in human platelets through the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton

We have recently reported that store-mediated Ca(2+) entry in platelets is likely to be mediated by a reversible trafficking and coupling of the endoplasmic reticulum with the plasma membrane, a model termed 'secretion-like coupling'. In this model the actin cytoskeleton plays a key regulatory role. Since tyrosine kinases have been shown to be important for Ca(2+) entry in platelets and other cells, we have now investigated the possible involvement of tyrosine kinases in the secretion-like-coupling model. Treatment of platelets with thrombin or thapsigargin induced actin polymerization by a calcium-independent pathway. Methyl 2,5-dihydroxycinnamate, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, prevented thrombin- or thapsigargin-induced actin polymerization. The effects of tyrosine kinases in store-mediated Ca(2+) entry were found to be entirely dependent on the actin cytoskeleton. PP1, an inhibitor of the Src family of proteins, partially inhibited store-mediated Ca(2+) entry. In addition, depletion of intracellular Ca(2+) stores stimulated cytoskeletal association of the cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase pp60(src), a process that was sensitive to treatment with cytochalasin D and PP1, but not to inhibition of Ras proteins using prenylcysteine analogues. Finally, combined inhibition of both Ras proteins and tyrosine kinases resulted in complete inhibition of Ca(2+) entry, suggesting that these two families of proteins have independent effects in the activation of store-mediated Ca(2+) entry in human platelets.

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.

Activation of pp60(src) is critical for stretch-induced orienting response in fibroblasts

When subjected to uni-axial cyclic stretch (120% in length, 1 Hz), fibroblasts (3Y1) aligned perpendicular to the stretch axis in a couple of hours. Concomitantly with this orienting response, protein tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins (molecular masses of approximately 70 kDa and 120–130 kDa) increased and peaked at 30 minutes. Immuno-precipitation experiments revealed that paxillin, pp125(FAK), and pp130(CAS) were included in the 70 kDa, and 120–130 kDa bands, respectively. Treatment of the cells with herbimycin A, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, suppressed the stretch induced tyrosine phosphorylation and the orienting response suggesting that certain tyrosine kinases are activated by stretch. We focused on pp60(src), the most abundant tyrosine kinase in fibroblasts. The kinase activity of pp60(src) increased and peaked at 20 minutes after the onset of cyclic stretch. Treatment of the cells with an anti-sense S-oligodeoxynucleotide (S-ODN) against pp60(src), but not the sense S-ODN, inhibited the stretch induced tyrosine phosphorylation and the orienting response. To further confirm the involvement of pp60(src), we performed the same sets of experiments using c-src-transformed 3Y1 (c-src-3Y1) fibroblasts. Cyclic stretch induced a similar orienting response in c-src-3Y1 to that in wild-type 3Y1, but with a significantly faster rate. The time course of the stretch-induced tyrosine phosphorylation was also much faster in c-src-3Y1 than in 3Y1 fibroblasts. These results strongly suggest that cyclic stretch induces the activation of pp60(src) and that pp60(src) is indispensable for the tyrosine phosphorylation of pp130(CAS), pp125(FAK) and paxillin followed by the orienting response in 3Y1 fibroblasts.

SRC binding to the cytoskeleton, triggered by growth cone attachment to laminin, is protein tyrosine phosphatase-dependent

The interaction of the non-receptor tyrosine kinase, Src, with the cytoskeleton of adhesion sites was studied in nerve growth cones isolated from fetal rat brain. Of particular interest was the role of protein tyrosine phosphatases in the regulation of Src-cytoskeleton binding. Growth cones were found to contain a high level of protein tryrosine phosphatase activity, most of it membrane-associated and forming large, multimeric and wheat germ agglutinin-binding complexes. The receptor tyrosine phosphatase PTPalpha seems to be the most prevalent species among the membrane-associated enzymes. As seen by immunofluorescence, PTPalpha is present throughout the plasmalemma of the growth cone including filopodia, and it forms a punctate pattern consistent with that of integrin beta1. For adhesion site analysis, isolated growth cones were either plated onto the neurite growth substratum, laminin, or kept in suspension. Plating growth cones on laminin triggered an 8-fold increase in Src binding to the adherent cytoskeleton. This effect was blocked completely with the protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, vanadate. Growth cone plating also increased the association with adhesion sites of tyrosine phosphatase activity (14-fold) and of PTPalpha immunoreactivity (6-fold). Vanadate blocked the enzyme activity but not the recruitment of PTPalpha to the adhesion sites. In conjunction with our previous results on growth cones, these data suggest that integrin binding to laminin triggers the recruitment of PTPalpha (and perhaps other protein tyrosine phosphatases) to adhesion sites, resulting in de-phosphorylation of Src's tyr 527. As a result Src unfolds, becomes kinase-active, and its SH2 domain can bind to an adhesion site protein. This implies a critical role for protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in the earliest phases of adhesion site assembly.

Epidermal growth factor-induced activation and translocation of c-Src to the cytoskeleton depends on the actin binding domain of the EGF-receptor

In the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptor signal transduction cascade, the non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Src has been demonstrated to become activated upon EGF stimulation. In this paper we show that c-Src associates with the cytoskeleton and co-isolates with actin filaments upon EGF treatment of NIH-3T3 cells transfected with the EGF receptor. Immunofluorescence studies using CLSM show colocalization of F-actin and endogenous c-Src predominantly around endosomes and not on stress fibers and cell-cell contacts. Stimulation of EGF receptor-transfected NIH-3T3 cells with EGF induces an activation and translocation of c-Src to the cytoskeleton. These processes depend upon the presence of the actin binding domain of the EGF-receptor since in cells that express EGF-receptors lacking this domain, EGF fails to induce an activation and translocation to the cytoskeleton of c-Src. These data suggest a role for the actin binding domain of the EGF-receptor in the translocation of c-Src.

Substrate recognition by osteoclast precursors induces C-src/microtubule association

The osteoclast is distinguished from other macrophage polykaryons by its polarization, a feature induced by substrate recognition. The most striking component of the polarized osteoclast is its ruffled membrane, probably reflecting insertion of intracellular vesicles into the bone apposed plasmalemma. The failure of osteoclasts in c-src-/- osteopetrotic mice to form ruffled membranes indicates pp60(c-src) (c-src) is essential to osteoclast polarization. Interestingly, c-src itself is a vesicular protein that targets the ruffled membrane. This being the case, we hypothesized that matrix recognition by osteoclasts, and their precursors, induces c-src to associate with microtubules that traffic proteins to the cell surface. We find abundant c-src associates with tubulin immunoprecipitated from avian marrow macrophages (osteoclast precursors) maintained in the adherent, but not nonadherent, state. Since the two proteins colocalize only within adherent avian osteoclast-like cells examined by double antibody immunoconfocal microscopy, c-src/tubulin association reflects an authentic intracellular event. C-src/tubulin association is evident within 90 min of cell-substrate recognition, and the event does not reflect increased expression of either protein. In vitro kinase assay demonstrates tubulin-associated c-src is enzymatically active, phosphorylating itself as well as exogenous substrate. The increase in microtubule-associated kinase activity attending adhesion mirrors tubulin-bound c-src and does not reflect enhanced specific activity. The fact that microtubule-dissociating drugs, as well as cold, prevent adherence-induced c-src/tubulin association indicates the protooncogene complexes primarily, if not exclusively, with polymerized tubulin. Association of the two proteins does not depend upon protein tyrosine phosphorylation and is substrate specific, as it is induced by vitronectin and fibronectin but not type 1 collagen. Finally, consistent with cotransport of c-src and the osteoclast vacuolar proton pump to the polarized plasmalemma, the H+-ATPase decorates microtubules in a manner similar to the protooncogene, specifically coimmunoprecipitates with c-src from the osteoclast light Golgi membrane fraction, and is present, with c-src, in preparations enriched with acidifying vesicles reconstituted from the osteoclast ruffled membrane.

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

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

Association of tyrosine-phosphorylated c-Src with the cytoskeleton of hypertrophying myocardium

Given the central position of the focal adhesion complex, both physically in coupling integrins to the interstitium and biochemically in providing an upstream site for anabolic signal generation, we asked whether the recruitment of non-receptor tyrosine kinases to the cytoskeleton might be a mechanism whereby cellular loading could activate growth regulatory signals responsible for cardiac hypertrophy. Analysis revealed cytoskeletal association of c-Src, FAK, and beta3-integrin, but no Fyn, in the pressure-overloaded right ventricle. This association was seen as early as 4 h after right ventricular pressure overloading, increased through 48 h, and reverted to normal in 1 week. Cytoskeletal binding of non-receptor tyrosine kinases was synchronous with tyrosine phosphorylation of several cytoskeletal proteins, including c-Src. Examination of cytoskeleton-bound c-Src revealed that a significant portion of the tyrosine phosphorylation was not at the Tyr-527 site and therefore presumably was at the Tyr-416 site. Thus, these studies strongly suggest that non-receptor tyrosine kinases, in particular c-Src, may play a critical role in hypertrophic growth regulation by their association with cytoskeletal structures, possibly via load activation of integrin-mediated signaling.

Regulation, substrates and functions of src

Src is the best understood member of a family of 9 tyrosine kinases that regulates cellular responses to extracellular stimuli. Activated mutants of Src are oncogenic. Using Src as an example, and referring to other Src family members where appropriate, this review describes the structure of Src, the functions of the individual domains, the regulation of Src kinase activity in the cell, the selection of substrates, and the biological functions of Src. The review concentrates on developments in the last 6-7 years, and cites data resulting from the isolation and characterization of Src mutants, crystallographic studies of the structures of SH2, SH3 and tyrosine kinase domains, biochemical studies of Src kinase activity and binding properties, and the biology of transgenic and knockout mouse strains.

Growth cone enrichment and cytoskeletal association of non-receptor tyrosine kinases

Fetal rat brain (E18) expresses at least three c-src-like, membrane-associated non-receptor tyrosine kinases: c-src, fyn, and lyn. c-src and fyn are the most abundant and are highly enriched in a subcellular fraction of nerve growth cones (GCPs). To study the cytoskeletal association of these tyrosine kinases, Triton X-100-resistant fractions were prepared from GCPs. All three non-receptor tyrosine kinases are associated with the cytoskeleton to a significant degree with the relative affinities: fyn > c-src > lyn. The binding is sensitive to ionic strength and to phosphotyrosine, but not to phosphoserine or phosphothreonine. To investigate the regulation of this association we used phosphatase inhibitors to increase phosphotyrosine levels in GCPs. This resulted in the release of c-src from the cytoskeleton. Under these conditions tyrosine phosphorylation was increased selectively in released c-src and primarily on tyrosine 527. Cytoskeletally bound c-src had a higher specific kinase activity than Triton X-100-soluble c-src. These findings indicate that src family members interact in a regulated manner with the cytoskeleton in non-transformed cells. This regulation is explained by a model in which c-src binds to the cytoskeleton via its SH2 domain and is released when phosphorylated tyrosine-527 binds to this domain intramolecularly, inhibiting kinase activity.

Cellular distribution of HIV type 1 Nef protein: identification of domains in Nef required for association with membrane and detergent-insoluble cellular matrix

Cellular distribution of HIV-1 Nef protein was studied by expressing the protein in mammalian cells. Cell extracts were fractionated by low- and high-speed centrifugation and by nonionic detergents. Two Nef-related proteins were expressed in COS cells, Nef-27kD and Nef-25kD. Nef-27kD, an N-myristoylated form of Nef, was found in the cytosol and in association with a particulate fraction of the cytoplasm. Treatment of the particulate cytoplasmic fraction with nonionic detergents, using three different protocols designed to isolate the cytoskeleton matrix, indicated that part of Nef was sensitive and part was resistant to detergent solubilization. These two cellular fractions represent membrane- and cytoskeleton-associated Nef. Nef-25kD, initiated from an in-frame AUG codon, was not modified with myristic acid at the amino terminus. Consequently, this protein was present in a soluble form in the cytosol. Furthermore, a mutant of Nef-27kD, in which the myristoylation signal is deleted, appears as a cytoplasmic soluble protein. To determine domains in Nef that are responsible for its subcellular distribution, successive internal deletions of 14-20 amino acids were introduced at the N-terminal portion of the protein. Five mutants were evaluated with respect to their cellular localization. One mutant (pSVLA-5), from which amino acids 73-88 were deleted, did not copurify with the detergent-insoluble fraction. The protein was, however, present in the particulate cytoplasmic fraction, presumably in association with membranes. Taken together, these results suggest that N-myristoylation of Nef affects its association with both membranes and cytoskeleton.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Translocation of an SH2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase (SH-PTP1) to the cytoskeleton of thrombin-activated platelets

A significant protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) activity was found to be associated with the cytoskeleton of thrombin-stimulated platelets. Translocation of the enzyme became maximal within 1-2 min of thrombin stimulation and was suppressed by cytochalasin D or upon inhibition of aggregation. Immunoblotting as well as immunoprecipitation revealed that a PTP with two SH2 domains (SH-PTP1) displayed the same behaviour, translocation to the cytoskeleton showing the same time course as that observed for pp60c-src. We conclude that SH-PTP1 might represent a critical enzyme in the complex interplay between the various proteins regulating protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the cytoskeletal matrix.

Biochemistry of the Src protein-tyrosine kinase: regulation by SH2 and SH3 domains

pp60c-Srs (c-Src) is the prototype for a family of cytoplasmic protein-tyrosine kinases involved in the control of signal transduction. In addition to the enzymatic kinase domain, c-Src has several noncatalytic domains which regulate Src tyrosine kinase activity in both a positive and a negative fashion. Phosphorylation of c-Src at Tyr527 in the noncatalytic C-terminal tail is a key mechanism for repression of c-Src tyrosine kinase activity. This inhibitory phosphorylation is apparently catalyzed by another cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase (Csk). Recent evidence suggests that the c-Src SH2 domain participates in this phosphorylation-dependent repression of kinase activity through an intramolecular association with the phosphotyrosine-containing C-terminus. The SH3 domain of c-Src also negatively regulates c-Src tyrosin kinase activity, although the mechanism is as yet unknown. However, in the background of constitutively active transforming Src variants, such as a c-Src mutant with an amino acid substitution eliminating Tyr527 (527F c-Src) or the retroviral oncogene v-src product pp60v-src (v-Src), both the SH2 and SH3 domains contribute positively to the enzymatic and biological activities of the Src tyrosine kinase through interactions with Src substrates and/or cellular regulators.

Fc receptor-mediated signal transduction

Receptors for the Fc domain of IgG (Fc gamma Rs) on leukocytes mediate a pleiotropic response following cross-linking by immune complexes. Signaling events following cross-linking of B and T cell antigen receptors, Fc epsilon RI, and Fc gamma Rs share common elements. In each, signaling is initiated by receptor cross-linking by antigen or immune complexes and results in the activation of src family kinases and ZAP-70-related tyrosine kinases, which associate with members of the receptor complex. Subsequent events include phosphorylation on tyrosine of multiple cellular substrates including phospholipase C gamma 1 and PI3-kinase. The [Ca2+]i flux is an event secondary to phospholipase C gamma 1 activation. Protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors block both early events such as [Ca2+]i flux and the later effects of cytokine release and cellular proliferation.

The lethality of p60v-src in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the activation of p34CDC28 kinase are dependent on the integrity of the SH2 domain

The lethal effects of the expression of the oncogenic protein tyrosine kinase p60v-src in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are associated with a loss of cell cycle control at the G1/S and G2/M checkpoints. Results described here indicate that the ability of v-Src to kill yeast is dependent on the integrity of the SH2 domain, a region of the Src protein involved in recognition of proteins phosphorylated on tyrosine. Catalytically active v-Src proteins with deletions in the SH2 domain have little effect on yeast growth, unlike wild-type v-Src protein, which causes accumulation of large-budded cells, perturbation of spindle microtubules and increased DNA content when expressed. The proteins phosphorylated on tyrosine in cells expressing v-Src differ from those in cells expressing a Src protein with a deletion in the SH2 domain. Also, unlike the wild-type v-Src protein, which drastically increases histone H1-associated Cdc28 kinase activity, c-Src and an altered v-Src protein have no effect on Cdc28 kinase activity. These results indicate that the SH2 domain is functionally important in the disruption of the yeast cell cycle by v-Src.

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.

SH3--an abundant protein domain in search of a function

Src-homology 3 is a small protein domain of about 60 amino acid residues. It is probably made of beta-sheets. SH3 is present in a large number of eukaryotic proteins which are involved in signal transduction, cell polarization and membrane-cytoskeleton interactions. Here we review its occurrence and discuss possible functions of this domain.