Post-Translational Acquisition of Ligand Binding-and Tyrosine Kinase-Domain Function by the Epidermal Growth Factor and Insulin Receptors

Abstract

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and insulin receptor undergo slow post-translational modification by which they acquire hormone binding and tyrosine kinase (EGFR) function. The half-time for acquisition of EGF or insulin binding activity is 30-40 min and of tyrosine kinase activity (EGFR), is 10-15 min. Tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-linked oligosaccharide addition, blocks acquisition of both EGF and insulin binding activity. With EGFR, activation precedes acquisition of resistance to endoglucos-aminidase H (t_1/2 75 min), a medial Golgi event. Treatment of active high mannose receptor with endo H generates fully active aglyco-receptor; thus, core oligosaccharide addition is a prerequisite for activation, but not for EGF binding per se. EGFR is activated in and translocated from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) slowly (t_1/2 75 min). Since translocation rate equals the rate for acquisition of endo H resistance, transit from the ER is rate limiting for EGFR maturation. Tunicamycin inhibits exit from the ER parallel to its effect on acquisition of binding activity. Insulin proreceptor, a 210 kDa high-mannose glycopolypeptide, acquires insulin binding function (t_1/2 45 min) then is proteolytically cleaved (t_1/2 3 hr) into subunits of the mature α₂β₂ receptor. Modification giving rise to insulin binding activity is due to a conformational change in the binding domain, since human autoimmune antibody recognizes only the active species, while rabbit polyclonal antibody recognizes all forms. Newly-translated EGF proreceptor lacks a functional tyrosine domain capable of autophosphorylation; 30-40 min after translation, while still in     

Synthesis of epidermal growth factor receptor in human A431 cells. Glycosylation-dependent acquisition of ligand binding activity occurs post-translationally in the endoplasmic reticulum

It was previously demonstrated that the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in human A431 cells undergoes a slow post-translational modification by which it acquires EGF binding capacity (Slieker, L.J., and Lane, M.D. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 687-690). In this report, the role of glycosylation in the acquisition of ligand binding activity and in the intracellular translocation of the receptor precursor is characterized. Human A431 cells were incubated with [35S]methionine, and 35S-labeled EGF receptors were purified either by immunoprecipitation (total receptor) or by adsorption to an EGF affinity matrix (high affinity, or active receptor). The half-time for receptor activation is approximately 30 min and precedes its acquisition of resistance to endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H (t 1/2 = 75 min), a medial Golgi event. Activation is blocked by tunicamycin and is markedly slowed (t 1/2 = 120 min) by 1-deoxynojirimycin, an inhibitor of glucosidase I. In the latter case, the oligosaccharide chains are not further processed to complex forms. Treatment of the active high mannose receptor with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H generates a fully active aglycoreceptor polypeptide, indicating that core oligosaccharide addition is a prerequisite for activation but that oligosaccharide chains are not intrinsically required for EGF binding. Subcellular fractionation studies showed that the EGF receptor is activated in the endoplasmic reticulum and that translocation from that organelle is extremely slow (t 1/2 = 75 min). Since the latter translocation rate approximates that for the acquisition of the resistance to endoglycosidase H, transit from the endoplasmic reticulum appears to be rate-limiting for the maturation of the receptor. Both tunicamycin and 1-deoxynojirimycin inhibit exit from the endoplasmic reticulum in parallel with their effects on the acquisition of binding activity. Immunoprecipitation of 35S-labeled EGF receptor with antiphosphotyrosine antibody in the presence of ATP suggested that the autophosphorylation activity of the receptor is also acquired post-translationally. The possible correlation of this to EGF binding activity is discussed.     

Pulse-chase studies of the synthesis and intracellular transport of apolipoprotein B-100 in Hep G2 cells

The synthesis and secretion of apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100) have been studied in a human hepatoma cell line, the Hep G2 cells. The time needed for the synthesis of apoB-100 was estimated to be 14 min, which corresponds to a translation rate of approximately 6 amino acids/s. ApoB-100 was compared with albumin and alpha 2-macroglobulin as to the distribution between the membrane and the luminal content in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus. The results suggested that apoB-100 approximately followed the distribution of these secretory proteins in the Golgi, while the ratios between the percent membrane-bound apoB-100 and percent membrane-bound albumin or alpha 2-macroglobulin were 3-4:1 in the ER. This may suggest that apoB-100 occurs in a membrane-associated form in ER prior to the integration in the lipoproteins. Pulse-chase studies combined with subcellular fractionation was used to investigate the kinetics for the intracellular transfer of apoB-100. A 3-min pulse of [35S]methionine was followed by an increase in apoB-100 radioactivity in the ER during the first 10-15 min of chase. The following 10-15 min of chase were characterized by linear decrease in apoB-100 radioactivity with a decay rate of approximately 6%/min. The residence kinetics for apoB-100 in the ER differed from that of transferrin and probably also from that of albumin. By comparing the time for the pulse maximum in ER with that in the denser Golgi fractions the time needed for the transfer between ER and Golgi could be estimated to be 10 min. The time needed for the secretion of newly synthesized apoB-100 was estimated to be 30 min. This indicates that the transfer of the protein through the Golgi apparatus to the extracellular space requires 20 min.     

Subcellular fractionation studies on the post-translational processing of pro-adrenocorticotropic hormone/endorphin in rat intermediate pituitary

The subcellular localization of the post-translational processing steps which occur in the conversion of pro-adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)/endorphin into beta-endorphin-sized molecules in rat intermediate pituitary has been studied. Primary cell cultures were incubated in radioactively labeled amino acids, and a subcellular fraction containing secretory granules was separated from a subcellular fraction containing rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus by centrifugation of homogenates on gradients on Percoll (Pharmacia Fine Chemicals). The radiolabeled beta-endorphin-related material in the granule and rough endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi apparatus fractions was quantitated by immunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A pulse-chase labeling experiment demonstrated that newly synthesized beta-endorphin-related material first appeared in the rough endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi apparatus fraction and after longer incubations (chase) appeared in the secretory granule fraction. After 2 h of chase incubation, about 85% of the beta-endorphin-related material synthesized during the 30-min pulse incubation had been transferred from the rough endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi apparatus to the secretory granule fraction. The conversion of most of the newly synthesized pro-ACTH/endorphin into beta-lipotropin occurred in the rough endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi apparatus fraction, whereas the conversion of most of the beta-lipotropin into beta-endorphin-sized molecules occurred in the secretory granule fraction.     

Time course of intracellular associations, processing, and cleavages of Ii forms and class II major histocompatibility complex molecules

To determine how changing forms of class II major histocompatibility complex proteins and associated Ii molecules in intracellular compartments of human B lymphocytes might regulate or catalyze antigen processing or presentation, we analyzed immunoprecipitates of such molecules from subcellular fractions of [35S]methionine pulse-chase-labeled, 3-day-activated B lymphocytes after homogenization and distribution in Percoll density gradients. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of immunoprecipitates of subcellular fractions demonstrated: 1) progressive sialic acid addition to class II major histocompatibility complex beta chains and Ii but not to gamma 2, gamma 2', gamma 3, gamma 3' (p35), or p41 and its satellites; 2) association of p35 and p41 with class II complexes at 30-60 min after pulse labeling; 3) cleavage of an immature form of Ii without sialic acid at 15-30 min after pulse labeling to a COOH-terminal, 25,000-dalton fragment, p25, with a 60-90-min half-life; 4) the presence of Ii-related p29 at only 30-min chase times; 5) an effect of chloroquine or monensin, at maximal nontoxic doses, to increase (a) the time for associations of p35 and p41 with class II complexes and (b) the half-life of p25, which was then formed from Ii at reduced levels. In addition, while the half-lives of class II alpha and beta chains and Ii were comparable within intracellular fractions of any one density, in intracellular fractions of intermediate densities the complexes appeared to be longer lived (much greater than 6 h) than in lighter fractions (2-3-h half-lives).     

INTRACELLULAR TRANSPORT OF SECRETORY PROTEINS IN THE PANCREATIC EXOCRINE CELL : I. Role of the Peripheral Elements of the Golgi Complex

It has been established by electron microscopic radioautography of guinea pig pancreatic exocrine cells (Caro and Palade, 1964) that secretory proteins are transported from the elements of the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to condensing vacuoles of the Golgi complex possibly via small vesicles located in the periphery of the complex. To define more clearly the role of these vesicles in the intracellular transport of secretory proteins, we have investigated the secretory cycle of the guinea pig pancreas by cell fractionation procedures applied to pancreatic slices incubated in vitro. Such slices remain viable for 3 hr and incur minimal structural damage in this time. Their secretory proteins can be labeled with radioactive amino acids in short, well defined pulses which, followed by cell fractionation, makes possible a kinetic analysis of transport. To determine the kinetics of transport, we pulse-labeled sets of slices for 3 min with leucine-¹⁴C and incubated them for further +7, +17, and +57 min in chase medium. At each time, smooth microsomes ( = peripheral elements of the Golgi complex) and rough microsomes ( = elements of the rough ER) were isolated from the slices by density gradient centrifugation of the total microsomal fraction. Labeled proteins appeared initially (end of pulse) in the rough microsomes and were subsequently transferred during incubation in chase medium to the smooth microsomes, reaching a maximal concentration in this fraction after +7 min chase incubation. Later, labeled proteins left the smooth microsomes to appear in the zymogen granule fraction. These data provide direct evidence that secretory proteins are transported from the cisternae of the rough ER to condensing vacuoles via the small vesicles of the Golgi complex.     

Ligand-induced activation of A431 cell epidermal growth factor receptors occurs primarily by an autocrine pathway that acts upon receptors on the surface rather than intracellularly

A431 cells express high numbers of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors and produce a ligand for these receptors, transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha). We have obtained evidence that the EGF receptors on these cells may be activated through an "autocrine" pathway by ligand and have investigated whether activation of phosphorylation of the receptor by the endogenously produced TGF-alpha occurs intracellularly or at the cell surface. When A431 cells were cultured under serum-free conditions, in the absence of exogenous ligand, EGF receptors were found to have a basal level of phosphorylation. When cells were labeled by culturing with 32Pi in the continuous presence of monoclonal antibodies that block binding of TGF-alpha to the EGF receptor, phosphorylation decreased to 30 +/- 10% of the basal level. This reduction could not be accounted for by the decrease in receptor content attributable to down-regulation and catabolism of EGF receptors that resulted from the binding of anti-receptor monoclonal antibodies. The reduction in receptor phosphorylation mediated by antibody was accompanied by the accumulation of increased levels of secreted TGF-alpha species in the culture medium. We also pulse-labeled A431 cells for 15 min with [35S]cysteine and immunoprecipitated the cell lysate with anti-phosphotyrosine antibody after various chase periods. Tyrosine-phosphorylated EGF receptor became detectable after 40 min of chase and reached a maximum after 4-6 h; these times are in agreement with the intervals required for EGF receptors to reach the cell surface after synthesis and then to achieve maximal expression. In addition, only the 170-kDa, mature EGF receptor species, and not the 160-kDa intracellular precursor, was immunoprecipitated with the anti-phosphotyrosine antibody. The results of these pulse-chase experiments and the finding that anti-receptor monoclonal antibody can block receptor phosphorylation suggest that activation of EGF receptors can result from the binding of an endogenous ligand (presumably TGF-alpha), which occurs at the cell surface and not during receptor biosynthesis and intracellular processing.     

Intracellular accumulation and oligosaccharide processing of alkaline phosphatase under disassembly of the Golgi complex caused by brefeldin A

Electron microscopic observations showed that the fungal metabolite brefeldin A caused disassembly of the Golgi complex in human choriocarcinoma cells and accumulation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear envelope, where ALP was not apparently detectable in control cells. Pulse/chase experiments with [35S]methionine demonstrated that in the control cells, ALP synthesized as a 63-kDa precursor form was rapidly converted to a 66-kDa form, by processing of its N-linked oligosaccharides from the high-mannose type to the complex type, which was expressed on the cell surface after 30 min of chase. In contrast, in the brefeldin-A-treated cells the precursor was gradually converted to a 65-kDa form, slightly smaller than the control mature form, which was not expressed on the cell surface even after a prolonged time of chase. Kinetics of the ALP processing in the brefeldin-A-treated cells demonstrated that the precursor was initially converted to an intermediate form, partially sensitive to endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H (endo H), then to an endo-H-resistant 65-kDa form. In addition, this form was found to be sensitive to neuraminidase digestion, though its sialylation was not so complete as that of the control mature form. Taken together, these results suggest that under disassembly of the Golgi complex caused by brefeldin A, oligosaccharide-processing enzymes including sialyltransferase, an enzyme in the trans Golgi cisterna(e) and/or the trans Golgi network, might be redistributed into the ER and involved in processing of the oligosaccharides of ALP accumulating there.     

Evidence for both prelysosomal and lysosomal intermediates in endocytic pathways

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP), an enzyme internalized by fluid phase pinocytosis, has been used to study the process by which pinosome contents are delivered to lysosomes in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Pinosome contents were labeled by allowing cells to internalize HRP for 3-5 min. Following various chase times, cells were either processed for HRP and acid phosphatase (AcPase) cytochemistry or homogenized and fractionated in Percoll gradients. In Percoll gradients, pinosomes labeled by a 3-5 min HRP pulse behaved as a vesicle population more dense than plasma membrane and less dense than lysosomes. In pulse- chase experiments, internalized HRP was chased rapidly (3-6 min chase) to a density position intermediate between the "initial" pinocytic vesicle population and lysosomes. With longer chase periods, a progressive accumulation of HRP in more dense vesicles was observed. Correspondence between the HRP distribution and lysosomal marker distribution was reached after a approximately 1-h chase. By electron microscope cytochemistry of intact cells, the predominant class of HRP- positive vesicles after pulse uptakes or a 3-min chase period was characterized by a peripheral rim of reaction product and was AcPase negative. After 10-120-min chase periods, the predominant class of HRP- positive vesicles was characterized by luminal deposits and HRP activity was frequently observed in multivesicular bodies. HRP-positive vesicles after a 10- or 30-min chase were AcPase-positive. No HRP activity was detected in Golgi apparatus. Together these observations indicate that progressive processing of vesicular components of the vacuolar apparatus occurs at both a prelysosomal and lysosomal stage.     

Mutational analysis of the human KDEL receptor: distinct structural requirements for Golgi retention, ligand binding and retrograde transport.

The KDEL receptor is a seven-transmembrane-domain protein that is responsible for the retrieval of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteins from the Golgi complex. It is a temporary resident of the Golgi apparatus: upon binding a KDEL-containing ligand, it moves to the ER, where the ligand is released. We have expressed mutant forms of the human receptor in COS cells and examined their intracellular locations and ligand-binding capacities. We show that ligand binding is dependent on charged residues within the transmembrane domains. Surprisingly, retrograde transport of occupied receptor is unaffected by most mutations in the cytoplasmic loops, but is critically dependent upon an aspartic acid residue in the seventh transmembrane domain. Retention in the Golgi apparatus requires neither ligand binding nor this aspartate residue, and thus is independent of receptor recycling. We suggest that movement of the receptor is controlled by conformational changes and intermolecular interactions within the membrane bilayer.     

Intracellular transport of the transmembrane glycoprotein G of vesicular stomatitis virus through the Golgi apparatus as visualized by electron microscope radioautography

The intracellular migration of G protein in vesicular stomatitis virus-infected cells was visualized by light and electron microscope radioautography after a 2-min pulse with [3H]mannose followed by nonradioactive chase for various intervals. The radioactivity initially (at 5-10 min) appeared predominantly in the endoplasmic reticulum, and the [3H]mannose-labeled G protein produced was sensitive to endoglycosidase H. Silver grains were subsequently (at 30-40 min) observed over the Golgi apparatus, and the [3H]mannose-labeled G protein became resistant to endoglycosidase H digestion. Our data directly demonstrate the intracellular transport of a plasmalemma-destined transmembrane glycoprotein through the Golgi apparatus.     

Mechanisms governing the accumulation of estrogen receptor alpha in MCF-7 breast cancer cells treated with hydroxytamoxifen and related antiestrogens

This study aimed at a better understanding of estrogen receptor alpha (ER) up regulation induced by partial estrogen antagonists. Effect of treatment with hydroxytamoxifen (OH-Tam) on ER level in MCF-7 cells was investigated by an approach combining ER measurement (enzyme immunoassay) and morphological demonstration (immunofluorescence). Furthermore, the influence of drug exposure on the rates of ER synthesis and degradation was assessed by determining [35S]methionine incorporated into the receptor in different experimental conditions (measurement of synthesis or pulse-chase experiments). ER up regulation was already induced by a 1-h pulse treatment with OH-Tam, thus a continuous exposure was not required. This process appeared reversible (i.e. ER accumulation due to OH-Tam rapidly vanished upon subsequent exposure to 17beta-estradiol (E2) or the pure antiestrogen RU 58668). While OH-Tam did not affect the rate of [35S]methionine incorporation into ER, it clearly caused an impairment of ER degradation (pulse-chase experiments) indicating that up regulation results from a stabilization of the receptor associated with the maintenance of its synthesis. Various tamoxifen derivatives, as well as a few related partial antiestrogens, were compared on the basis of binding ability and propensity to induce ER up regulation. A close relationship was found between both properties. Structure-activity analysis revealed that the capacity of these compounds to induce ER up regulation is associated with characteristics of their aminoalkyle side-chain, similar to those required for antiestrogenicity.     

Short-term effects of ACTH on protein synthesis in adrenal cortex cells of young rats

Two units of ACTH were administered intraperitoneally to young 20 gm-rats which received an intravenous injection of L-leucine-3H thirteen min later. ACTH-injected rats, and control rats which received the isotope alone, were killed at 2-, 10-, 30- and 60-min intervals. Electron microscope autoradiographs in control animals showed strong amino-acid uptake at pulse time (2-min) in the cytoplasm of adrenal zona fasciculata cells. Label was shared between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria, and a lower but still considerable uptake was seen in nucleoli. At first chase time interval (10-min) cytoplasmic labelling declined, while nuclear and nucleolar labelling increased, both changing little thereafter, and there was a 10-30 min Golgi peak. ACTH administration provoked an overall increase in amino-acid incorporation into cytoplasm, nucleus and nucleolus at pulse time, with no changes in the distribution of the reactions among organelles. Intensification of labelling was most evident over nucleoli, the grain density of which was four-times as high as in controls. The short-term increase in ER and mitochondrial protein synthesis observed after ACTH injections was considered to be consistent with the hypothesis that most newly-formed proteins in these cells may be involved in the regulation of steroidogenesis. The marked increase in nucleolar labelling suggested the presence of proteins involved in RNA synthesis.     

Newly synthesized canalicular ABC transporters are directly targeted from the Golgi to the hepatocyte apical domain in rat liver

Newly synthesized canalicular ectoenzymes and a cell adhesion molecule (cCAM105) have been shown to traffic from the Golgi to the basolateral plasma membrane, from where they transcytose to the apical bile canalicular domain. It has been proposed that all canalicular proteins are targeted via this indirect route in hepatocytes. We studied the membrane targeting of rat canalicular proteins by in vivo [(35)S]methionine metabolic labeling followed by preparation of highly purified Golgi membranes and canalicular (CMVs) and sinusoidal/basolateral (SMVs) membrane vesicles and subsequent immunoprecipitation. In particular, we compared membrane targeting of newly synthesized canalicular ABC (ATP-binding cassette) transporters MDR1, MDR2, and SPGP (sister of P-glycoprotein) with that of cCAM105. Significant differences were observed in metabolic pulse-chase labeling experiments with regard to membrane targeting of these apical proteins. After a chase time of 15 min, cCAM105 appeared exclusively in SMVs, peaked at 1 h, and progressively declined thereafter. In CMVs, cCAM105 was first detected after 1 h and subsequently increased for 3 h. This findings confirm the transcytotic targeting of cCAM105 reported in earlier studies. In contrast, at no time point investigated were MDR1, MDR2, and SPGP detected in SMVs. In CMVs, MDR1 and MDR2 appeared after 30 min, whereas SPGP appeared after 2 h of labeling. In Golgi membranes, each of the ABC transporters peaked at 30 min and was virtually absent thereafter. These data suggest rapid, direct targeting of newly synthesized MDR1 and MDR2 from the Golgi to the bile canaliculus and transient sequestering of SPGP in an intracellular pool en route from the Golgi to the apical plasma membrane. This study provides biochemical evidence for direct targeting of newly synthesized apical ABC transporters from the Golgi to the bile canaliculus in vivo.     

Ligand-dependent regulation of intracellular protein transport: effect of vitamin a on the secretion of the retinol-binding protein

As a model of ligand-dependent protein secretion the biosynthesis, intracellular transport, and release of the retinol-binding protein (RBP) were studied in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes pulse-labeled with [35S]methionine. After various periods of chase RBP was isolated by immunoprecipitation and identified by SDS PAGE. Both normal and vitamin A-deficient hepatocytes synthesized RBP. The normal cells secreted the pulse-labeled RBP within 2 h. RBP synthesized by deficient cells was not secreted, and intracellular degradation of the protein appeared to be slow. Deficient cells could be induced to secrete RBP on the addition of retinol to the culture medium. This occurred also after protein synthesis had been blocked by cycloheximide. Since retinol induces the secretion of RBP, accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), it seems reasonable to conclude that the transport of RBP from the ER to the Golgi complex is regulated by retinol.     

Characterization of structural domains of the human epidermal growth factor receptor obtained by partial proteolysis

Partial cleavage with trypsin has been used to study the structure of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor purified from human carcinoma cells. Following affinity labeling of the receptor with 125I-EGF or the ATP analogue 5'-p-fluorosulfonyl benzoyl[14C]adenosine, metabolic labeling with [35S]methionine, [3H]glucosamine, or [32P]orthophosphate, or in vitro autophosphorylation with [gamma-32P]ATP, tryptic cleavage defines the following three regions of the 180-kDa receptor protein: 1) a 125-kDa trypsin-resistant domain which contains sites of glycosylation, EGF binding, and an EGF-specific threonine phosphorylation site; 2) an adjacent 40-kDa fragment which contains serine and threonine phosphorylation sites and is further cleaved to a 30-kDa trypsin-resistant domain; and 3) a terminal 15-kDa portion of the receptor that contains the sites of tyrosine phosphorylation and is degraded to small fragments in the presence of trypsin. Both the 125- and 40-kDa regions of the EGF receptor appear to be required for receptor-associated protein kinase activity since separation of these regions by tryptic cleavage abolishes this activity, and both regions are specifically labeled with an ATP affinity analogue, suggesting that both are involved in ATP binding. Additional 63- and 48-kDa phosphorylated fragments are generated upon trypsin treatment of EGF receptor from EGF-treated cells. The potential usefulness of partial tryptic cleavage in studying the EGF receptor and the possible biological function of the 30-kDa trypsin-resistant fragment of the receptor are discussed.     

Biosynthesis of the epidermal growth factor receptor: post-translational glycosylation-independent acquisition of tyrosine kinase autophosphorylation activity

We previously showed that the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in human A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells undergoes a slow post-translational modification whereby it acquires (t1/2 = 30-40 min) EGF binding capacity (Slieker, L.J., et. al. (1986) J. Biol. Chem., 261, 15233-15241). This activation occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum and requires core N-linked glycosylation. By employing both anti-EGF receptor and anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies to immunoprecipitate receptor pulse-labeled with [35S]methionine, we demonstrate here that the EGF receptor also acquires tyrosine kinase autophosphorylation activity post-translationally (t1/2 = 10-15 min). The acquisition of tyrosine kinase activity is independent of the acquisition of EGF binding capacity, since it precedes the latter process and does not require N-linked glycosylation.     

The effects of low temperatures on intracellular transport of newly synthesized albumin and haptoglobin in rat hepatocytes.

Isolated rat hepatocytes were pulse-labelled with [35S]methionine at 37 degrees C and subsequently incubated (chased) for different periods of time at different temperatures (37-16 degrees C). The time courses for the secretion of [35S]methionine-labelled albumin and haptoglobin were determined by quantitative immunoprecipitation of the detergent-solubilized cells and of the chase media. Both proteins appeared in the chase medium only after a lag period, the length of which increased markedly with decreasing chase temperature: from about 10 and 20 min at 37 degrees C to about 60 and 120 min at 20 degrees C for albumin and haptoglobin respectively. The rates at which the proteins were externalized after the lag period were also strongly affected by temperature, the half-time for secretion being 20 min at 37 degrees C and 200 min at 20 degrees C for albumin; at 16 degrees C no secretion could be detected after incubation for 270 min. Analysis by subcellular fractionation showed that part of the lag occurred in the endoplasmic reticulum and that the rate of transfer to the Golgi complex was very temperature-dependent. The maximum amount of the two pulse-labelled proteins in Golgi fractions prepared from cells after different times of chase decreased with decreasing incubation temperatures, indicating that the transport from the Golgi complex to the cell surface was less affected by low temperatures than was the transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi complex.     

Effect of the anti-receptor ligand-blocking 225 monoclonal antibody on EGF receptor endocytosis and sorting

The anti-receptor antibody, 225 mAb, is known to block binding of ligand to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). However, the effect of this neutralizing antibody on EGFR endocytosis, trafficking and degradation remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that endocytosis of (125)I-225 mAb occurs, albeit with a slower rate than that of EGF. Using pulse chase assays, we show that internalized (125)I-225 mAb is recycled to the surface much more efficiently than internalized (125)I-EGF. Also, we found that internalization of (125)I-225 mAb, in contrast to that of EGF, is independent of receptor tyrosine kinase activity, as evidenced by its insensitivity to AG1478, a specific EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Analysis of the levels of cell surface and total EGFR showed that treatment with 225 mAb results in a 30-40% decrease in surface EGFR and a relatively slow downregulation of total EGFR. Taken together, these data indicate that 225 mAb induces internalization and downregulation of EGFR via a mechanism distinct from that underlying EGF-induced EGFR internalization and downregulation.