gp140v-fms molecules expressed at the surface of cells transformed by the McDonough strain of feline sarcoma virus are phosphorylated in tyrosine and serine

Tyrosine phosphorylation modulates binding preference to cyclin-dependent kinases and subcellular localization of p27Kip1 in the acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line NB4

We have investigated the role of tyrosine phosphorylation of the cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor p27Kip1 using the acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line NB4 together with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Short-term G-CSF stimulation resulted in a rapid tyrosine dephosphorylation of p27Kip1 accompanied by a change in its binding preferences to cdks. On G-CSF stimulation, p27Kip1 dissociated from cdk4 and associated with cdk2. Binding assays with recombinant p27Kip1 confirmed that tyrosine-phosphorylated p27Kip1 preferentially bound to cdk4, whereas unphosphorylated protein preferentially associated with cdk2. In addition, studies with p27Kip1 point mutations revealed a decisive role of Tyr88 and Tyr89 in binding to cdk4. Furthermore, phosphorylation of Tyr88 and Tyr89 was accompanied by strong nuclear translocation of p27Kip1. Taken together, this report provides the first evidence that tyrosine phosphorylation of p27Kip1 plays a crucial role in binding to cdks and its subcellular localization. Moreover, both effects are mediated by application of G-CSF.

c-Cbl associates directly with the C-terminal tail of the receptor for the macrophage colony-stimulating factor, c-Fms, and down-modulates this receptor but not the viral oncogene v-Fms

The receptor for the macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1, also termed M-CSF), the tyrosine kinase c-Fms, was originally determined to be the oncogene product of the McDonough strain of feline sarcoma virus, v-Fms. The structural difference between c-Fms and v-Fms amounts to only five point mutations in the extracellular domain, two mutations in the cytoplasmic domain, and the replacement of 50 amino acids by 14 unrelated amino acids at the C-terminal tail. Here, we have identified c-Cbl as the direct binding partner for c-Fms. c-Cbl binds to phosphotyrosine residue 977 at the C-terminal end of feline c-Fms, which is absent in v-Fms. The replacement of the C-terminal end of v-Fms by the corresponding part of c-Fms (vc-Fms) restored the binding potential. As a result, vc-Fms reduced the transforming potency of v-Fms. The overexpression of Cbl did not influence the v-Fms-transformed phenotype, although c-Cbl forms a complex with v-Fms indirectly. In contrast, the expression of Cbl drastically reduced the vc-Fms-transformed phenotype and the activation of Erk and enhanced Fms ubiquitination via phosphotyrosine residue 977. Furthermore, the replacement of tyrosine 977 into phenylalanine in feline c-Fms and vc-Fms reduced the Cbl-dependent ubiquitination. These data suggest that an indirect association of c-Cbl via multimeric complex induced a different signaling pathway from the pathway induced by c-Cbl direct interaction.

FMIP, a novel Fms-interacting protein, affects granulocyte/macrophage differentiation

Hematopoietic cell growth, differentiation, and commitment to a restricted lineage are guided by a set of cytokines acting exclusively on cells expressing the corresponding cytokine receptor. The macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF, also termed CSF-1) and its cognate receptor, the tyrosine kinase c-Fms, are essential for monocyte and macrophage development. The underlying molecular mechanism, however, is poorly understood. Here we identified a novel Fms-interacting protein (FMIP, MW 78 kDa) which binds transiently via its N-terminal 144 residues to the cytoplasmic domain of activated Fms-molecules. Binding of FMIP was paralleled by rapid tyrosine phosphorylation within the binding domain which drastically reduced its ability to associate with Fms. Binding was specific as evidenced by co-immunoprecipitation and association with recombinant GST-Fms fusion proteins. No binding was observed with the tyrosine phosphorylated cytoplasmic domains of c-Kit, TrkA, c-Met, and the insulin receptor. The role of FMIP in hematopoietic differentiation was studied in the bipotential myeloid progenitor cell line, FDC-P1Mac11. Overexpression of FMIP prevented M-CSF induced macrophage differentiation. Instead, cells differentiated into granulocytes. Our data suggest that the level of FMIP expression could form a threshold that decides about differentiation either into macrophages or into granulocytes.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of the juxtamembrane domain of the v-Fms oncogene product is required for its association with a 55-kDa protein

Tyrosine autophosphorylation of the v-Fms oncogene product results in the formation of high affinity binding sites for cellular proteins with Src homology 2 (SH2) domains that are involved in various signal cascades. Tryptic digestion of the autophosphorylated v-Fms and of its cellular counterpart, the feline c-Fms polypeptide, gave rise to at least six common major phosphopeptides, four of which have been characterized previously. Employing site-directed mutagenesis and phosphopeptide mapping of in vitro phosphorylated glutathione S-transferase v-Fms fusion proteins as well as full-length v-Fms molecules expressed in various cells, we show here that Tyr543 of the juxtamembrane domain and Tyr696 of the kinase insert domain constitute major autophosphorylation sites. Recombinant fusion proteins containing the tyrosine-phosphorylated kinase insert domain bind the growth factor receptor bound protein 2 and the p85 and p110 subunits of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase. In contrast, fusion proteins containing the juxtamembrane domain phosphorylated on Tyr543 fail to bind any of the known SH2 domain-containing cellular proteins but associate specifically with an as yet undefined 55-kDa cellular protein that by itself is phosphorylated on tyrosine.

Tyrosine 807 of the v-Fms oncogene product controls cell morphology and association with p120RasGAP

Expression of the v-fms oncogene of feline sarcoma virus in fibroblasts causes surface exposure of an activated receptor tyrosine kinase, v-Fms, that is autophosphorylated at multiple sites within its cytoplasmic domain. Cellular proteins interacting with this part of v-Fms modulate the mitogenic activity and morphology of the cells. We show here that the tyrosine residue in position 807 (Y-807) of the v-Fms molecule constitutes a major autophosphorylation site. The replacement of this residue by phenylalanine (Y807F mutation) allowed us to functionally dissect v-Fms-specific mitogenic and morphogenic cascades. Cells expressing the mutant v-Fms molecule resembled wild-type (wt) v-Fms-transformed (wt-v-Fms) cells in terms of [3H]thymidine uptake rates and activation of the Ras/Raf-1 mitogenic cascade. Such cells showed, however, a flat morphology and contained intact actin cables and fibronectin network. Our studies indicate that the v-Fms molecule controls cell morphology by a cascade that involves a direct interaction with p120RasGAP and p190RhoGAP: (i) in contrast to wt v-Fms molecules, the Y807F v-Fms protein failed to associate with and phosphorylate p120RasGAP; (ii) tight complexes between p120RasGAP and p190RhoGAP as well as detectable RhoGAP activity were present exclusively in wt-v-Fms cells; and (iii) p190RhoGAP was dispersed throughout the cytoplasm of wt-v-Fms cells, whereas its distribution was restricted to perinuclear regions of cells expressing the mutant v-Fms gene.

FMS mutations in patients following cytotoxic therapy for lymphoma

Point mutations at codons 301 and 969 of the FMS proto-oncogene have been reported in both myelodysplasia (MDS) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). We report here the incidence of such mutations in patients at risk of developing secondary MDS and AML. Peripheral blood DNA from 70 patients in remission from lymphoma was screened for mutations by oligonucleotide (ONH) using mutant specific probes. Codon 969 mutations were detected in 11 of the 70 (15.7%) cases. No codon 301 mutations were detected. Five of these mutations were confirmed using an independent technique (single nucleotide primer extension analysis, SNPE) and a further mutation was detected in a single patient using single-stranded conformational polymorphism analysis (SSCP). No codon 969 mutations were detected in 62 lymphoma biopsy specimens from these patients or from three patients with detectable FMS mutations where pre-therapy marrow was investigated by ONH. No mutations at either codons 301 or 969 were detected by ONH in 61 normal controls. Somatic mutations at codon 969 of the FMS gene occur commonly following cytotoxic therapy for lymphoma and their detection indicates the presence of a clonally expanded population of abnormal cells.

Influence of tyrosine residues Y705 and Y807 on the transforming potency of the v-fms oncogene product of feline sarcoma virus

Cell transformation is characterized by overt changes in growth control and cell morphology. To study the role of tyrosine residues Y705 and Y807 of v-Fms of the McDonough strain of feline sarcoma virus in cell transformation we replaced them individually with phenylalanine residues. Cells expressing the mutant genes showed mitogenic properties similar to wild-type v-Fms transformed cells. However, the morphology of cells expressing the Y807F mutant remained the same as nontransformed cells. Four phosphoproteins of 190, 120, 55 and 50 kDa were detected in cells expressing the wild-type but were absent in cells expressing the mutant Y807F-v-fms gene.

Upregulation of lineage specific receptors and ligands in multipotential progenitor cells is part of an endogenous program of differentiation

Multipotent hematopoietic progenitor cell lines (FDCP-Mix) infected with a retroviral vector expressing the GM-CSF gene show functional downregulation of the GM-CSF receptor when maintained in IL-3 and activation of the receptor resulting in synchronous differentiation into mature granulocytes and macrophages on withdrawal of IL-3. This system has now been used to investigate whether or not receptors for some of the other growth factors are also influenced as a consequence of differentiation. We show here the lineage specific receptors for M-CSF, G-CSF and erythropoietin are all upregulated, regardless of whether or not differentiation is induced by GM-CSF or by other conditions. Concomitant induction of the mRNA coding for the ligands M-CSF and G-CSF, but not for erythropoietin, suggests that M-CSF and possibly G-CSF facilitate macrophage or granulocyte differentiation by an autocrine stimulation of the lineage specific receptors. FDCP-Mix mutants that are blocked in their ability to differentiate on exposure to GM-CSF, but that still require GM-CSF for proliferation, do not express increased levels of M-CSF receptor nor M-CSF. Based on these data, we suggest that expression of these lineage specific receptors is part of the intrinsic endogenous program of myeloid differentiation.

Transformation of chicken fibroblasts by the v-fms oncogene

The v-fms oncogene of the McDonough strain of feline sarcoma virus (SM-FeSV) encodes a plasma-membrane-associated tyrosine kinase (gp140v-fms) which is closely related, both structurally and functionally, to the c-fms-specified receptor for the macrophage colony stimulating factor (CSF-1). In mammalian fibroblasts, the natural producers of CSF-1, expression of v-fms leads to cell transformation. To study the interaction between CSF-1 and gp140v-fms molecules in a cell system that does not produce endogenous cross-reactive CSF-1, we have expressed the entire v-fms gene as well as a nontransforming deletion mutant (SC2) in chicken embryo cells (CEC). For this purpose the avian retroviral vectors pDS3 and pREP, based on Rous sarcoma virus, were used to isolate recombinant virus particles. CEC infected with virus that carried the entire v-fms gene expressed high amounts of gp140v-fms, comparable to those in SM-FeSV transformed NRK cells. However, these CEC remained flat, retained their fibronectin network, and did not produce enhanced levels of plasminogen activator. The cells grew faster than control CEC for more than 8 weeks but failed to form colonies in soft agar. Within 2 days after addition of CSF-1 to the growth medium, a transformed cell phenotype was induced, as judged by loss of the fibronectin network, again with a growth rate fourfold faster than that of the parental cells and with colony formation in soft agar. Moreover, human CSF-1 caused a rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of v-fms molecules detectable within 5 min after addition of the growth factor. In contrast, CSF-1 had none of the above effects on cells that expressed the SC2 v-fms deletion mutant.

Detection of fms-oncogene-specific tyrosine kinase activity in human leukemia cells

The c-fms protooncogene encodes the receptor for the colony-stimulating factor 1 of macrophages. Its transforming counterpart, the v-fms oncogene has previously been recognized as the transforming gene of the McDonough strain of feline sarcoma virus. We have isolated rabbit antisera against a 115-kDa recombinant polypeptide containing the 926 carboxy-terminal amino acids of the v-fms protein. All antibodies recognized the cytoplasmic domain of the v-fms protein, which is 95% homologous to the corresponding domain of human c-fms proteins. These sera were applied in a survey of various human cancer cell lines, such as peripheral blood mononuclear (HL60) and choriocarcinoma (BeWo) cells, as well as leukemic cells from 58 patients with acute myelocytic, chronic myelocytic or acute lymphocytic leukemias (AML, CML, ALL). Significantly enhanced levels of fms-specific tyrosine kinase activity were detected in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced HL60 and in BeWo cells, and in 7 out of 24 samples from AML patients, whereas no activity could be detected in 9 ALL or in 25 CML cell preparations. The AML cells were classified according to the FAB criteria. The highest incidence of increased fms activity was found in cells assigned to the M4 class (four out of five cases). While no activity was found in material belonging to FAB classes M2 or M3, one of the two cases of the M5 class was kinase-positive. Interestingly, two out of seven cases of the M1 class cells exhibited enhanced levels of fms kinase. These data suggest that the determination of the fms kinase may be useful to subdivide the M1 class of the FAB classification into monocytic and non-monocytic precursor leukemia cells.

A point mutation in the extracellular domain of the human CSF-1 receptor (c-fms proto-oncogene product) activates its transforming potential

A human CSF-1 receptor containing an "activating" mutation in its extracellular domain (serine for leucine 301) induced morphologic transformation, anchorage-independent growth, and tumorigenicity in mouse NIH 3T3 cells. A second regulatory mutation within the receptor's intracytoplasmic carboxy-terminal tail (phenylalanine for tyrosine 969) augmented transforming efficiency but was itself insufficient to induce transformation. Like the v-fms oncogene product, receptors bearing the activating mutation retained high-affinity binding sites for CSF-1 but were retarded in transport to the cell surface and were phosphorylated on tyrosine in the absence of ligand. Although the activating mutation does not affect the CSF-1 binding site in the receptor extracellular domain, it must induce a conformational change that mimics the effect of ligand binding, resulting in CSF-1-independent signals for cell growth.

Colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (c-fms)

The macrophage colony-stimulating factor, CSF-1 (M-CSF), is a homodimeric glycoprotein required for the lineage-specific growth of cells of the mononuclear phagocyte series. Apart from its role in stimulating the proliferation of bone marrow-derived precursors of monocytes and macrophages, CSF-1 acts as a survival factor and primes mature macrophages to carry out differentiated functions. Each of the actions of CSF-1 are mediated through its binding to a single class of high-affinity receptors expressed on monocytes, macrophages, and their committed progenitors. The CSF-1 receptor (CSF-1R) is encoded by the c-fms proto-oncogene, and is one of a family of growth factor receptors that exhibits an intrinsic tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity. Transduction of c-fms sequences as a viral oncogene (v-fms) in the McDonough (SM) and HZ-5 strains of feline sarcoma virus has resulted in alterations in receptor coding sequences that affect its activity as a tyrosine kinase and provide persistent signals for cell growth in the absence of its ligand. The genetic alterations in the c-fms gene that unmask its latent transforming potential abrogate its lineage-specific activity and enable v-fms to transform a variety of cells that do not normally express CSF-1 receptors.