Dynamic Analysis of the Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) Receptor-ErbB2-ErbB3 Protein Network by Luciferase Fragment Complementation Imaging

ErbB3 is a member of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases. It is unique because it is the only member of the family whose kinase domain is defective. As a result, it is obliged to form heterodimers with other ErbB receptors to signal. In this study, we characterized the interaction of ErbB3 with the EGF receptor and ErbB2 and assessed the effects of Food and Drug Administration-approved therapeutic agents on these interactions. Our findings support the concept that ErbB3 exists in preformed clusters that can be dissociated by NRG-1β and that it interacts with other ErbB receptors in a distinctly hierarchical fashion. Our study also shows that all pairings of the EGF receptor, ErbB2, and ErbB3 form ligand-independent dimers/oligomers. The small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors erlotinib and lapatinib differentially enhance the dimerization of the various ErbB receptor pairings, with the EGFR/ErbB3 heterodimer being particularly sensitive to the effects of erlotinib. The data suggest that the physiological effects of these drugs may involve not only inhibition of tyrosine kinase activity but also a dynamic restructuring of the entire network of receptors.     

Sarcoma growth factor (SGF): specific binding to epidermal growth factor (EGF) membrane receptors

Cells transformed by murine sarcoma viruses (MSV) produce and release into their tissue culture media several polypeptide growth stimulating factors. One of these has been partially purified using Bio-Gel P-60 column chromatography followed by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. This growth factor was assigned the name sarcoma growth factor (SGF), and is here shown to require the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in order to function as a growth factor. DEAE-cellulose chromatography yielded a product that was several-fold purer than the material present in the Bio-Gel P-60 column pool II. The biologically active material from the DEAE-cellulose column, when labeled with 125I, showed specific binding to EGF membrane receptors. The specific binding could be prevented with the addition of either unlabeled EGF or SGF. Both radiolabeled SGF and EGF will bind to live or fixed cells. We were able to bind 125I-SGF as well as 125I-EGF to fixed cells and elute the bound material from fixed receptors. The eluted SGF showed a greater than 25-fold increase in specific binding. The biological activities of EGF and SGF could be bound to and eluted from fixed receptors. The eluted SGF showed a greater than 25-fold increase in specific binding. The biological activities of EGF and SGF could be bound to and eluted from fixed cells. A 3T3 clone lacking EGF receptors was unable to respond to either EGF or SGF, whereas it responded well to serum and several other purified growth factors. The SGF isolated using DEAE-cellulose chromatography was unable to compete in a radioimmune assay using 125I-EGF and antibody to purified mouse submaxillary gland EGF; it also was not precipitated by anti-EGF antibody. From these studies it appears that the SGF produced and released by these MSV-transformed cells combines with and requires the EGF receptor in order to exert its biological effects. The peptide, however, is antigenically distinct from mouse submaxillary gland EGF.     

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor density controls mitogenic activation of normal rat kidney (NRK) cells by EGF

Normal rat kidney (NRK) fibroblasts are immortalized cells that are strictly dependent on externally added growth factors for proliferation. When cultured in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) as the only growth stimulating hormone, these cells have a normal phenotype and undergo density-dependent growth inhibition. It has been postulated that this density-arrest results from a decrease of EGF receptor levels below a threshold level which makes these cells unresponsive to stimulation by EGF. In the present study, we show that NRK cells, made quiescent by serum-deprivation at submaximum density, are mitogenically still responsive to EGF, but show enhanced mitogenic stimulation after 8 hr pre-treatment with either transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) or retinoic acid (RA), while prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) and bradykinin (BK) enhance the mitogenic stimulation by EGF only slightly under these conditions. Addition of TGFβ or RA results in an increase of both ¹²⁵I-EGF-binding capacity and EGF receptor mRNA levels. Using flow cytometric analysis, we show that pre-treatment with TGFβ or RA increases the percentage of cells entering the cell cycle as a function of time. Furthermore, pre-treatment of the cells with TGFβ or RA increases the rate of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation by EGF. PGF_2α and BK also increase EGF receptor levels, but only with delayed kinetics. These results show that already in serum-deprived quiescent NRK cells, EGF receptor levels limit EGF-induced mitogenic stimulation. This observation provides further evidence for the regulating role of the EGF receptor in density-dependent growth control of NRK cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 174:9–17, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Dimerization of internalized epidermal growth factor receptors.

Binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to cell surface EGF receptors initiates the formation of the receptor homodimers that can be detected by covalent cross-linking in intact cells or in detergent-solubilized cell extracts. Low pH dissociation of EGF from surface receptors results in immediate monomerization of receptor dimers. Using chemical cross-linking during mild permeabilization or cell solubilization, we have detected dimers of internalized EGF receptors in human carcinoma A-431 cells and transfected NIH 3T3 cells that express human EGF receptors. The percentage of internalized cross-linked receptor dimers was similar to that observed for surface EGF receptors. Furthermore, at the time of maximal accumulation of EGF-receptor complexes within the endosomal compartment (10-15 min of incubation at 37 degrees C), both the dimeric and monomeric forms of the EGF receptor are tyrosine-phosphorylated to the same extent as surface dimer and monomer species. In transfected NIH 3T3 cells, the level of dimerized and internalized kinase-negative EGF receptors was not different from that observed for wild-type receptors. These data suggest that for some time after internalization EGF does not dissociate from its receptor and indicate that a receptor conformation is preserved intracellularly that allows maintenance of receptor-receptor interactions and tyrosine kinase activity.     

Correlation of receptors for growth factors on mouse embryonal carcinoma cells with growth in serum-free, hormone-supplemented medium

High affinity receptors for insulin, transferrin, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and a multiplication-stimulating activity (MSA) have been identified and partially characterized on a mouse embryonal carcinoma cell line, OTT-6050, using various ¹²⁵I-ligands. With the exception of MSA receptors which bound both MSA and insulin, the receptors for EGF, insulin and transferrin exhibited specificity of binding for their respective ligands. There is a correlation between the saturation of these receptors and the concentration of growth factors necessary for optimal growth of OTT-6050 cells in serum-free medium supplemented with insulin (or MSA), transferrin, EGF, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and Pedersen fetuin on culture surfaces treated with polylysine or various types of collagen. Cells cultured in this medium exhibit growth rates equivalent to that observed with cells maintained in medium containing 5% fetal calf serum (FCS). These results suggest that relatively undifferentiated mouse embryonal carcinoma cells or endoderm cells possess receptors for various growth factors and that their presence on these cells is correlated with the ability of these cells to mitogenically respond to these growth factors.     

A dominant negative mutation suppresses the function of normal epidermal growth factor receptors by heterodimerization.

Recent studies provide evidence that defective receptors can function as a dominant negative mutation suppressing the action of wild-type receptors. This causes various diminished responses in cell culture and developmental disorders in murine embryogenesis. Here, we describe a model system and a potential mechanism underlying the dominant suppressing response caused by defective epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors. We used cultured 3T3 cells coexpressing human wild-type receptors and an inactive deletion mutant lacking most of the cytoplasmic domain. When expressed alone, EGF was able to stimulate the dimerization of either wild-type or mutant receptors in living cells as revealed by chemical covalent cross-linking experiments. In response to EGF, heterodimers and homodimers of wild-type and mutant receptors were observed in cells coexpressing both receptor species. However, only homodimers of wild-type EGF receptors underwent EGF-induced tyrosine autophosphorylation in living cells. These results indicate that the integrity of both receptor moieties within receptor dimers is essential for kinase activation and autophosphorylation. Moreover, the presence of mutant receptors in cells expressing wild-type receptors diminished the number of high-affinity binding sites for EGF, reduced the rate of receptor endocytosis and degradation, and diminished biological signalling via EGF receptors. We propose that heterodimerization with defective EGF receptors functions as a dominant negative mutation suppressing the activation and response of normal receptors by formation of unproductive heterodimers.     

Preparation and characterization of Alexa Fluor 594-labeled epidermal growth factor for fluorescence resonance energy transfer studies: application to the epidermal growth factor receptor

We have prepared and characterized a new fluorescent derivative of murine epidermal growth factor (EGF), Alexa Fluor 594-labeled EGF (A-EGF), for fluorescence studies of EGF-EGF receptor interactions. We describe the synthesis of this derivative and its physical and biological characterization. The significant overlap between the excitation and the emission spectra of A-EGF makes this probe well suited to fluorescence resonance energy homo-transfer. Using time-resolved fluorescence to examine the oligomeric state of the EGF receptor, we have observed resonance energy homo-transfer of A-EGF bound to EGF receptors in cells, but not of A-EGF bound to EGF receptors in membrane vesicles. Our results, interpreted in the context of recent crystallographic studies of the ligand-binding domains of EGF receptors, suggest that observed fluorescence resonance energy transfer does not result from transfer within receptor dimers, but rather results from transfer within higher-order oligomers. Furthermore, our results support a structural model for oligomerization of EGF receptors in which dimers are positioned head-to-head with respect to the ligand-binding site, consistent with the head-to-head interactions observed between adjacent receptor dimers by X-ray crystallography.     

High-yield trapping of EGF-induced receptor dimers by chemical cross-linking

The binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to its plasma membrane receptor results in the stimulation of a tyrosyl residue-specific protein kinase, which has been shown to be part of the receptor. The mechanism by which EGF binding give rise to the stimulation of kinase activity is not understood in detail; however, a number of recent studies have implicated receptor dimerization or oligomerization in this process. We prepared Triton X-100 extracts of A431 cells in which the concentration of EGF receptors was on the order of 10(-7) M. When samples of the extracts were incubated with or without EGF and then treated with the high-yield cross-linking reagent bis(sulfosuccinimidyl)suberate (BS3), covalent receptor dimers could be detected in high yield in samples that had been treated with both EGF and BS3, whereas only monomeric receptor was detected in untreated samples or in samples that had been treated with either EGF or BS3. The yield of receptor dimers trapped by cross-linking correlated with the stimulation of autophosphorylation by EGF and with the concentration of EGF present. EGF-induced receptor dimers were also efficiently cross-linked in highly purified receptor preparations, suggesting that EGF-induced dimerization is a process intrinsic to the receptor, requiring no additional accessory proteins.     

cAMP-mediated modulation of signal transduction of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor systems in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. Depression of EGF-dependent diacylglycerol production and EGF receptor phosphorylation.

While a cAMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A) has been suggested to phosphorylate epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in vitro, both intrinsic and EGF- or potent phorbol tumor promoter-induced phosphorylation of EGF receptor were found to be depressed in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells by prior incubation of the cells with various protein kinase A activators (e.g. cholera toxin, forskolin, cAMP analogues, or a combination of prostaglandin E1 and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine). Protein kinase A activators did not change significantly either the number of EGF receptors or their affinity for EGF. The tryptic phosphopeptide map of EGF receptors from cells treated with cholera toxin alone or cholera toxin followed by EGF revealed unique peptides whose serine phosphorylation was preferentially depressed. However, the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A phosphorylated no threonine and little serine in the EGF receptors in the plasma membranes of isolated A431 cells in vitro, while serine residues in an unidentified 170-kDa membrane protein(s) other than EGF receptor were heavily phosphorylated. Pretreatment of the cells with forskolin blocked 1,2-diacylglycerol induction by EGF; growth inhibition by nanomolar levels of EGF could be partially restored by the presence of forskolin. These results indicate that an increase in intracellular cAMP modulates the EGF receptor signal transduction system by reducing EGF-induced production of diacylglycerol without direct phosphorylation of EGF receptors by protein kinase A in A431 cells.     

Density-induced down regulation of epidermal growth factor receptors

Summary Previous studies have shown that cell density can regulate the binding of several growth factors. To determine whether cell density exerts a uniform effect on the expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors, seven cell lines were examined in detail. For each cell line, EGF binding was found to decrease as cell density increases. Scatchard analysis of the binding data reveals that decreases in EGF binding are due to reductions in the number of cell surface EGF receptors. The only apparent exception is the effect of cell density on the binding of EGF to A-431 cells. For these cells, increases in cell density lead to two effects: decreases in the number of high affinity EGF receptors and increases in the total number of EGF receptors. In addition to the effects of cell density on EGF receptors, it was determined that increases in cell density can coordinately down-regulate receptors for as many as four different growth factors. Overall, the findings described in this report for EGF and those previously described for transforming growth factor type-β (TGF-β) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) demonstrate the existence of a common mechanism for down-regulating growth factor receptors. This work was supported by grants from the Nebraska Department of Health (89-51), the National Cancer Institute (Laboratory Research Center Support Grant, CA36727), and the American Cancer Society (Core Grant ACS SIG-16). EDITOR'S STATEMENT The paper by Rizzino et al. demonstrates that receptor number decreases as a function of cell density. This may represent a mechanism by which cell proliferation is reduced as cell density increases.     

The release of transforming growth factors by cells resistant to ethidium bromide and growing on a serum-free medium

350sf and 625sf cells growing in serum free medium secrete transforming growth factors (TGFs) that induce NIH 3T3 indicator cells to form colonies in soft agar. The addition of 2 ng/ml of EGF increases twice the number of colonies of NIH 3T3 indicator cells. The TGFs secreted by 350sf and 625 sf cells do not compete with 125I EGF for binding to EGF receptors on human A-431 cells. The number of EGF receptors on 350 sf and 625 sf and 625 sf cells continuously grown in serum-free medium do not differ from that of EGF receptors on parental Lebr-350 and Lebr-625 cells continuously grown in the presence of 10% serum. These results suggest that TGFs produced by 350 sf and 625 sf cells are not alpha TGF. It is possible that cells secrete beta TGFs of yet unknown type.     

Protein kinase C inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine protein kinase activity is independent of the oligomeric state of the receptor

Treatment of A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells with 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) causes an inhibition of the high affinity binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to cell surface receptors and an inhibition of the EGF receptor tyrosine protein kinase activity. The hypothesis that PMA controls EGF receptor function by regulating the oligomeric state of the receptor was tested. Dimeric EGF receptors bound to 125I-EGF were identified by covalent cross-linking analysis using disuccinimidyl suberimidate. Treatment of cells with PMA in the presence of 20 nM 125I-EGF caused no significant change in the level of labeled cross-linked monomeric and dimeric receptor species. Investigation of the in vitro autophosphorylation of receptor monomers and dimers cross-linked with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide demonstrated that the treatment of cells with PMA caused an inhibition of the tyrosine phosphorylation of both monomeric and dimeric EGF receptors. We conclude that the inhibition of the EGF receptor tyrosine protein kinase activity caused by PMA is not associated with the regulation of the oligomeric state of the EGF receptor.     

Epidermal Growth Factor Induces Internalization But Not Degradation of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in a Human Breast Cancer Cell Line

Abstract

Metabolism of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor was studied in the MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell line. As in normal fibroblasts the EGF receptor from MDA-MB-231 cells was synthesized from a M_r =160,000 precursor and tunicamycin treatment of cells resulted in accumulation of a M_r =130,000 polypeptide. Unlike normal fibroblasts in which a M_r =170,000 mature form of the EGF receptor was found, MDA-MB-231 cells contained a M_r =172,000 mature form. Addition of EGF to MDA-MB-231 cells led to rapid internalization of EGF receptors, however, internalization did not affect receptor half-life and receptors did not recycle to the cell surface. EGF receptors could be visualized by immunofluorescence and remained sequestered in intracellular membranous structures following internalization. EGF was degraded slowly by MDA-MB-231 cells relative to degradation of EGF by normal cells. A high endogenous level of in vivo phosphorylation of threonine 654 of the EGF receptor was found in MDA-MB-231 cells and treatment of cells with 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) further stimulated phosphorylation of this residue. EGF induced receptor internalization resulted in dephosphorylation of threonine 654. The significance of these unusual properties of EGF receptor metabolism in MDA-MB-231 cells is discussed.     

Growth factors and tooth development

The effects of various growth factors on tooth development were studied in organ cultures of mouse embryonic tooth germs. Transferrin was shown to be a necessary growth factor for early tooth morphogenesis. Transferrin was required for the development of bud- and early cap-staged teeth, and it was shown to be the only serum protein that was needed by early cap-staged teeth in organ culture. Promotion of tooth morphogenesis and dental cell differentiation was shown to be based on the stimulation of cell proliferation. The roles of polypeptide growth factors in tooth development were studied by adding these factors to the transferrin-containing chemically-defined culture medium which supports early tooth morphogenesis and cell differentiation. Fibroblast growth factor or platelet-derived growth factor did not affect cell proliferation or morphogenesis of tooth germs in culture. On the contrary, epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulated cell proliferation in tooth explants, but at the same time inhibited tooth morphogenesis and dental cell differentiation. Autoradiographic localization of proliferating cells revealed that dental tissues responded to EGF with different proliferation rates. The responsiveness to EGF was stage-dependent, early cap-staged teeth were sensitive to EGF but late cap-staged and bell-staged teeth developed normally in the presence of EGF in the culture medium. The presence and distribution of receptors for both transferrin and EGF were studied in mouse embryonic teeth at various developmental stages by incubating freshly-separated tooth germs with 125Iodine-labeled transferrin or EGF, and then processing the tissues for autoradiography.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

EGF and its related growth factors mediate sodium transport in mpkCCDc14 cells via ErbB2 (neu/HER‐2) receptor

Amiloride‐sensitive sodium entry, via the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), is the rate‐limiting step for Na⁺ absorption. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is involved in the regulation of Na⁺ transport and ENaC activity. However it is still controversial exactly how EGF regulates ENaC and Na⁺ absorption. The aim of the present study was to characterize the EGF regulation of Na⁺ transport in cultured mouse renal collecting duct principal mpkCCD_c14 cells, a highly differentiated cell line which retains many characteristics of the cortical collecting duct (CCD). EGF dose dependently regulates basal transepithelial Na⁺ transport in two phases: an acute phase (<4 h) and a chronic phase (>8 h). Similar effects were observed with TGF‐α, HB‐EGF, and amphiregulin which also belong to the EGF‐related peptide growth factor family. Inhibition of MEK1/2 by PD98059 or U0126 increased acute effects and disrupted chronic effects of EGF on Na⁺ reabsorption. Inhibition of PI3‐kinase with LY294002 abolished acute effect of EGF. As assessed by Western blotting, ErbB2 is the most predominant member of the ErbB family detected in mpkCCD_c14 cells. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed localization of ErbB2 in the CCD in Sprague–Dawley rat kidneys. Both acute and long‐term effects of EGF were abolished when cells were treated with tyrphostin AG‐825 and ErbB2 inhibitor II, chemically dissimilar selective inhibitors of the ErbB2 receptor. Thus, we conclude that EGF and its related growth factors are important for maintaining transepithelial Na⁺ transport and that EGF biphasically modulates sodium transport in mpkCCD_c14 cells via the ErbB2 receptor. J. Cell. Physiol. 223: 252–259, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Mutation of proline-1003 to glycine in the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor enhances responsiveness to EGF.

We have shown previously that the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is phosphorylated at Ser-1002 and that this phosphorylation is associated with desensitization of the EGF receptor. Ser-1002 is followed immediately by Pro-1003, a residue that may promote the adoption of a specific conformation at this site or severe as a recognition element for the interaction of the EGF receptor with other proteins. To examine these possibilities, we have mutated Pro-1003 of the EGF receptor to a Gly residue and have analyzed the effect of this mutation on EGF-stimulated signaling. Cells expressing the P1003G EGF receptors exhibited higher EGF-stimulated autophosphorylation and synthetic peptide phosphorylation compared to cells expressing wild-type EGF receptors. In addition, the ability of EGF to stimulate PI 3-kinase activity and mitogen-activated protein kinase activity was enhanced in cells expressing the P1003G EGF receptor. Cells expressing P1003G receptors also demonstrated an increased ability to form colonies in soft agar in response to EGF. These results indicate that mutation of Pro-1003 leads to a potentiation of the biological effects of EGF. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that Pro-1003 plays a role in a form of regulation that normally suppresses EGF receptor function.     

Characteristics of specific binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on human tumor cell lines

Using seventeen human tumor cell lines derived from a variety of tissues, specific binding sites for epidermal growth factor (EGF), a mouse submandibular gland-derived growth factor, has been characterized. A significant amount of membrane-bound EGF receptors, although considerably varied, was demonstrated in all the tumor cell lines studied. Epidermoid carcinoma appeared to have more EGF receptors than adenocarcinoma. One small cell carcinoma of the lung, one choriocarcinoma of the stomach and three bone tumors also possessed EGF receptors comparable to those of epidermoid carcinoma, while one adenoacanthoma of the stomach had less EGF receptors comparable to adenocarcinoma. Among a variety of phorbol esters tested, tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate, a potent tumor promotor, was shown to be the most effective compound in inhibiting 125I-labeled EGF binding to its receptors. Our results indicate that human tumor cells contain varying amounts of membrane-bound receptors for EGF and that phorbol esters interact with these EGF receptor sites. However, the relationship between EGF receptor sites on tumor cells and cellular proliferation and/or differentiation awaits further study.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the epidermal growth factor receptor

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor was developed using three different antibody preparations, one of which is commercially available. Using one of the antisera (986), the assay could detect as few as 200 × 10⁶ receptors. This is equal to 0.332 fmol. This sensitivity means that a minimum of 100 A-431 cells (human carcinoma) or 5,000 normal cells are needed to quantitate the number of EGF receptors. Two of the antisera (986 and 451) recognized EGF receptors from placental tissue. EGF receptors from as little as 667 ng of placental membrane protein were detectable. The assay is highly species specific, with the sensitivity for the EGF receptor from different species dependent on the antiserum used. The commercial antibody, 29.1, had especially strong reactivity against pig and dog EGF receptors. An ELISA using this antibody had the capacity to detect the number of EGF receptors in 10 μg of liver membrane protein. The assay is sensitive to receptor conformation. The binding of antisera 986 and 451 to 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-denatured receptor was reduced. The binding of antibody 29.1 was impaired by the presence of 1% Triton X-100 but not the same levels of Tween-20 or SDS. In addition to being a sensitive technique for the quantitation of the EGF receptor, this assay is very rapid, taking a total of 4 h. The microtiter dish format also allows hundreds of samples to be assayed at once. By using the appropriate antiserum and standards, the EGF receptor can be quantitated in tissues from humans, dogs, pigs, and mice.     

Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-nonresponsive variants of normal rat kidney cell line: response to EGF and transforming growth factor-beta

Anchorage-independent growth in soft agar of normal rat kidney (NRK) fibroblasts depends on both transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) (or TGF-alpha). We have isolated two EGF-nonresponsive cell lines, N-3 and N-9, from chemically mutagenized NRK cells, after selection of mitogen-specific nonproliferative variants in the presence of EGF and colchicine. Saturation binding kinetics with 125I-EGF showed one-half or fewer EGF receptors in N-3 and N-9 than in their parental NRK. Cellular uptake of 2-deoxy-D-glucose was enhanced in all NRK, N-3, and N-9 cell lines by TGF-beta treatment, whereas treatment with EGF significantly enhanced the cellular uptake of the glucose analog in NRK cells, but not in N-3 and N-9 cells. DNA synthesis of NRK during the quiescent state, but not that of N-3 and N-9, was stimulated by EGF. Anchorage-independent growth of N-9 could not be observed even in the presence of both EGF and TGF-beta, whereas that of N-3 was significantly enhanced by TGF-beta alone. EGF stimulated phosphorylation of a membrane protein with molecular size 170 kDa of NRK, but not of N-3, when immunoprecipitates reacting with anti-phosphotyrosine antibody were analyzed. Exposure of NRK cells to EGF increased cellular levels of TGF-beta mRNA, but there appeared little expression of TGF-beta mRNA in N-3 and N-9 cells. Exposure of N-3 cells to EGF or TGF-beta enhanced the secretion of EGF into culture medium, but exposure of NRK or N-9 cells did not. Altered response to EGF of N-3 or N-9 might be related to their aberrant growth behaviors.