Rapid enhancement of protein phosphorylation in A-431 cell membrane preparations by epidermal growth factor.

Membranes prepared from A-431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells retained the ability to bind 125I-labeled epidermal growth factor (EGF) in a specific manner. In the presence of [gamma-32P]ATP and Mn2+ or Mg2+, this membrane preparation was capable of phosphorylating endogenous membrane components, including membrane-associated proteins; the major phosphorylated amino acid residue detected in partial acid hydrolysates was phosphothreonine. The binding of EGF to these membranes in vitro resulted in a severalfold stimulation of the phosphorylation reaction; again, the major phosphorylated amino acid residue detected in partial acid hydrolysates was phosphothreonine. Membrane-associated dephosphorylation reactions did not appear to be affected by EGF. The phosphorylation reaction was not stimulated by cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP in the absence or presence of EGF. The phosphorylation system of the membrane was able to utilize [gamma-32P]GTP in both the basal and EGF-stimulated reactions. The enhanced membrane phosphorylation was specific for EGF and its derivatives; a wide variety of other peptide hormones were ineffective. The A-431 membrane preparation also was capable of phosphorylating exogenous proteins, such as histone, phosvitin, and ribonuclease, by a process which was stimulated by EGF. These findings suggest that one of the biochemical consequences of the binding of EGF to membranes is a rapid activation of a cyclic AMP-independent phosphorylating system.     

Solubilization of membrane receptor for epidermal growth factor.

The membrane receptor for epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been solubilized from A-431 tumor cells using Triton X-100. Operational criteria used to define solubilization include failure of the binding activity to be pelleted after centrifugation at 90,000 x g for 1.5 hrs and the requirement for polyethylene glycol precipitation to detect ¹²⁵I-EGF: receptor complexes on membrane filters. Properties of the solubilized EGF are characterized and compared to the properties of the particulate receptor. The specific binding capacity of the solubilized EGF receptor was 8.0 picomoles ¹²⁵I-EGF bound per mg protein--approximately 60% of the binding capacity of particulate receptor preparations. Also, solubilization of the EGF receptor resulted in a 10-fold decrease in the affinity of the receptor for ¹²⁵I-EGF.     

The epidermal growth factor.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a single polypeptide of 53 amino acid residues which is involved in the regulation of cell proliferation. Egf exerts its effects in the target cells by binding to the plasma membrane located EGF receptor. The EGF receptor is a transmembrane protein tyrosine kinase. Binding of EGF to the receptor causes activation of the kinase and subsequently receptor autophosphorylation. The autophosphorylation is essential for the interaction of the receptor with its substrates. These bind to the receptor by the so-called SH2 domains. The signal transduction pathways activated by EGF include the phosphatidylinositol pathway, leading to activation of protein kinase C and to increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration, and to the ras pathway leading to MAP kinase activation. Recently the cytoplasm has been implicated as playing an important role in EGF induced signal transduction. The EGF receptor has been demonstrated to be an actin-binding protein. In addition EGF causes a rapid actin depolymerisation and the formation of membrane ruffles. In particular these membrane ruffles have been shown to act as the first site of signal transduction after EGF binding, and thus may be considered as signal transduction structures. Finally evidence has been presented suggesting a positive role for EGF and/or the receptor in the nucleus.     

腺苷引起促黑素细胞膜电位超极化的离子机制

通过对青蛙垂体中叶促黑素细胞的实验已发现,腺苷激素Ａ１型腺苷受体后可引起细胞膜的超极化同时停止自发性动作电位的发放,但此现象所涉及的离子机制尚不清楚。本实验采用膜片箝技术的全细胞电流、电压记录和细胞吸附单通道电流记录方法,对此电流进行了探讨。实验结果表明：腺苷所致的细胞膜超极化是由于增加了非电压激活的钾离子通道的开放,而对超极化电压激活的内向阳离子电流（Ｉｈ）没有影响。     

Microaggregation of hormone-occupied epidermal growth factor receptors on plasma membrane preparations.

The rotational diffusion of the complexes of epidermal growth factor (EGF) with its specific receptor on plasma membrane vesicles prepared from human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells was studied using the time-resolved polarization of phosphorescence of erythrosin-labeled hormone. The measured rotational correlation times of 16-20 microseconds at 4 degrees C are consistent with monomeric freely diffusing EGF receptor. Upon increasing the temperature to 37 degrees C, the rate of rotational diffusion slows down as evidenced by an increase in the correlation time to 75 microseconds. This finding suggests that small clusters of the occupied EGF receptor (microaggregation) form at the higher temperature, a property we have reported previously for occupied receptors on living A431 cells. Subsequent cooling of the membranes leads to a partial reversal of the microaggregation. We conclude that clustering of occupied EGF receptors can proceed at 37 degrees C in the absence of metabolic energy and external interactions, e.g. with components of the cytoskeleton, and thus reflects inherent properties of the receptor protein in its natural environment. A lag phase in the time course of microaggregation observed with the isolated membrane preparations may reflect cooperativity in the process of receptor association.     

Autocrine epidermal growth factor signaling stimulates directionally persistent mammary epithelial cell migration.

Cell responses to soluble regulatory factors may be strongly influenced by the mode of presentation of the factor, as in matrix-bound versus diffusible modes. The possibly diverse effect of presenting a growth factor in autocrine as opposed to exogenous (or paracrine) mode is an especially important issue in cell biology. We demonstrate here that migration behavior of human mammary epithelial cells in response to stimulation by epidermal growth factor (EGF) is qualitatively different for EGF presented in exogenous (paracrine), autocrine, and intracrine modes. When EGF is added as an exogenous factor to the medium of cells that express EGF receptor (EGFR) but not EGF, cell migration speed increases while directional persistence decreases. When these EGFR-expressing cells are made to also express via retroviral transfection EGF in protease-cleaveable transmembrane form on the plasma membrane, migration speed similarly increases, but directional persistence increases as well. Addition of exogenous EGF to these cells abrogates their enhanced directional persistence, reducing their directionality to a level similar to wild-type cells. If the EGFR-expressing cells are instead transduced with a gene encoding EGF in a soluble form, migration speed and directional persistence were unaffected. Thus, autocrine presentation of EGF at the plasma membrane in a protease-cleavable form provides these cells with an enhanced ability to migrate persistently in a given direction, consistent with their increased capability for organizing into gland-like structures. In contrast, an exogenous/paracrine mode of EGF presentation generates a "scattering" response by the cells. These findings emphasize the functional importance of spatial restriction of EGFR signaling, and suggest critical implications for growth factor-based therapeutic treatments.     

Transcytosis of epidermal growth factor. The epidermal growth factor receptor mediates uptake but not transcytosis

Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells polarize and generate distinct apical and basolateral membrane domains when grown on permeable filter supports. Under these conditions, they transcytose fluid-phase markers. Recently, receptor-mediated transcytosis of epidermal growth factor (EGF) across MDCK cells has been reported (Maratos-Flier, E., Kao, C.-Y. Y., Verdin, E. M., and King, G. L. (1987) J. Cell Biol. 105, 1595-1601). We examined the role of the EGF receptor in this process. Transcytosis of EGF occurred only in the basolateral-to-apical direction, was time-dependent, and inhibited by the addition of unlabeled EGF in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast to previous work, we found that only about 5% of basolaterally bound EGF was transported to the apical chamber. The half-time of transport was 90 min. A mutant cell line of MDCK, MDCKII-RCAr, was used to study the expression of the EGF receptor. Cell surface glycoproteins of these mutant cells can be efficiently labeled with [3H]galactose by exogalactosylation. The EGF receptor was found to be expressed only on the basolateral surface. Addition of EGF to the basolateral medium resulted in rapid internalization and degradation of the receptor. Testing directly for transcytosis of basolateral glycoproteins, we detected several proteins transported across the cell. The EGF receptor, however, was not among this group of proteins. Taking these results together, we suggest the following model. Internalization of EGF on the basolateral surface is mediated by the EGF receptor. EGF dissociates from the receptor in an endocytic compartment. A fraction of the EGF is then diverted nonselectively to the transcytotic pathway, as found for other fluid-phase markers previously (Bomsel, M., Prydz, K., Parton, R. G., Gruenberg, J., and Simons, K. (1989) J. Cell Biol. 109, 3243-3258.     

Antagonistic effect of insulin on glucagon-evoked hyperpolarization. A correlation between changes in membrane potential and gluconeogenesis

In the perfused rat liver, administration of glucagon causes a hyperpolarization of the liver cell membrane and increases gluconeogenesis. Insulin, a hormone which is known to antagonize the effect of glucagon on gluconeogenesis also blocks the hyperpolarizing effect of glucagon. Because of this inhibitory effect of insulin of the glucagon-evoked hyperpolarization, a systematic study of possible correlation between changes in membrane potential and gluconeogenesis was undertaken. The membrane potential was changed by valinomycin, tetracaine, or by varying the ionic composition of the perfusate. A highly significant correlation between changes in membrane potential and the rate of gluconeogenesis was noticed. The possibility was raised that changes in membrane potential might exert an influence on metabolic process by a yet unknown mechanism.     

Ionic events induced by epidermal growth factor. Evidence that hyperpolarization and stimulated cation influx play a role in the stimulation of cell growth.

Charybdotoxin, a blocker of K+ channels, and the imidazole drug SC38249, a blocker of both voltage- and second messenger-operated Ca2+ channels, were employed in mouse NIH-3T3 fibroblasts overexpressing the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor 1) to characterize the ionic events activated by EGF; and 2) to establish the role of those events in cell growth. The [Ca2+]i response by EGF was little changed by charybdotoxin while the parallel hyperpolarization was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. At high toxin concentrations (greater than 3 x 10(-8) M), the effect of EGF on membrane potential was turned into a persistent depolarization sustained by both Na+ and Ca2+. Pretreatment with 10 microM SC38249 induced only minor changes of the intracellular Ca2+ release by EGF (the process responsible for the initial phase of the [Ca2+]i and membrane potential responses) and blocked the persistent, second phase [Ca2+]i and the hyperpolarization responses, both dependent on Ca2+ influx, as well as the depolarization in the charybdotoxin-pretreated cells. Long term (up to 2-day) treatment with either charybdotoxin or SC38249 failed to affect the viability and growth of unstimulated EGFR-T17 cells. Moreover, in these cells, the ionic responses to EGF were restored after a 30-min incubation in fresh medium. In contrast, growth stimulated by EGF was inhibited, moderately (-20%) by charybdotoxin and markedly (-60%) by SC38249. These results indicate for the first time that both hyperpolarization and, especially, the persistent increase of [Ca2+]i sustained by Ca2+ influx play a role in the activity of EGF, ultimately cooperating with other intracellular events in mitogenesis.     

Rapid and efficient purification of plasma membrane from cultured cells: characterization of epidermal growth factor binding

We have devised a rapid and simple protocol for the purification of the plasma membrane from several lines of transformed cultured cells. A431 or KB plasmalemma was purified in 90 min with a two-step centrifugation cycle after selectively inducing microsomal aggregation by the addition of calcium to homogenized cells. Relative specific activity analysis using membrane marker enzymes on the various fractions indicated that the isolated plasmalemma was purified 8-12-fold over the starting homogenate and contained a high density of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors. Transmission electron microscopy showed the final membrane suspension consisted of unilamellar vesicles with an average diameter of approximately 100 A. The purified membrane vesicles avidly bound to 125I-EGF and reached equilibrium within 30 min. Microfiltration assays indicated more than 90% of the total binding can be displaced by excess unlabeled ligand. Equilibrium binding analysis showed a single class of high-affinity 125I-EGF binding site, with Kd = 0.14 nM and Bmax = 0.1 pmol/mg of protein for purified KB membrane and Kd = 1.2 nM and Bmax = 5.26 pmol/mg of protein for purified A431 membrane. Gel electrophoresis of 125I-EGF cross-linked to membrane EGF receptors showed a distinct autoradiographic band at 170 kilodaltons, which could be displaced with excessive amounts of unlabeled EGF. Finally, EGF-dependent autophosphorylation of the EGF receptor was clearly demonstrated with the purified membrane preparation. Membrane vesicles purified in this manner can be stored in liquid nitrogen for several months without losing their biological activity.     

Secretion of an epidermal growth factor-like growth factor by epidermal growth factor-independent rat mammary carcinoma cells.

Rat mammary carcinoma (RMC) cells derived from serially transplantable mammary tumors are independent of epidermal growth factor (EGF) for long-term growth in serum-free medium. This phenotype is in contrast to that of normal mammary epithelial cells or cells derived from nontransplantable tumors that express an absolute requirement for EGF for growth in culture. The results of the experiments reported here indicate that EGF-independent RMC cells secrete a growth factor with potent EGF-like mitogenic activity. Conditioned media obtained from these cells can substitute for EGF for the growth of the EGF-dependent cell line MCF-10. This growth factor is neither EGF nor transforming growth factor alpha and does not compete with 125I-EGF for binding to EGF receptors. Phosphotyrosine Western blot analysis of lysates obtained from EGF-independent RMC cells revealed the presence of a 190 kilodalton (kDa) protein that was distinct from the EGF receptor. Similarly, growth of MCF-10 cells to confluence in serum-free medium supplemented with conditioned medium growth factor in place of EGF resulted in the disappearance of the EGF receptor band and appearance of the 190 kDa band in phosphotyrosine Western blots. The 190 kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated protein detected in cells stimulated by the conditioned medium factor is unlikely to be the c-erbB-2 protein, as indicated by negative results in immunoprecipitation experiments and in vitro kinase assays. In summary, EGF-independent RMC cells secrete a factor with potent EGF-like mitogenic activity. This suggests that an autocrine loop involving this growth factor mediates EGF independence in these cells.     

Compartmentalization of epidermal growth factor receptor in liver plasma membrane

We have investigated epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐induced compartmentalization and activation of the EGF receptor (EGFR) in rat liver plasma membrane (PM) raft subfractions prepared by three different biochemical methods previously developed to characterize the composition of membrane rafts. Only detergent‐resistant membranes (DRMs) possessed the basic characteristics attributed to membrane rafts. Following the administration of a low dose of EGF (1 µg/100 g BW) the content of EGFR in PM–DRMs did not change significantly; whereas after a higher dose of EGF (5 µg/100 g BW) we observed a rapid and marked disappearance of EGFR (around 80%) from both PM and DRM fractions. Interestingly, following the administration of either a low or high dose of EGF, the pool of EGFR in the PM–DRM fraction became highly Tyr‐phosphorylated. In accordance with the higher level of EGFR Tyr‐Phosphorylation, EGF induced an augmented recruitment of Grb2 and Shc proteins to PM–DRMs compared with whole PM. Furthermore neither high nor low doses of EGF affected the caveolin content in DRMs and PM. These observations suggest that EGFR located in DRMs are competent for signaling, and non‐caveolae PM rafts are involved in the compartmentalization and internalization of the EGFR. J. Cell. Biochem. 107: 96–103, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

The Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 induces expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded LMP1 protein is an important component of the process of transformation by EBV. LMP1 is essential for transformation of B lymphocytes, most likely because of its profound effects on cellular gene expression. Although LMP1 is expressed in the majority of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tumors, the effect of LMP1 on cellular gene expression and its contribution to the development of malignancy in epithelial cells is largely unknown. In this study the effects of LMP1 on the expression and tyrosine kinase activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were investigated in C33A human epithelial cells. Stable or transient expression of LMP1 in C33A cells increased expression of the EGFR at both the protein and mRNA levels. In contrast, expression of the EGFR was not induced by LMP1 in EBV-infected B lymphocytes. Stimulation of LMP1-expressing C33A cells with epidermal growth factor (EGF) caused rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGFR (pp170) as well as several other proteins, including pp120, pp85, pp75, and pp55, indicating that the EGFR induced by LMP1 is functional. LMP1 also induced expression of the A20 gene in C33A epithelial cells. In C33A cells, LMP1 expression increased the proliferative response to EGF, as LMP1-expressing C33A cells continued to increase in number when plated in serum-free media supplemented with EGF, while the neo control cells exhibited very low levels of viability and did not proliferate. Immunoblot analysis of protein extracts from nude mouse-passaged NPC tumors also demonstrated that the EGFR is overexpressed in primary NPC tumors as well as those passaged in nude mice. This study suggests that the alteration in the growth patterns of C33A cells expressing LMP1 is a result of increased proliferative signals due to enhanced EGFR expression, as well as protection from cell death due to LMP1-induced A20 expression. The induction of EGFR and A20 by LMP1 may be an important component of EBV infection in epithelial cells and could contribute to the development of epithelial malignancies such as NPC.     

The effect of epidermal growth factor on neonatal incisor differentiation in the mouse

The effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on cellular differentiation of the neonatal mouse mandibular incisor was examined autoradiographically using tritiated thymidine ([3H]TDR) and tritiated proline ([3H]PRO). On days 0 (day of birth), 1, and 2, EGF was administered (3 micrograms/g body wt) sc to neonates. Mice were killed on Days 1, 4, 7, 10, and 13 after birth and were injected with either [3H]TDR or [3H]PRO 1 hr before death. [3H]TDR was used to analyze cell proliferation in eight cell types in the developing mouse incisor including upper (lingual) and lower (buccal) pulpal fibroblasts, preodontoblasts, inner and outer enamel epithelial cells (IEE and OEE), stratum intermedium (SI), stellate reticulum (SR), and periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts. [3H]PRO was used to analyze protein synthesis in ameloblasts, and their secretion products (enamel and dentin), as well as PDL fibroblasts. The selected EGF injection scheme elicited acceleration of incisor eruption with minimal growth retardation. At Day 1, the upper and lower pulp, preodontoblasts, SI, and SR showed a significant decrease in labeling index (LI) 24 hr after a single EGF injection. After multiple injections (Days 0, 1, 2), two LI patterns were observed. In lower pulp, preodontoblasts, IEE, SI, SR, and OEE, a posteruptive change in LI was observed. In contrast, the upper pulp and PDL regions demonstrated a direct temporal relationship with eruption. Autoradiographic analysis with [3H]PRO indicated that EGF treatment caused significant increases in grain counts per unit area in ameloblast, odontoblast, and PDL regions studied. Significant differences were found in all four regions studied (ameloblasts, enamel, odontoblasts, dentin) at the 45-microns-tall ameloblast level as well as ameloblasts and odontoblasts at the 30-microns level at 13 days of age. The PDL demonstrated significant differences at all locations studied (base, 30 microns, 45 microns,) in 4-, 7-, and 13-day-old mice. Morphologically, EGF-treated groups demonstrated premature differentiation of ameloblasts and odontoblasts at the light microscopic level. The data indicate that EGF alters DNA and protein synthesis as well as differentiation patterns during the eruption process. While EGF affects both DNA and protein synthesis, the alteration of differentiation may be secondary to mitogenic effects on proliferative compartments. In order to determine the cellular target for EGF within the newborn mouse incisor, in vivo 125I-EGF binding was analyzed autoradiographically.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

A nonmitogenic analogue of epidermal growth factor induces early responses mediated by epidermal growth factor

Cyanogen bromide-cleaved epidermal growth factor (CNBr-EGF) binds to EGF receptors with reduced affinity compared to the native hormone but fails to induce DNA synthesis. However, at similar receptor occupancy, CNBr-EGF is as potent as EGF in activating early cell responses to the hormone. The phosphorylation of membrane proteins, the stimulation of Na+-K+-ATPase as reflected by the ouabain-sensitive uptake of 86Rb of fibroblasts, changes in the organization of microfilaments and in cell-morphology, and the activation of the enzyme ornithine-decarboxylase are all induced by CNBr-EGF as well as EGF Our results are consistent with the notion that EGF-induced phosphorylation could act as a "second messenger" for the action of various EGF-induced responses such as activation of Na+-K+-ATPase, changes in the cytoskeleton and cell morphology, and the activation of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase. However, the stimulation of phosphorylation of membrane proteins and other early responses are either not required or necessary but insufficient for the induction of DNA synthesis. Suboptimal concentrations of EGF together with CNBr-EGF stimulate DNA synthesis in human fibroblasts. Other growth factors such as insulin, fibroblast growth factor, and prostaglandin F2 alpha, which potentiate the mitogenic response of EGF, do not effect the response to CNBr-EGF. This suggests that the restoration of the mitogenic properties of CNBr-EGF by suboptimal doses of EGF occurs at the level of EGF receptors or during their processing.     

Rapid stimulation of pinocytosis in human carcinoma cells A-431 by epidermal growth factor

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) uptake was used to measure fluid-phase pinocytosis in monolayers of human epithelioid carcinoma cells (A-431). Histochemistry confirmed that cell-associated HRP was restricted to intracellular vesicles. Biochemical methods showed that HRP uptake in control cultures was directly proportional to the duration of exposure. The addition of low concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to the incubation media produced a 10-fold increase in the initial rate of pinocytosis. The EGF effect was rapid (within 30 s) but transient; the rate of pinocytosis returned to control levels within 15 min. Metabolic inhibitors reduced the EGF-stimulated rate of pinocytosis by greater than 90%. A conjugate of EGF and ferritin (F:EGF) was used to simultaneously compare the intracellular locations of EGF and HRP. Much of F:EGF was internalized in approximately 100-nm vesicles, while most of the HRP was located in much larger vesicles (range 0.1--1.2 micrometer) which also contained F:EGF. The tumor-promoter 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate, which shares several biological activities with EGF, was also effective in stimulating an increase in the rate of pinocytosis.     

Rapid rounding of human epidermoid carcinoma cells A-431 induced by epidermal growth factor

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces rapid rounding of A-431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells in Ca(++)-free medium. Cell rounding is not induced by a variety of other polypeptide hormones, antiserum to cell membranes, local anesthetics, colchicine, cytochalasin B, or cyclic nucleotides. However, trypsin, like EGF, induces rounding of A- 431 cells in the absence of Ca(++). Both trypsin- and EGF-induced rounding are temperature dependent, appear to be energy dependent, and are inhibited by cytochalasins, suggesting that the active participation of microfilaments in cell rounding. However, a medium transfer experiment suggests that EGF-induced rounding is not attributable to secretion of a protease, and a number of serine protease inhibitors have no effect on the EGF-induced rounding process. Cell rounding is not attributable to the slight stimulation by EGF of the release of Ca(++) that is observed in the Ca(++)-free medium, as stimulation of such release by the ionophore {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"A23187","term_id":"833253","term_text":"A23187"}}A23187 neither induces cell rounding nor blocks EGF-induced rounding. Cells that have rounded up after treatment with EGF or trypsin spread out upon addition of Ca(++) to the medium, even in the continuing presence of EGF or typsin. Like the cell-rounding process, the cell-spreading process is temperature dependent, appears to be energy dependent, and is inhibited by cytochalasin B. Thus, EGF does not destroy the ability of the cell to spread; rather, in the presence of the EGF (or trypsin), cell spreading and the maintenance of the flattened state become dependent on external Ca(++). Because untreated cells remain flattened in the absence of Ca(++), the data suggest that EGF may disrupt Ca(++)-independent mechanisms of adhesion normally present in A-431 cells.