Polyamines are essential for cell transformation by pp60v-src: delineation of molecular events relevant for the transformed phenotype

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the key enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, becomes upregulated during cell proliferation and transformation. Here we show that intact ODC activity is needed for the acquisition of a transformed phenotype in rat 2R cells infected with a temperature-sensitive mutant of Rous sarcoma virus. Addition of the ODC inhibitor alpha-difluoromethyl ornithine (DFMO) to the cells (in polyamine-free medium) before shift to permissive temperature prevented the depolymerization of filamentous actin and morphological transformation. Polyamine supplementation restored the transforming potential of pp60v-src. DFMO did not interfere with the expression of pp60v-src or its in vitro tyrosine kinase activity. The tyrosine phosphorylation of most cellular proteins, including ras GAP, did not either display clear temperature- or DFMO-sensitive changes. A marked increase was, however, observed in the tyrosine phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and proteins of 33 and 36 kD upon the temperature shift, and these hyperphosphorylations were partially inhibited by DFMO. A DFMO-sensitive increase was also found in the total phosphorylation of calpactins I and II. The well-documented association of GAP with the phosphotyrosine-containing proteins p190 and p62 did not correlate with transformation, but a novel 42-kD tyrosine phosphorylated protein was complexed with GAP in a polyamine- and transformation-dependent manner. Further, tyrosine phosphorylated proteins of 130, 80/85, and 36 kD were found to coimmunoprecipitate with pp60v-src in a transformation-related manner. Altogether, this model offers a tool for sorting out the protein phosphorylations and associations critical for the transformed phenotype triggered by pp60v-src, and implicates a pivotal role for polyamines in cell transformation.     

trithorax and the regulation of homeotic gene expression in Drosophila: a historical perspective

To investigate whether interferons (IFNs) selectively suppress the growth of solid tumor cells with elevated protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity, we evaluated the effect of recombinant IFN-alpha2a and IFN-gamma on the proliferative and neoplastic potentials triggered by p60v-src using v-src-transformed HAG-1 human epithelial cells. When compared with control cells harboring the pSV2neo gene, the monolayer growth of v-src-transformed cell lines was inhibited by both recombinant IFNs, in a dose-dependent manner, whereas growth of ras-transfected cell lines was not affected. Moreover, IFNs markedly reduced the clonogenic growth of v-src-transformed cells in soft-agar rather than monolayer growth, suggesting the preferential activity of IFNs on anchorage-independent growth. Pretreatment of cells with Src or the Src-like PTK inhibitor herbimycin A or radicicol, alleviated dose-dependently the growth-inhibitory activity of IFN-alpha2a against v-src-transformed cells, suggesting that IFNs may share a common inhibitory pathway with Src PTK inhibitors. Accordingly, like herbimycin A, IFNs were found to reduce tyrosine phosphorylation of p60v-src and suppressed in vitro p60v-src kinase activity in v-src-transformed cells. Our data, together with the fact that IFNs inhibit the growth potential driven by Src but not by activated Ras, suggest that inhibition of signal transduction pathway through Src to downstream transduction events may be a primary mechanism of IFN-induced anti-prolifeative and anti-tumoral activity.     

Src homology 2 protein tyrosine phosphatase (SHPTP2)/Src homology 2 phosphatase 2 (SHP2) tyrosine phosphatase is a positive regulator of the interleukin 5 receptor signal transduction pathways leading to the prolongation of eosinophil survival

Interleukin-5 (IL-5) regulates the growth and function of eosinophils. It induces rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of Lyn and Jak2 tyrosine kinases. The role of tyrosine phosphatases in IL-5 signal transduction has not been investigated. In this study, we provide first evidence that SH2 protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHPTP2) phosphotyrosine phosphatase plays a key role in prevention of eosinophil death by IL-5. We found that IL-5 produced a rapid activation and tyrosine phosphorylation of SHPTP2 within 1 min. The tyrosine phosphorylated SHPTP2 was complexed with the adapter protein Grb2 in IL-5-stimulated eosinophils. Furthermore, SHPTP2 appeared to physically associate with beta common (betac) chain of the IL-5 receptor (IL-5betacR). The association of SHPTP2 with IL-5betacR was reconstituted using a synthetic phosphotyrosine-containing peptide, betac 605-624, encompassing tyrosine (Y)612. The binding to the phosphotyrosine-containing peptide increased the phosphatase activity of SHPTP2, whereas the same peptide with the phosphorylated Y612--> F mutation did not activate SHPTP2. Only SHPTP2 antisense oligonucleotides, but not sense SHPTP2, could inhibit tyrosine phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein kinase, and reverse the eosinophil survival advantage provided by IL-5. Therefore, we conclude that the physical association of SHPTP2 with the phosphorylated betac receptor and Grb2 and its early activation are required for the coupling of the receptor to the Ras signaling pathway and for prevention of eosinophil death by IL-5.     

Cell growth inhibition by a novel vitamin K is associated with induction of protein tyrosine phosphorylation

We have shown that a synthetic vitamin K analog, 2-(2-mercaptoethanol)-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone or compound 5 (Cpd 5), potently inhibits cell growth and suggested that the analog exerts its effects mainly via sulfhydryl arylation rather than redox cycling. Since protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases), which have pivotal roles in many cellular functions, have a critical cysteine in their active site, we have proposed PTPases as likely targets for Cpd 5. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effects of Cpd 5 on protein tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins and on the activity of PTPases. We found that Cpd 5 rapidly induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation in a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (Hep3B) at growth inhibitory doses, and the effect was blocked by thiols but not by non-thiol antioxidants or tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Cpd 5 inhibited PTPase activity, which was also significantly antagonized by reduced glutathione. Furthermore, the well studied PTPase inhibitor orthovanadate also induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation and growth inhibition in Hep3B cells. These results suggest that inhibition of cellular PTPases by sulfhydryl arylation and subsequent perturbation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation may be involved in the mechanisms of Cpd 5-induced cell growth inhibition.     

Tyrosine protein kinase inhibitors prevent activation of cardiac swelling-induced chloride current

The effect of tyrosine protein kinase inhibitors on the swelling-induced chloride current (ICl-swelling) of dog atrial myocytes was studied using the whole-cell patch-clamp recording technique. Currents were measured during hyperpolarizing voltage ramps with potassium currents blocked by cesium. Osmolarity was varied using mannitol. Exposure to hypotonic solution (approximately 249 mosmol/kg) activated ICl-swelling. Hypertonic solution (approximately 363 mosmol/kg) was used to shrink swollen cells and turn off ICl-swelling. In studies on the acute effect of tyrosine protein kinase inhibitors each cell was swollen three separate times. Control, treatment, and washout ICl-swelling were compared. Genistein (50-80 microM) prevented reactivation of ICl-swelling without affecting cell size. The effect of genistein partially subsided upon washout. The effect of genistein on ICl-swelling was not mimicked by 80 microM daidzein, a related compound that does not inhibit tyrosine protein kinases. When intracellular adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate (ATP[gamma S]) was used, genistein did not prevent the reactivation of ICl-swelling. Intracellular ATP[gamma S] did not result in a persistent activation of ICl-swelling when cell size was returned to control. Acute exposure to 1 microM herbimycin A or 100 microM tyrphostin 51 did not prohibit the activation of ICl-swelling. A 24-h exposure to 1 microM herbimycin A did inhibit ICl-swelling. The results provide important clues regarding the activation mechanism for ICl-swelling and suggest that a tyrosine protein phosphorylation may be necessary, but not sufficient, for activation of ICl-swelling.     

Lysophosphatidic acid-induced association of SHP-2 with SHPS-1: roles of RHO, FAK, and a SRC family kinase

SHPS-1 is an approximately 120 kDa glycosylated receptor like protein that contains three immunoglobulin-like domains in its extracellular region as well as four potential tyrosine phosphorylation and SRC homology 2 (SH2) domain binding sites in its cytoplasmic region. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) stimulated the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of SHPS-1 and its subsequent association with SHP-2, a protein tyrosine phosphatase containing SH2 domains in Rat-1 fibroblasts. LAP-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of SHPS-1 was inhibited by Clostridium botulinum C3 exoenzyme (which inactivates RHO) but not by pertussis toxin. The protein kinase C activator phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) also stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of SHPS-1; however, down-regulation of protein kinase C by prolonged exposure of cells to TPA did not affect LAP-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of SHPS-1. LPA-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of SHPS-1 was markedly reduced in either focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-deficient mouse cells or CHO cells overexpressing the tyrosine kinase CSK. Overexpression of a catalytically inactivate SHP-2 markedly inhibited MAP kinase activation in response to low concentrations of LPA in CHO cells, whereas overexpression of a wild-type SHPS-1 did enhance this effect of LPA. Furthermore, MAP kinase activation in response to a low concentration of LPA was inhibited by botulinum C3 exoenzyme. These results indicate that LPA-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of SHPS-1 and its association with SHP-2 may be mediated by a RHO-dependent pathway that includes FAK and a SRC family kinase. Thus, in addition to its role in receptor tyrosine kinase-mediated MAP kinase activation, the formation of a complex between SHPS-1 and SHP-2 may, in part, play an important role in the activation of MAP kinase in response to low concentrations of LPA.     

Protein kinase C modulation of insulin receptor substrate-1 tyrosine phosphorylation requires serine 612

Activation of the endogenous protein kinase Cs in human kidney fibroblast (293) cells was found in the present study to inhibit the subsequent ability of insulin to stimulate the tyrosine phosphorylation of an expressed insulin receptor substrate-1. This inhibition was also observed in an in vitro phosphorylation reaction if the insulin receptor and its substrate were both isolated from cells in which the protein kinase C had been activated. To test whether serine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor substrate-1 was contributing to this process, serine 612 of this molecule was changed to an alanine. The insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation and the associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity of the expressed mutant were found to be comparable to those of the expressed wild-type substrate. However, unlike the wild-type protein, activation of protein kinase C did not inhibit the insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the S612A mutant nor its subsequent association with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Tryptic peptide mapping of in vivo labeled IRS-1 and the S612A mutant revealed that PMA stimulates the phosphorylation of a peptide from wild-type IRS-1 that is absent from the tryptic peptide maps of the S612A mutant. Moreover, a synthetic peptide containing this phosphoserine and its nearby tyrosine was found to be phosphorylated by the insulin receptor to a much lower extent than the same peptide without the phosphoserine. Activation of protein kinase C was found to stimulate by 10-fold the ability of a cytosolic kinase to phosphorylate this synthetic peptide as well as the intact insulin receptor substrate-1. Finally, cytosolic extracts from the livers of ob/ob mice showed an 8-fold increase in a kinase activity capable of phosphorylating this synthetic peptide, compared to extracts of livers from lean litter mates. These results indicate that activation of protein kinase C stimulates a kinase which can phosphorylate insulin receptor substrate-1 at serine 612, resulting in an inhibition of insulin signaling in the cell, posing a potential mechanism for insulin resistance in some models of obesity.     

Tyrosine phosphorylation of the Kv1.3 potassium channel

Kv1.3, a voltage-dependent potassium channel cloned from mammalian brain and T lymphocytes, contains multiple tyrosine residues that are putative targets for tyrosine kinases. We have examined the tyrosine phosphorylation of Kv1.3, expressed transiently in human embryonic kidney (or HEK) 293 cells, by endogenous and coexpressed tyrosine kinases. Tyrosine phosphorylation is measured by a strategy of immunoprecipitation followed by. Western blot analysis, using antibodies that specifically recognize Kv1.3 and phosphotyrosine. Coexpression of the constitutively active tyrosine kinase v-src, together with Kv1.3, causes a large increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of the channel protein. This phosphorylation of Kv1.3 can be reversed by treatment with alkaline phosphatase before Western blot analysis. Coexpression with a receptor tyrosine kinase, the human epidermal growth factor receptor, also causes an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of Kv1.3. The effects of endogenous tyrosine kinases were examined by treating Kv1.3-transfected cells with the specific membrane-permeant tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor pervanadate. Pervanadate treatment causes a time- and concentration-dependent increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of Kv1.3. This increased tyrosine phosphorylation of Kv1.3 is accompanied by a time-dependent decrease in Kv1.3 current, measured by patch-clamp analysis with cell-attached membrane patches. The pervanadate-induced suppression of current and much of the channel tyrosine phosphorylation are eliminated by mutation of a specific tyrosine residue, at position 449 of Kv1.3, to phenylalanine. Thus, there is a continual phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of Kv1.3 by endogenous kinases and phosphatases, and perturbation of this constitutive phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cycle can profoundly influence channel activity.     

Inhibition of MAP kinase kinase blocks the differentiation of PC-12 cells induced by nerve growth factor

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) pathway is thought to play an important role in the actions of neurotrophins. A small molecule inhibitor of the upstream kinase activator of MAP kinase, MAP kinase kinase (MEK) was examined for its effect on the cellular action of nerve growth factor (NGF) in PC-12 pheochromocytoma cells. PD98059 selectively blocks the activity of MEK, inhibiting both the phosphorylation and activation of MAP kinases in vitro. Pretreatment of PC-12 cells with the compound completely blocked the 4-fold increase in MAP kinase activity produced by NGF. Half-maximal inhibition was observed at 2 microM PD98059, with maximal effects at 10-100 microM. The tyrosine phosphorylation of immunoprecipitated MAP kinase was also completely blocked by the compound. In contrast, the compound was without effect on NGF-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of the pp140trk receptor or its substrate Shc and did not block NGF-dependent activation of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase. However, PD98059 completely blocked NGF-induced neurite formation in these cells without altering cell viability. These data indicate that the MAP kinase pathway is absolutely required for NGF-induced neuronal differentiation in PC-12 cells.     

Involvement of protein kinases in the induction of NO synthase II in human DLD-1 cells

1. Protein phosphorylation is involved in the induction of nitric oxide synthase II (NOS II, iNOS) in several types of animal cells. Here we have investigated the possible involvement of major protein kinases in the induction of NOS II expression in human DLD-1 cells. 2. In DLD-1 cells, interferon--gamma alone induced a submaximal NOS II expression; a cytokine mixture consisting of interferon-gamma, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta produced maximal NOS II induction. 3. Activators of protein kinase A (forskolin, 8-dibutyryl-cyclic AMP), of protein kinase C (tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate), and of protein kinase G (8-bromo cyclic GMP) did not induce NOS II mRNA by themselves, nor did they alter NOS II mRNA induction in response to cytokines. 4. Inhibitors of protein kinase A (compound H89), of protein kinase C (bisindolylmaleimide, chelerythrine or staurosporine), of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (wortmannin), of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (compound SB 203580) and of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (compound PD 98059) also had no influence on basal or cytokine-induced NOS II mRNA expression. 5. Immunoprecipitation kinase assays showed no activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in cytokine-incubated DLD-1 cells. The c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase was activated by cytokines, but the most efficacious cytokine was tumour necrosis factor-alpha which did not induce NOS II by itself. 6. In contrast, the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin B42 (a specific inhibitor of interferon-gamma-activated janus kinase 2) and the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin A25 both reduced CM-induced NOS II mRNA expression in a concentration-dependent manner. 7. These results suggest that activation of NOS II expression in DLD-1 cells is independent of the activities of protein kinases A, C and G, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, extracellular signal regulated kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, but seems to require protein tyrosine kinase activity, especially the interferon-gamma-activated janus kinase 2.     

Effects of an antiallergic drug, pemirolast potassium on tyrosine phosphorylation and map kinase activation in antigen-stimulated rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells

Aggregation of high affinity IgE Fc receptors (Fc epsilon RI) on RBL-2H3 cells results in tyrosine phosphorylation of 33-, 42-, 44-, 72-, 80-, 90-, 125-kDa proteins. The 42 and 44 kDa proteins were identified as mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases with immunoblotting of anti-MAP kinase antibody. The effects of an antiallergic drug, pemirolast potassium (TBX) on Ag-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation and MAP kinase activation were investigated. When RBL-2H3 cells were stimulated with Ag in the presence of TBX, tyrosine phosphorylation of three proteins (33, 42 and 44 kDa) was inhibited concentration-dependently (0.1-10 micrograms/ml). Inhibition of Ag-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of 33 kDa protein, which could be a beta subunit of Fc epsilon RI, suggests that TBX may prevent the activation of Fc epsilon RI. TBX suppressed activation of MAP kinases (42 and 44 kDa) in response to Ag as well as phorbol myristate acetate (100 nM) or calcium ionophore A23187 (500 nM), implying that the drug acts on signal transduction component(s) between the second messengers and MAP kinases. However, TBX had no effects on protein tyrosine phosphorylation and MAP kinase activation in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells. These results indicate that TBX may affect Fc epsilon RI and also may act as a step distal of Ca2+ mobilization and protein kinase C activation leading to MAP kinase activation in RBL-2H3 cells.     

Involvement of tyrosine phosphorylation and protein kinase C in the activation of phospholipase D by H2O2 in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts

We have investigated the mechanisms involved in H2O2-mediated phospholipase D (PLD) activation in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. In the presence of vanadate, H2O2 induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PLD as well as the platelet-derived growth (PDGF) factor receptor, protein kinase Calpha (PKCalpha), and a 62-kDa protein in rat brain PLD1 (rPLD1) immune complexes. PDGF also induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PLD, but this was abolished by catalase, indicating that it was mediated by H2O2 generation. Interestingly, PLD was found to be constitutively associated with the PDGF receptor and PKCalpha. Stimulation by H2O2 showed a concentration- and time-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of the proteins in rPLD1 immunoprecipitates and activation of PLD in the cells. Pretreatment of the cells with the protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and herbimycin A resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of H2O2-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and PLD activation. Activation of PLD by H2O2 was also inhibited dose-dependently by the PKC inhibitors Ro 31-8220 and calphostin C. Down-regulation of PKC by prolonged treatment with 4beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate also abolished H2O2-stimulated PLD activity. H2O2 or vanadate alone did not induce tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins in the rPLD1 immune complex or PLD activation. Reduction of intracellular H2O2 levels by pretreatment of the cells with catalase dramatically abrogated tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins in the rPLD1 immune complex and PLD activation, suggesting the potential role of intracellular H2O2 in H2O2-mediated PLD signaling. Taken together, these results suggest that both protein-tyrosine kinase(s) and protein kinase C participate in H2O2-induced PLD activation in Swiss 3T3 cells.     

Hydrogen peroxide-induced phospholipase D activation in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells: possible involvement of Ca2+-dependent protein tyrosine kinase

The mechanism for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced phospholipase D (PLD) activation was investigated in [3H]palmitic acid-labeled PC12 cells. In the presence of butanol, H2O2 caused a great accumulation of [3H]phosphatidylbutanol in a concentration- or time-dependent manner. However, treatment with H2O2 of cell lysates exerted no effect on PLD activity. Treatment with H2O2 had only a marginal effect on phospholipase C (PLC) activation. A protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, Ro 31-8220, did not inhibit but rather slightly enhanced H2O2-induced PLD activity. Thus, H2O2-induced PLD activation is considered to be independent of the PLC-PKC pathway in PC12 cells. In contrast, pretreatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A, genistein, or ST638 resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of H2O2-induced PLD activation. Western blot analysis revealed several apparent tyrosine-phosphorylated protein bands after the H2O2 treatment and tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins was inhibited by these tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Moreover, depletion of extracellular Ca2+ abolished H2O2-induced PLD activation and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Extracellular Ca2+ potentiated H2O2-induced PLD activation in a concentration-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that a certain Ca2+-dependent protein tyrosine kinase(s) somehow participates in H2O2-induced PLD activation in PC12 cells.     

Effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on tyrosine phosphorylations and the insulin-like effects in response to human growth hormone in isolated rat adipocytes

Recent data suggest involvement of the Janus tyrosine kinase-2 (JAK2) in human GH-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the GH receptor and the insulin receptor substrates 1 and 2 (IRS-1 and IRS-2), leading to activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and the acute insulin-like effects in primary rat adipocytes. To investigate the functional role of this kinase, we screened a number of tyrosine kinase inhibitors for their ability to inhibit three rapid effects of GH on primary adipocytes: increased lipogenesis, inhibition of noradrenaline-induced lipolysis, and promotion of JAK2 tyrosine phosphorylation. Only staurosporine was found to inhibit all three effects. The inhibition of lipogenesis and antilipolysis exhibited the same staurosporine dose dependency (IC50, approximately 40 nM) as inhibition of JAK2 and IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation as well as binding of the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase to IRS-1 and IRS-2. The unidentified cytosolic tyrosine-phosphorylated protein pp95, in contrast, was not affected, suggesting that it is not phosphorylated primarily by JAK2. Protein kinase C does not seem to be directly involved in the insulin-like effects, because the selective protein kinase C inhibitor calphostin C had no effect at levels up to 100 nM above which unspecific cellular effects occurred. Methyl-2,5-dihydroxy cinnamate inhibited GH-induced lipogenesis from [3-3H]glucose and nonstimulated lipogenesis from [2-14C]-pyruvate and [3H]acetate, but was without effect on GH-induced 2-deoxy-D-[1-3H]glucose uptake, JAK2 phosphorylation and antilipolysis, suggesting unspecific effects on mitochondrial metabolism rather than a direct effect on the GH-mediated signal. Tyrphostin 25 and herbimycin A had no effect on any of the parameters studied, except for a slight increase in JAK2 phosphorylation in response to tyrphostin 25. In summary, these data support the role for JAK2 in mediating the insulin-like effects of GH in adipocytes.     

Pervanadate stimulates amylase release and protein tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin and p125(FAK) in differentiated AR4-2J pancreatic acinar cells

We have studied the role of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in amylase secretion from differentiated AR4-2J cells. The secretagogue bombesin, the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), and the protein-tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor pervanadate induced tyrosine phosphorylation of different proteins, including paxillin and p125(FAK), which was reduced or blocked by the tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and tyrphostin B56, respectively. Both PMA and pervanadate continuously increased amylase secretion with a similar time course, reaching the level of bombesin-induced amylase release after 60 min. Their effects were not additive and could be inhibited by preincubation of AR4-2J cells with genistein or tyrphostin B56, respectively. Inhibition of protein kinase C with Ro 31-8220 nearly abolished the effects of PMA, but had no effect on either pervanadate-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation or amylase secretion. An increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration by thapsigargin or A23187 caused a rapid increase in amylase release within the initial 5 min. In the presence of PMA or pervanadate, amylase secretion was further stimulated to levels comparable to those induced by bombesin after 30 min of stimulation. Inhibition of PMA-induced amylase secretion by Ro 31-8220 was less at elevated cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations than without Ca2+. Furthermore, an increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration had no effect on protein tyrosine phosphorylation in either the absence or presence of PMA or pervanadate. We therefore conclude that in the cascade of events that lead to bombesin-induced protein secretion from AR4-2J cells, protein tyrosine phosphorylation occurs downstream of protein kinase C activation. A further step in secretion that is Ca2+-dependent occurs distal to protein tyrosine phosphorylation.     

Early effects of pp60(v-src) kinase activation on caveolae

Members of the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase family appear to be targeted to caveolae membrane. We have used a Rat-1 cell expressing a temperature sensitive pp60(v-src) kinase to assess the initial changes that take place in caveolae after kinase activation. Within 24-48 h after cells were shifted to the permissive temperature, a set of caveolae-specific proteins became phosphorylated on tyrosine. During this period there was a decline in the caveolae marker protein, caveolin-1, a loss of invaginated caveolae, and a 70% decline in the sphingomyelin content of the cell. One of the phosphorylated proteins was caveolin-1 but it was associated in coimmunoprecipitation assays with both a 30 kDa and a 27 kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated protein. Finally, the cells changed from having a typical fibroblast morphology to a rounded shape lacking polarity. In light of the recent evidence that diverse signaling events originate from caveolae, pp60(v-src) kinase appears to cause global changes to this membrane domain that might directly contribute to the transformed phenotype.     

Differential regulation of insulin receptor substrate-2 and mitogen-activated protein kinase tyrosine phosphorylation by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a potent neurotropic factor promoting the differentiation and survival of neuronal cells. SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells are a well characterized in vitro model of nervous system growth. We report here that IGF-I stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of the type I IGF receptor (IGF-IR) and insulin receptor substrate-2 (IRS-2) in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. These cells lacked IRS-1. After being tyrosine phosphorylated, IRS-2 associated transiently with downstream signaling molecules, including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) and Grb2. Treatment of the cells with PI 3-K inhibitors (wortmannin and LY294002) increased IGF-I-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-2. We also observed a concomitant increase in the mobility of IRS-2, suggesting that PI 3-K mediates or is required for IRS-2 serine/threonine phosphorylation, and that this phosphorylation inhibits IRS-2 tyrosine phosphorylation. Treatment with PI 3-K inhibitors induced an increased association of IRS-2 with Grb2, probably as a result of the increased IRS-2 tyrosine phosphorylation. However, even though the PI 3-K inhibitors enhanced the association of Grb2 with IRS-2, these compounds suppressed IGF-I-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and neurite outgrowth. Together, these results indicate that although PI 3-K participates in a negative regulation of IRS-2 tyrosine phosphorylation, its activity is required for IGF-IR-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and neurite outgrowth.     

EGF-Receptor phosphorylation and signaling are targeted by H2O2 redox stress

Inflammation of the respiratory tract is associated with the production of reactive oxygen species, such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2-), which contribute extensively to lung injury in diseases of the respiratory tract. The mechanisms and target molecules of these oxidants are mainly unknown but may involve modifications of growth-factor receptors. We have shown that H2O2 induces epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptor tyrosine phosphorylation in intact cells as well as in membranes of A549 lung epithelial cells. On the whole, total phosphorylation of the EGF receptor induced by H2O2 was lower than that induced by the ligand EGF. Phosphorylation was confined to tyrosine residues and was inhibited by addition of genistein, indicating that it was due to the activation of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK). Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed that although the ligand, EGF, enhanced the phosphorylation of serine, threonine, and tyrosine residues, H2O2 preferentially enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor. Serine and threonine phosphorylation did not occur, and the turnover rate of the EGF receptor was slower after H2O2 exposure. Selective H2O2-mediated phosphorylation of tyrosine residues on the EGF receptor was sufficient to activate phosphorylation of an SH2-group-bearing substrate, phospholipase C-gamma (PLC-gamma), but did not increase mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activity. Moreover, H2O2 exposure decreased protein kinase C (PKC)-alpha activity by causing translocation of PKC-alpha from the membrane to the cytoplasm. These studies provide novel insights into the capacity of a reactive oxidant, such as H2O2, to modulate EGF-receptor function and its downstream signaling. The H2O2-induced increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor, and the receptor's slower rate of turnover and altered downstream phosphorylation signals may represent a mechanism by which EGF-receptor signaling can be modulated during inflammatory processes, thereby affecting cell proliferation and thus having implications in wound repair or tumor formation.     

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) modulation of feline sarcoma virus fms tyrosine kinase activity, internalization, degradation, and transforming potential in an EGF receptor/v-fms chimera

The feline sarcoma virus oncogene v-fms has significantly contributed to the dissection of peptide growth factor action since it encodes the transmembrane tyrosine kinase gp140v-fms, a transforming version of colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor, a member of the growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase family. In this study, the functional significance of structural differences between distinct tyrosine kinase types, in particular between cellular receptors and viral transforming proteins of distinct structural types, has been further investigated, and their functional compatibility has been addressed. For this purpose, major functional domains of three structurally distinct tyrosine kinases were combined into two chimeric receptors. The cytoplasmic gp140v-fms kinase domain and the kinase domain of Rous sarcoma virus pp60v-src were each fused to the extracellular ligand-binding domain of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor to create chimeras EFR and ESR, respectively, which were studied upon stable expression in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Both chimeras were faithfully synthesized and routed to the cell surface, where they displayed EGF-specific, low-affinity ligand-binding domains in contrast to the high- and low-affinity EGF-binding sites of normal EGF receptors. While the EFR kinase was EGF controlled for autophosphorylation and substrate phosphorylation in vitro, in vivo, and in digitonin-treated cells, the ESR kinase was not responsive to EGF. While ESR appeared to recycle to the cell surface upon endocytosis, EGF induced efficient EFR internalization and degradation, and phorbol esters stimulated protein kinase C-mediated downmodulation of EFR. Despite its ligand-inducible kinase activity, EFR was partly EGF independent in mediating mitogenesis and cell transformation, while ESR appeared biologically inactive.