Autophosphorylation and protein kinase C phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor. Effect on tyrosine kinase activity and ligand binding affinity

The effect of autophosphorylation and protein kinase C-catalyzed phosphorylation on the tyrosine-protein kinase activity and ligand binding affinity of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor has been studied. Kinetic parameters for the phosphorylation by the receptor kinase of synthetic peptide substrates having sequences related to the 3 in vitro receptor autophosphorylation sites (tyrosine residues 1173 (P1), 1148 (P2), and 1068 (P3)) were measured. The Km of peptide P1 (residues 1164-1176) was significantly lower than that for peptides P2 (residues 1141-1151) or P3 (residues 1059-1072). The tyrosine residue 1173 was also the most rapidly autophosphorylated in purified receptor preparations, consistent with previous observations for the receptor in intact cells (Downward, J., Parker, P., and Waterfield, M. D. (1984) Nature 311, 483-485). Variation in the extent of receptor autophosphorylation from 0.1 to 2.8 mol of phosphate/mol of receptor did not influence kinase activity or EGF binding affinity either for purified receptor or receptor in membrane preparations. Phosphorylation of the EGF receptor by protein kinase C was shown to cause a 3-fold decrease in the affinity of purified EGF receptor for EGF and to reduce the receptor kinase activity. In membrane preparations, phosphorylation of the EGF receptor by protein kinase C resulted in conversion of high affinity EGF binding sites to a low affinity state. This suggests that activation of protein kinase C by certain growth promoting agents and tumor promoters is directly responsible for modulation of the affinity of the EGF receptor for its ligand EGF. The regulation of the EGF receptor function by protein kinase C is discussed.     

Identification of a new in vitro substrate of tyrosine protein kinase

Recent studies in our laboratory [Tokuda, M., Khanna, N.C., Aurora, A., & Waisman, D. M. (1986) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 139, 910-917] have identified in membranes of rat spleen two tyrosine protein kinases named TPK-I and TPK-II. In this paper the identification of the Ca2+ binding protein CAB-48 as a major in vitro substrate of TPK-II is reported. TPK-II catalyzed the incorporation of 0.73 mol of phosphate/mol of CAB-48. Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed that phosphorylation of CAB-48 was specific for tyrosine residues. Phosphorylation of CAB-48 by TPK-I (rat spleen), protein kinase C, casein kinase I, casein kinase II, cAMP-dependent protein kinase, or calcium calmodulin dependent protein kinase was not observed.     

C-kinase phosphorylates the epidermal growth factor receptor and reduces its epidermal growth factor-stimulated tyrosine protein kinase activity

The Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (C-kinase) binds tightly in the presence of Ca2+ to purified membranes of A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells. The major membrane substrate for C-kinase is the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. Phosphorylation of the EGF receptor is Ca2+-dependent and occurs at threonine and serine residues. After tryptic digestion of the receptor, three major phosphothreonine-containing peptides were identified. These are identical with three new phosphopeptides present in the EGF receptor isolated from A431 cells treated with either of the tumor promoters 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate or teleocidin. C-kinase catalyzes phosphorylation at these same sites in purified EGF receptor protein. These results indicate that, in A431 cells exposed to tumor promoters, C-kinase catalyzes phosphorylation of a significant population of EGF receptor molecules. This phosphorylation of EGF receptors results in decreased self-phosphorylation of the EGF receptor at tyrosine residues both in vivo and in vitro and in decreased EGF-stimulated tyrosine kinase activity in vivo.     

Purified tyrosine kinases, the EGF receptor kinase and the src kinase, can catalyze the phosphorylation of the band 3 protein from human erythrocytes

The band 3 glycoprotein from human erythrocytes was found to be phosphorylated on tyrosine residues by the purified EGF receptor kinase and the purified src kinase in vitro. Kinetic analysis revealed that Km of the band 3 protein phosphorylation by the EGF receptor kinase was 0.17 microM and 0.65 microM in the absence and presence of EGF (3 X 10(-7)M), respectively, and that in the case of the src kinase it was 0.4 microM. From these data the band 3 protein can be regarded as one of the best substrates common for the EGF receptor kinase and the src kinase in vitro.     

Multiple autophosphorylation sites of the epidermal growth factor receptor are essential for receptor kinase activity and internalization. Contrasting significance of tyrosine 992 in the native and truncated receptors.

The role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor autophosphorylation sites in the regulation of receptor functions has been studied using cells transfected with mutant EGF receptors. Simultaneous point mutation of 4 tyrosines (Y1068, Y1086, Y1148, Y1173) to phenylalanine, as well as removal of these sites by truncation of the carboxyl-terminal 123 amino acid residues, resulted in reduced receptor phosphorylation of an in vivo specific substrate phospholipase C-gamma 1 to less than 50% compared to the wild-type receptor. The internalization rate constant Ke was also significantly lower in these mutants (0.15/min) compared to cells transfected with wild-type receptor (0.27/min). Additional mutation of tyrosine 992 to phenylalanine in the truncated receptor mutant (Dc-123F) further decreased the receptor internalization rate to a minimal level (ke = 0.07-0.10/min), equivalent to the ke measured for cells expressing kinase-negative receptor (A721). Moreover, tyrosine kinase activity of the Dc-123F receptor toward phospholipase C-gamma 1, compared to wild-type receptor, was reduced by 90%. Taken together, these results show that EGF receptor lacking five autophosphorylation sites functions similar to a kinase-negative receptor. Mutation of tyrosine residue Y992 alone in the context of full length EGF receptor, however, did not affect receptor internalization or kinase activity toward phospholipase C-gamma 1. These data indicate that tyrosine 992 is critical for substrate phosphorylation and internalization only in the context of the truncated receptor, and that minor autophosphorylation sites, such as Y992, may act as compensatory regulatory sties in the absence of the major EGF receptor autophosphorylation sites.     

Calmodulin inhibits the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase.

We demonstrate in this report that the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor from rat liver can be isolated by calmodulin affinity chromatography by binding in the presence of Ca2+ and elution with a Ca(2+)-chelating agent. The bulk of the EGF receptor is not eluted by a NaCl gradient in the presence of Ca2+. We ascertained the identity of the isolated receptor by immunoblot and immunoprecipitation using a polyclonal antibody against an EGF receptor from human origin. The purified receptor is autophosphorylated in tyrosine residues in an EGF-stimulated manner, and EGF-dependent phosphorylation of serine residues was also detected. Both the EGF and the transforming growth factor-alpha stimulate the tyrosine-directed protein kinase activity of the isolated receptor with similar affinities. Furthermore, we demonstrate that calmodulin inhibits the EGF-dependent tyrosine-directed protein kinase activity associated to the receptor in a concentration-dependent manner. This inhibition is partially Ca2+ dependent and is not displaced by increasing the concentration of EGF up to an EGF/calmodulin ratio of 10 (mol/mol). In addition, calmodulin was phosphorylated in an EGF-stimulated manner in the presence of a basic protein (histone) as cofactor and in the absence, but not in the presence, of Ca2+.     

Transmodulation of epidermal growth factor receptor function by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.

Binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to its receptor (EGFR) augments the tyrosine kinase activity of the receptor and autophosphorylation. Exposure of some tissues and cells to EGF also stimulates adenylyl cyclase activity and results in an increase in cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels. Because cAMP activates the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA), we investigated the effect of PKA on the EGFR. The purified catalytic subunit of PKA (PKAc) stoichiometrically phosphorylated the purified full-length wild type (WT) and kinase negative (K721M) forms of the EGFR. PKAc phosphorylated both WT-EGFR as well as a mutant truncated form of EGFR (Delta1022-1186) exclusively on serine residues. Moreover, PKAc also phosphorylated the cytosolic domain of the EGFR (EGFRKD). Phosphorylation of the purified WT as well as EGFRDelta1022-1186 and EGFRKD was accompanied by decreased autophosphorylation and diminished tyrosine kinase activity. Pretreatment of REF-52 cells with the nonhydrolyzable cAMP analog, 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP, decreased EGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins as well as activation of the WT-EGFR. Similar effects were also observed in B82L cells transfected to express the Delta1022-1186 form of EGFR. Furthermore, activation of PKAc in intact cells resulted in serine phosphorylation of the EGFR. The decreased phosphorylation of cellular proteins and diminished activation of the EGFR in cells treated with the cAMP analog was not the result of altered binding of EGF to its receptors or changes in receptor internalization. Therefore, we conclude that PKA phosphorylates the EGFR on Ser residues and decreases its tyrosine kinase activity and signal transduction both in vitro and in vivo.     

The insulin-like growth factor II receptor is phosphorylated by a tyrosine kinase in adipocyte plasma membranes

Incorporation of 32P from [gamma-32P]ATP into tyrosine residues of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II receptor was observed in a Triton X-100-insoluble fraction of rat adipocyte plasma membranes. IGF-II receptor phosphorylation proceeded to a stoichiometry of approximately 0.5 mol of phosphate/IGF-II binding site after 10 min of incubation at 4 degrees C. A Km for ATP of 6 microM was calculated for this phosphorylation reaction. Addition of IGF-II caused an approximately 2-fold increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of the IGF-II receptor in this preparation. In contrast, phosphorylation of angiotensin II by the Triton X-100 washed membranes was not stimulated by IGF-II. Incubation of purified receptor immobilized on IGF-II agarose or of receptor-enriched low density microsomal membranes with [gamma-32P]ATP did not result in appreciable incorporation of [32P]phosphate into the IGF-II receptor nor into exogenous substrates. These data suggest that the IGF-II receptor is not a tyrosine protein kinase capable of autophosphorylation but that it is a substrate for a tyrosine protein kinase endogenous to the adipocyte plasma membrane. The stimulatory effect of IGF-II on the tyrosine phosphorylation of its receptor may be due to a conformational change which converts the receptor to a better substrate for this tyrosine kinase.     

Amiloride directly inhibits growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase activity

Addition of amiloride to A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cell membranes inhibited autophosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. The tyrosine phosphorylation of histone H2B catalyzed by an affinity-purified preparation of EGF receptor was also inhibited by amiloride. The inhibition was noncompetitive with respect to histone but competitive with ATP, suggesting that amiloride may act as an ATP analogue which causes the formation of nonproductive enzyme-substrate complexes. The tyrosine phosphorylation of histone H2B catalyzed by the purified EGF receptor was inhibited by amiloride at concentrations identical to those previously reported to block EGF action on cell proliferation (Ki = 350 microM). Amiloride similarly inhibited the tyrosine phosphorylation of the human placental insulin receptor and the platelet-derived growth factor receptor of Swiss 3T3 cells. Immunoprecipitation of the EGF receptor from A431 cells labeled for 24 h with [32P]phosphate demonstrated that amiloride decreased the phosphorylation of the EGF receptor on serine and threonine residues and blocked the effect of EGF to cause phosphorylation of the receptor on tyrosine residues. Phosphoamino acid analysis of total cell proteins indicated that amiloride inhibited the increase in phosphotyrosine levels caused by EGF. We conclude that amiloride directly inhibits the tyrosine kinase activity of the receptors for EGF, insulin, and platelet-derived growth factor in in vitro and can mediate such actions in vivo. This effect of amiloride demonstrates that it is unsuitable as a drug to test the hypothesis that the stimulation of the Na+/H+ antiporter is essential for mitogenic signaling by growth factor receptors.     

EGF receptor signaling stimulates SRC kinase phosphorylation of clathrin, influencing clathrin redistribution and EGF uptake

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding to its receptor causes rapid phosphorylation of the clathrin heavy chain at tyrosine 1477, which lies in a domain controlling clathrin assembly. EGF-mediated clathrin phosphorylation is followed by clathrin redistribution to the cell periphery and is the product of downstream activation of SRC kinase by EGF receptor (EGFR) signaling. In cells lacking SRC kinase, or cells treated with a specific SRC family kinase inhibitor, EGF stimulation of clathrin phosphorylation and redistribution does not occur, and EGF endocytosis is delayed. These observations demonstrate a role for SRC kinase in modification and recruitment of clathrin during ligand-induced EGFR endocytosis and thereby define a novel effector mechanism for regulation of endocytosis by receptor signaling.     

Temperature-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein kinase in epidermal growth factor-stimulated human fibroblasts.

Treatment of normal human fibroblasts with epidermal growth factor (EGF) results in the rapid (0.5 min) and simultaneous tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor (EGFr) and several other proteins. An exception to this tyrosine phosphorylation wave was a protein (42 kDa) that became phosphorylated on tyrosine only after a short lag time (5 min). We identified this p42 kDa substrate as the microtubule-associated protein (MAP) kinase using a monoclonal antibody to a peptide corresponding to the C-terminus of the predicted protein (Science 249, 64-67, 1990). EGF treatment of human fibroblasts at 37 degrees C for 5 min resulted in the tyrosine phosphorylation of 60-70% of MAP kinase as determined by the percent that was immunoprecipitated with antiphosphotyrosine antibodies. Like other tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors, the EGFr is activated and phosphorylated at 4 degrees C but is not internalized. Whereas most other substrates were readily tyrosine phosphorylated at 4 degrees C, MAP kinase was not. When cells were first stimulated with EGF at 4 degrees C and then warmed to 37 degrees C without EGF, tyrosine phosphorylation of MAP kinase was again observed. Treatment of cells with the protein kinase C activator phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) also resulted in the tyrosine phosphorylation of MAP kinase, and again only at 37 degrees C. Tryptic phosphopeptide maps demonstrated that EGF and PMA both induced the phosphorylation of the same peptide on tyrosine and threonine. This temperature and PMA sensitivity distinguishes MAP kinase from most other tyrosine kinase substrates in activated human fibroblasts.     

Identification of the phosphorylation sites of clathrin light chain LCb

Clathrin light chains, LCa and LCb, are products of two closely related genes whose mRNAs undergo differential splicing to result in at least four different light chain isoforms. The physiological significance of clathrin light chain diversity remains unclear. To date, the only evidence for a functional distinction of LCa and LCb is the preferential phosphorylation of LCb, which takes place at serine residues and is mediated by coated vesicle-associated casein kinase II. As a first step toward determining the function of light chain diversity, we have mapped the in vitro phosphorylation sites on LCb. We use [32P]ATP to phosphorylate LCb within coated vesicles, followed by sequencing of 32P-labeled chymotryptic peptides thereof, to identify serine residues at positions 11 and 13 as the phosphorylation sites. We find that phosphorylation of LCb within coated vesicles can be inhibited by four monoclonal antibodies specific for different epitopes of the clathrin light chains.     

Regulation of the interleukin 2 receptor complex tyrosine kinase activity in vitro.

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) has been shown to stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of proteins requiring only the p75 beta chain of the IL-2 receptor. Unlike the receptors for epidermal growth factor, insulin, and other growth factors, the p55-alpha and p75-beta chains of the IL-2 receptor have no tyrosine protein kinase domain suggesting that the IL-2 receptor complex activates protein kinases by a unique mechanism. The activation of tyrosine kinases by IL-2 in situ was studied and using a novel methodology has shown tyrosine kinase activity associated with the purified IL-2R complex in vitro. IL-2 stimulated the in situ tyrosine phosphorylation of 97 kDa and 58 kDa proteins which bound to poly(Glu,Tyr)4:1, a substrate for tyrosine protein kinases, suggesting these proteins had characteristics found in almost all tyrosine kinases. IL-2 was found to stimulate tyrosine protein kinase activity in receptor extracts partially purified from human T lymphocytes and the YT cell line. Biotinylated IL-2 was used to precipitate the high-affinity-receptor complex and phosphoproteins associated with it. The data indicated that the 97-kDa and 58-kDa phosphotyrosyl proteins were tightly associated with the IL-2 receptor complex. These proteins were phosphorylated on tyrosine residues by IL-2 stimulation of intact cells and ligand treatment of in vitro receptor extracts. Furthermore, the 97-kDa and 58-kDa proteins were found in streptavidin-agarose/biotinylated IL-2 purified receptor preparations and showed high affinity for tyrosine kinase substrate support matrixes. The experiments suggest that these two proteins are potential candidates for tyrosine kinases involved in the IL-2R complex signal transduction process.     

Substrate specificities of tyrosine-specific protein kinases toward cytoskeletal proteins in vitro

We have previously reported that fodrin (beta subunit), tubulin (alpha subunit) and microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs; MAP2 and tau) are good substrates for the purified insulin receptor kinase (Kadowaki, T., Nishida, E., Kasuga, M., Akiyama, T., Takaku, F., Ishikawa, M., Sakai, H., Kathuria, S., and Fujita-Yamaguchi, Y. (1985) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 127, 493-500 and Kadowaki, T., Fujita-Yamaguchi, Y., Nishida, E., Takaku, F., Akiyama, T., Kathuria, S., Akanuma, Y., and Kasuga, M. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 4016-4020). In this study, to investigate the substrate specificities of tyrosine kinases, we have examined the actions of the purified epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor kinase and Rous sarcoma virus src kinase on purified microfilament- and microtubule-related proteins. Among microfilament-related proteins examined, the purified EGF receptor kinase phosphorylated the beta subunit, but not the alpha subunit, of fodrin on tyrosine residues with a Km below the micromolar range. The fodrin phosphorylation by the EGF receptor kinase was markedly inhibited by F-actin. In contrast, the purified src kinase preferentially phosphorylated the alpha subunit of fodrin on tyrosine residues. Fodrin phosphorylation by the src kinase was not inhibited by F-actin. Among microtubule proteins examined, MAP2 was the best substrate for the EGF receptor kinase. By contrast, src kinase favored phosphorylation of tubulin as compared to MAP2. The peptide mapping of MAP2 phosphorylated by the EGF receptor kinase and by the insulin receptor kinase produced very similar patterns of phosphopeptides, while that of MAP2 phosphorylated by the src kinase gave a distinctly different pattern. When the phosphorylation of the tubulin subunits was examined, the EGF receptor kinase preferred beta subunit to alpha subunit, but the src kinase phosphorylated both alpha and beta subunits to a similar extent. These results, together with our previous results, indicate that the substrate specificities of the EGF receptor kinase and the insulin receptor kinase are very similar, but not identical, while that of the src kinase is distinctly different from that of these growth factor receptor kinases.     

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase phosphorylation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in vitro

The specific tyrosine phosphorylation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) by the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in vitro is demonstrated. The Km values of the substrate G6PDH and of ATP for the receptor tyrosine kinase were ca. 1 and 10 microM, respectively. The rate of phosphorylation was EGF dependent, with a four-fold increase in Vmax in the presence of EGF. The phosphorylation was stimulated maximally by 0.2 microM or greater EGF, with an ED50 of ca. 20 nM which is consistent with the affinity of the solubilized receptor for EGF. Using conditions of 5 microM G6PDH, 100 microM ATP, 5 mM Mg2+, and 1 mM Mn2+, up to 0.3 mol phosphate was incorporated into 1 mol of the 55-kDa subunit of Baker's yeast G6PDH. Tryptic peptide mapping revealed several unique phosphopeptides for both Baker's yeast and bovine adrenal G6PDH. The patterns of phosphopeptides for a given enzyme were identical for basal and EGF-stimulated phosphorylation.     

Epidermal growth factor stimulates phosphorylation of RAF-1 independently of receptor autophosphorylation and internalization.

Phosphorylation of the RAF-1 protooncogene product and activation of its associated serine/threonine kinase are common features of the response of cells to peptide growth factors. We have used wild-type and mutant epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors to investigate mechanisms of RAF-1 phosphorylation. In vivo EGF treatment rapidly stimulated phosphorylation of RAF-1 exclusively on serine residues. Stimulation of RAF-1 phosphorylation occurred at 37 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C and persisted after dissociation of EGF from its receptor. EGF-induced RAF-1 serine phosphorylation required the intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity of the EGF receptor but was independent of EGF receptor self-phosphorylation and of ligand-induced receptor internalization. Down-regulation of protein kinase C did not affect the EGF-induced increase in RAF-1 phosphorylation. These data suggest that the activated tyrosine kinase activity of the EGF receptor enhances serine phosphorylation of RAF-1 via an intermediary molecule(s).     

Structural basis of specific and efficient phosphorylation of peptides derived from p34cdc2 by a pp60src-related protein tyrosine kinase.

Cys-cdc2(8-20), a synthetic peptide derived from p34cdc2, was previously reported to be a specific and efficient substrate of a pp60c-src-related tyrosine kinase isolated from bovine spleen (the spleen tyrosine kinase) (Litwin, C.M.E., Cheng, H.-C., and Wang, J.H. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 2557-2566). The longer peptide, cdc2(1-24), was found to be phosphorylated by the kinase with similar efficiency, and Tyr15 was the only amino acid residue phosphorylated. This indicated that the amino acid sequence of cdc2(8-20) peptide, EKI-GEGTYGVVYK, contained the structural features important for protein tyrosine kinase substrate activity. A stepwise procedure using synthetic peptides was employed to investigate such structural features. First, a computer search of protein sequences homologous to cdc2(8-20) uncovered five protein kinases containing homologous sequence with tyrosine at a position corresponding to Tyr15 of p34cdc2. Second, a peptide derived from ribosomal S6 protein kinase (rsk(436-456] was synthesized. The rsk(436-456) peptide contained a segment, ETIGVGSYSVCKR, which is highly homologous to that of cdc2(8-20). It was found to be a very poor substrate of the spleen tyrosine kinase. Third, peptide analogs of cdc2(6-20) with single substitutions of amino acid residues Lys9, Glu12, Thr14, Gly16, Val18, and Tyr19 by amino acid residues at corresponding positions of rsk were synthesized and tested as spleen tyrosine kinase substrates. Only Glu12 and Thr14 substituted peptide analogs showed decreased substrate activities. (The substrate activity of a peptide is the ability of the peptide to serve as the substrate of the spleen tyrosine kinase. It was determined of the spleen tyrosine kinase. It was determined either by the kinetic parameters (Km and Vmax) of phosphorylation of the peptide or by the initial phosphorylation rate of the peptide by the spleen tyrosine kinase.) An analog with double substitution at Glu12 An analog with double substitution at Glu12 and Thr14 was found to be almost as poor a substrate as the rsk peptide. In addition, peptide analogs with Tyr15 substituted by Phe or D-Tyr had poor substrate activities as well as weak inhibitory activities. Thus, Glu12, Thr14, and Tyr15 residues of p34cdc2 contained structural components essential for the efficient phosphorylation of the peptides derived from p34cdc2 by the pp60c-src-related spleen tyrosine kinase.     

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates association and kinase activity of Raf-1 with the EGF receptor.

Raf-1 serine- and threonine-specific protein kinase is transiently activated in cells expressing the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor upon treatment with EGF. The stimulated EGF receptor coimmunoprecipitates with Raf-1 kinase and mediates protein kinase C-independent phosphorylation of Raf-1 on serine residues. Hyperphosphorylated Raf-1 has lower mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels and has sixfold-increased activity in immunocomplex kinase assay with histone H1 or Raf-1 sequence-derived peptide as a substrate. Raf-1 activation requires kinase-active EGF receptor; a point mutant lacking tyrosine kinase activity in inactive in Raf-1 coupling and association. It is noteworthy that tyrosine phosphorylation of c-Raf-1 induced by EGF was not detected in these cells. These observations suggest that Raf-1 kinase may act as an important downstream effector of EGF signal transduction.