Involvement of the Src kinase Lyn in phospholipase C-gamma 2 phosphorylation and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation in Epo signalling

We examined the role of the Src kinase Lyn in phospholipase C-gamma 2 (PLC-gamma 2) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activation in erythropoietin (Epo)-stimulated FDC-P1 cells transfected with a wild type (WT) Epo-receptor (Epo-R). We showed that two inhibitors of Src kinases, PP1 and PP2, abolish both PLC-gamma 2 tyrosine phosphorylation and PI 3-kinase activity in WT Epo-R FDC-P1 cells. We also demonstrated that Epo-phosphorylated Lyn is associated with tyrosine phosphorylated PLC-gamma 2 and PI 3-kinase in WT Epo-R FDC-P1-stimulated cells. Moreover Epo-activated Lyn phosphorylates in vitro PLC-gamma 2 immunoprecipitated from unstimulated cells. Our results suggest that the Src kinase Lyn is involved in PLC-gamma 2 phosphorylation and PI 3-kinase activation induced by Epo.     

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase regulates glycosylphosphatidylinositol hydrolysis through PLC-gamma(2) activation in erythropoietin-stimulated cells

Erythropoietin (Epo)-induced glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) hydrolysis was previously described to be correlated with phospholipase C-gamma 2 (PLC-gamma2) activation. Here, we analyzed the involvement of phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 3-kinase in GPI hydrolysis through PLC-gamma2 tyrosine phosphorylation in response to Epo in FDC-P1 cells transfected with a wild type (WT) erythropoietin-receptor (Epo-R). We showed that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PtdIns 3-kinase) inhibitor LY294002 inhibits Epo-induced hydrolysis of endogenous GPI and Epo-induced PLC-gamma2 tyrosine phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. Wortmannin, another PtdIns 3-kinase inhibitor, also suppressed Epo-induced PLC-gamma2 tyrosine phosphorylation. We also present evidence that PLC-gamma2 translocation to the membrane fraction on Epo stimulation is completely inhibited by LY294002. Upon Epo stimulation, the tyrosine-phosphorylated PLC-gamma2 was found to be associated with the tyrosine-phosphorylated Grb2-associated binder (GAB)2, SHC and SHP2 proteins. LY294002 cell preincubation did not affect GAB2, SHC and SHP2 tyrosine phosphorylation but inhibited the binding of PLC-gamma2 to GAB2 and SHP2. Taken together, these results show that PtdIns 3-kinase controls Epo-induced GPI hydrolysis through PLC-gamma2.     

Sequential activation of phoshatidylinositol 3-kinase and phospholipase C-gamma2 by the M-CSF receptor is necessary for differentiation signaling.

Binding of macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) to its receptor (Fms) induces dimerization and activation of the tyrosine kinase domain of the receptor, resulting in autophosphorylation of cytoplasmic tyrosine residues used as docking sites for SH2-containing signaling proteins that relay growth and development signals. To determine whether a distinct signaling pathway is responsible for the Fms differentiation signal versus the growth signal, we sought new molecules involved in Fms signaling by performing a two-hybrid screen in yeast using the autophosphorylated cytoplasmic domain of the wild-type Fms receptor as bait. Clones containing SH2 domains of phospholipase C-gamma2 (PLC-gamma2) were frequently isolated and shown to interact with phosphorylated Tyr721 of the Fms receptor, which is also the binding site of the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase). At variance with previous reports, M-CSF induced rapid and transient tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma2 in myeloid FDC-P1 cells and this activation required the activity of the PI3-kinase pathway. The Fms Y721F mutation strongly decreased this activation. Moreover, the Fms Y807F mutation decreased both binding and phosphorylation of PLC-gamma2 but not that of p85. Since the Fms Y807F mutation abrogates the differentiation signal when expressed in FDC-P1 cells and since this phenotype could be reproduced by a specific inhibitor of PLC-gamma, we propose that a balance between the activities of PLC-gamma2 and PI3-kinase in response to M-CSF is required for cell differentiation.     

PDGF stimulation of inositol phospholipid hydrolysis requires PLC-gamma 1 phosphorylation on tyrosine residues 783 and 1254.

PDGF binding to its receptor promotes the association with and stimulates the phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 at tyrosine and serine residues. Also, PDGF induces an increase in the hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids by PLC. How PDGF activates PLC was investigated by substituting phenylalanine for tyrosine at PLC-gamma 1 phosphorylation sites 771, 783, and 1254 and expressing the mutant enzymes in NIH 3T3 cells. Phenylalanine substitution at Tyr-783 completely blocked the activation of PLC by PDGF, whereas mutation at Try-1254 inhibited and mutation at Tyr-771 enhanced the response. Like the wild type, PLC-gamma 1 substituted with phenylalanine at Tyr-783 became associated with the PDGF receptor and underwent phosphorylation at serine residues in response to PDGF. These results suggest that PLC-gamma 1 is the PLC isozyme that mediates PDGF-induced inositol phospholipid hydrolysis, that phosphorylation on Tyr-783 is essential for PLC-gamma 1 activation. These results provide direct evidence that growth factor receptors activate the function of intracellular protein by tyrosine phosphorylation.     

Inhibition of CD3-linked phospholipase C by phorbol ester and by cAMP is associated with decreased phosphotyrosine and increased phosphoserine contents of PLC-gamma 1.

The mechanisms by which phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and cAMP attenuate the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns 4,5-P2) induced by ligation of the T-cell antigen receptor complex (TCR) was studied in the human Jurkat T-cell line. It has previously been shown that stimulation of Jurkat cells with antibodies to CD3, components of the TCR, elicits a rapid and transient phosphorylation of phospholipase C (PLC)-gamma 1, the predominant PLC isozyme in Jurkat cells, at multiple tyrosine residues and that such tyrosine phosphorylation leads to activation of PLC-gamma 1. Prior incubation of Jurkat cells with PMA or forskolin, which increases intracellular cAMP concentrations, prevented tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 as well as the hydrolysis of PtdIns 4,5-P2 induced by ligation of CD3. Dose-response curves of PMA and of forskolin for the inhibition of PLC-gamma 1 tyrosine phosphorylation and of PtdIns 4,5-P2 hydrolysis were similar. These results suggest that the inhibition of PtdIns 4,5-P2 hydrolysis by PMA and cAMP is attributable to reduced tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1. Treatment of Jurkat cells with PMA or forskolin stimulated the phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 at serine 1248. PMA treatment also elicited the phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 at an unidentified serine site. Phosphopeptide map analysis indicated that the sites of PLC-gamma 1 phosphorylated in Jurkat cells treated with PMA and forskolin are the same as those phosphorylated in vitro by protein kinase C (PKC) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), respectively. Stimulation of Jurkat cells with antibodies to CD3 also elicited phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 at serine 1248 and at the unidentified serine site phosphorylated in PLC-gamma 1 from PMA-treated cells. Thus, phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 by PKC or PKA at serine 1248 may modulate the interaction of PLC-gamma 1 with the protein tyrosine kinase or the protein tyrosine phosphatase; this altered interaction may, at least in part, be responsible for the decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 seen in PMA- and forskolin-treated Jurkat cells. Furthermore, in the absence of PMA, activation of PKC by diacylglycerol provides a negative feedback signal responsible for reducing the phosphotyrosine contents of PLC-gamma 1.     

Phospholipase C-gamma is a substrate for the PDGF and EGF receptor protein-tyrosine kinases in vivo and in vitro

Phospholipase C-gamma (PLC-gamma) was rapidly phosphorylated on tyrosines and serines following PDGF and EGF treatment of quiescent 3T3 mouse fibroblasts and A431 human epidermoid cells, respectively, PDGF treatment increased PLC-gamma phosphorylation within 30 sec. This lasted for up to 1 hr, and occurred at high stoichiometry. Continuous receptor occupancy was required to maintain this phosphorylation. Three major sites of tyrosine phosphorylation were detected in PLC-gamma, two of which were phosphorylated in EGF-treated A431 cells. Under certain conditions PDGF receptor coimmunoprecipitated with PLC-gamma, suggesting that PDGF receptor can phosphorylate PLC-gamma directly. Indeed, purified PDGF or EGF receptor phosphorylated purified PLC-gamma on tyrosines identical to those phosphorylated in vivo. Tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma was not induced by bombesin, TPA, or insulin. Stimulation of PLC-gamma tyrosine phosphorylation and the reported ability of PDGF and EGF to induce phosphatidylinositol turnover in different cells were strongly correlated. We propose that tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma by PDGF and EGF receptors leads to its activation, and a consequent increase in phosphatidylinositol turnover.     

IgE-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma 1 in rat basophilic leukemia cells.

Stimulation of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells with oligomeric IgE elicited a rapid and transient phosphorylation of phospholipase C (PLC)-gamma 1 on tyrosine residues. Prior incubation of RBL-2H3 cells with a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, herbimycin A, prevented the tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 as well as the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate induced by oligomeric IgE. However, 5'-(N-ethyl)carboxamidoadenosine, which is known to activate PLC through a G protein, did not elicit tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1. These results, together with previous findings showing that tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 enhances its catalytic activity, indicate that phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 by a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase is the mechanism by which IgE receptor aggregation triggers PLC activation.     

Cytokine-induced phosphorylation of pp100 in FDC-ER cells is at tyrosine residues.

Using FDC-P1 cells stably transfected with a murine erythropoietin receptor cDNA as a model, we recently have shown that erythropoietin (EPO), IL-3 and GM-CSF each induce the rapid phosphorylation of a common cytosolic target, i.e., a M(r) 100,000 phosphoprotein "pp100". Presently, we demonstrate that cytokine-induced phosphorylation of pp100 is primarily at tyrosine residues. This is shown by Western blotting with the anti-phosphotyrosine antibody PY20, and by the resistance of [32P]-pp100 to hydroxide-mediated hydrolysis of phosphates. These data, together with the recent observation by Linnekin et al. that pp100/p97 apparently associates directly with EPO receptors, suggest that pp100 may comprise an immediate common component in the signal transduction pathways of EPO, IL-3, GM-CSF and possibly other type I/II cytokine receptors. Additional analyses suggest that pp100 is distinct from a previously described M(r) 100,000 cytosolic target which is tyrosine phosphorylated in hematopoietic cells upon activation of T-cell receptors.     

Minimal requirement of tyrosine residues of linker for activation of T cells in TCR signaling and thymocyte development

Linker for activation of T cells (LAT) is a membrane-associated adaptor protein that is phosphorylated on multiple tyrosines upon TCR cross-linking. Previous studies show that LAT is essential for TCR-mediated signaling and thymocyte development. In this study, we expressed a series of LAT Tyr to Phe mutants in LAT-deficient J.CaM2.5 cells and examined their tyrosine phosphorylation; association with Grb2, Gads, and phospholipase C (PLC)-gamma1; and function in T cell activation. Our results showed that the five membrane-distal tyrosines were phosphorylated upon T cell activation. Grb2, Gads, and PLC-gamma1 associated with LAT preferentially via different sets of tyrosine residues; however, they failed to interact with LAT mutants containing only one tyrosine. We also determined the minimal requirement of LAT tyrosine residues in T cell activation and thymocyte development. Our results showed that a minimum of three tyrosines is required for LAT to function in T cell activation and thymocyte development. LAT mutants that were capable of binding Grb2 and PLC-gamma1 could reconstitute T cell activation in LAT-deficient cells and thymocyte development in LAT-deficient mice.     

Association of Grb2, Gads, and phospholipase C-gamma 1 with phosphorylated LAT tyrosine residues. Effect of LAT tyrosine mutations on T cell angigen receptor-mediated signaling

The linker for activation of T cells (LAT) is a critical adaptor molecule required for T cell antigen receptor (TCR)-mediated signaling and thymocyte development. Upon T cell activation, LAT becomes highly phosphorylated on tyrosine residues, and Grb2, Gads, and phospholipase C (PLC)-gamma1 bind LAT via Src homology-2 domains. In LAT-deficient mutant Jurkat cells, TCR engagement fails to induce ERK activation, Ca(2+) flux, and activation of AP-1 and NF-AT. We mapped the tyrosine residues in LAT responsible for interaction with these specific signaling molecules by expressing LAT mutants with tyrosine to phenylalanine mutations in LAT-deficient cells. Our results showed that three distal tyrosines, Tyr(171), Tyr(191), and Tyr(226), are responsible for Grb2-binding; Tyr(171), and Tyr(191), but not Tyr(226), are necessary for Gads binding. Mutation of Tyr(132) alone abolished PLC-gamma1 binding. Mutation of all three distal tyrosines also abolished PLC-gamma1 binding, suggesting there might be multiple binding sites for PLC-gamma1. Mutation of Tyr(132) affected calcium flux and blocked Erk and NF-AT activation. Since Grb2 binding is not affected by this mutation, these results strongly suggest that PLC-gamma activation regulates Ras activation in these cells. Mutation of individual Grb2 binding sites had no functional effect, but mutation of two or three of these sites, in combination, also affected Erk and NF-AT activation.     

Overexpression of phospholipase C-gamma1 suppresses UVC-induced apoptosis through inhibition of c-fos accumulation and c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation in PC12 cells.

Ultraviolet-C (UVC) irradiation induces DNA damage and UVC-irradiated cells undergo cell growth arrest to repair the damaged DNA or the induction of apoptosis to prevent the risk of neoplastic transformation. Phospholipase C-gamma1 (PLC-gamma1) is a mediator of growth factor induced-signal cascade, catalyzing the hydrolysis of phosphatidyl 4,5-bisphosphate to generate second messengers, diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)). PLC-gamma1 is activated by phosphorylation of tyrosine residues upon occupation of cell surface receptors by growth factors and plays an important role in controlling cellular proliferation and differentiation. In this study, we found that PLC-gamma1 was tyrosine phosphorylated within 2.5 min after UVC irradiation. To investigate the role of UVC-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma1, we compared the effect of UVC between PLC-gamma1 overexpressing cells and empty vector transfected cells. Overexpression of PLC-gamma1 inhibited UVC-induced sub-diploid peak and DNA fragmentation. Northern blot analysis revealed that UVC-induced c-fos mRNA accumulation was inhibited in PLC-gamma1 overexpressing cells, while c-jun expression was not affected. In addition, UVC-induced activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was significantly suppressed in PLC-gamma1 overexpressing cells. These results suggest that PLC-gamma1 may associate with the protective function against the UVC-induced cell death progression via the inhibition of accumulation of c-fos mRNA and the inhibition of JNK kinase activity.     

Identification of the minimal tyrosine residues required for linker for activation of T cell function

The linker for activation of T cells (LAT) is essential for signaling through the T cell receptor (TCR). Following TCR stimulation, LAT becomes tyrosine-phosphorylated, creating docking sites for other signaling proteins such as phospholipase C-gamma(1) (PLC-gamma(1)), Grb2, and Gads. In this study, we have attempted to identify the critical tyrosine residues in LAT that mediate TCR activation-induced mobilization of intracellular Ca(2+) and activation of the MAP kinase Erk2. By using the LAT-deficient Jurkat derivative, J.CaM2, stable cell lines were established expressing various tyrosine mutants of LAT. We show that three specific tyrosine residues (Tyr(132), Tyr(171), and Tyr(191)) are necessary and sufficient to achieve a Ca(2+) flux following TCR stimulation. These tyrosine residues function by reconstituting PLC-gamma(1) phosphorylation and recruitment to LAT. However, these same tyrosines can only partially reconstitute Erk activation. Full reconstitution of Erk requires two additional tyrosine residues (Tyr(110) and Tyr(226)), both of which have the Grb2-binding motif YXN. This reconstitution of Erk activation requires that the critical tyrosine residues be on the same molecule of LAT, suggesting that a single LAT molecule nucleates multiple protein-protein interactions required for optimal signal transduction.     

Identification of tyrosine residues within the intracellular domain of the erythropoietin receptor crucial for STAT5 activation.

FDCP-1 cells are hematopoietic progenitor cells which require interleukin-3 for survival and proliferation. FDCP-1 cells stably transfected with the murine erythropoietin receptor cDNA survive and proliferate in the presence of erythropoietin. Erythropoietin induces the activation of the short forms (80 kDa) of STAT5 in the cells. Erythropoietin-induced activation of STAT5 was strongly reduced in cells expressing mutated variants of the erythropoietin receptors in which tyrosine residues in their intracellular domain have been eliminated. We determined that the erythropoietin receptor tyrosine residues 343 and 401 are independently necessary for STAT5 activation. The amino acid sequences surrounding these two tyrosine residues are very similar. Peptides comprising either phosphorylated Tyr343 or phosphorylated Tyr401, but not their unphosphorylated counterparts, inhibited the STAT5 activation. We propose that these two tyrosine residues of the erythropoietin receptor constitute docking sites for the STAT5 SH2 domain. The growth stimulus mediated by erythropoietin was decreased in cells expressing erythropoietin receptors lacking both Tyr343 and Tyr401. This suggests that STAT5 activation could be involved in the growth control of FDCP-1 cells.     

Phospholipase C-gamma 1 and phospholipase C-gamma 2 are substrates of the B cell antigen receptor associated protein tyrosine kinase.

Cross-linking the antigen receptor on B cells results in a rapid increase in protein tyrosine kinase activity as detected by increased phosphorylation on tyrosine residues of multiple proteins. Although the identity of most of this substrates remains unknown, some have been proposed. One possible substrate of the antigen receptor-associated kinase is phospholipase C (PLC). Since multiple isoforms of PLC have been identified, we have studied which isoforms are targets of the antigen receptor. PLC-gamma 1 and PLC-gamma 2 but not PLC-beta 1 or PLC-delta 1 were detected in human B cells. Immunoprecipitation with antibodies against PLC-gamma 1 or PLC-gamma 2 and subsequent Western blotting with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies revealed that both PLC-gamma 1 and PLC-gamma 2 are tyrosine phosphorylated in stimulated but not in resting B cells. This was confirmed by experiments whereby B cell lysates were immunoprecipitated with anti-phosphotyrosine antibody and subsequently blotted with antibodies against PLC-gamma 1 or PLC-gamma 2. Further, the specific protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors, tyrphostins, which block phospholipase-C activation and proliferation of B cells also inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation on both PLC-gamma 1 and PLC-gamma 2. We conclude that both isoforms PLC-gamma 1 and PLC-gamma 2 are targets of the antigen receptor-associated protein tyrosine kinase.     

Interleukin 3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and transfected erythropoietin receptors mediate tyrosine phosphorylation of a common cytosolic protein (pp100) in FDC-ER cells.

Receptors for the hematopoietic growth factors erythropoietin, interleukin 3 (IL-3), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) are members of a structurally related receptor superfamily. Interestingly, while none of these receptors encode tyrosine kinase activities, induced tyrosine phosphorylation has been observed in various responsive cells stimulated with each factor. Toward defining possible common transduction pathways which are activated by these three cytokines, we have studied induced protein phosphorylation in murine myeloid FDC-P1 cells stably transfected with an erythropoietin receptor cDNA (FDC-ER cells). FDC-ER cells proliferate in response to erythropoietin (Quelle, D. E., and Wojchowski, D. M. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 4801-4805), and presently are shown to rapidly phosphorylate a M(r) 100,000 cytosolic protein (pp100) at tyrosine residues in response to this factor. Phosphorylation of pp100 also is induced in FDC-P1 and FDC-ER cells in response to IL-3 or GM-CSF. Importantly, quantitative analyses showed identical concentration dependencies for factor-induced pp100 phosphorylation and induced cell proliferation. Moreover, a selective loss of proliferative responsiveness to GM-CSF in FDC-ER cells was associated with a reduced capacity of GM-CSF to induce pp100 phosphorylation. Finally, limited differences in tryptic phosphopeptide maps of pp100 as isolated following exposure to erythropoietin, IL-3, or GM-CSF were observed, suggesting that these factors also may preferentially induce phosphorylation of pp100 at distinct sites. These findings are consistent with a role for pp100 as a common cytosolic transducer in the apparently convergent pathways of erythropoietin-, IL-3-, and GM-CSF-induced proliferation of myeloid progenitor cells.     

Nerve growth factor stimulates phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma in PC12 cells.

PC12 cells contain at least three immunologically distinct phospholipase C (PLC) isozymes, PLC-beta, PLC-gamma, and PLC-delta. Treatment of PC12 cells with nerve growth factor (NGF) leads to an increase in the phosphorylation of PLC-gamma, but not of PLC-beta or PLC-delta. This increase can be seen in as little as 1 minute. The increased phosphorylation occurs on both serine and tyrosine residues, with the major increase being in the former. This result suggests the possibility that the NGF-dependent increase in phosphoinositide hydrolysis in PC12 cells is due to selective phosphorylation of PLC-gamma by serine and tyrosine protein kinases associated with the NGF receptor.     

MyD88 adapter-like (Mal) is phosphorylated by Bruton's tyrosine kinase during TLR2 and TLR4 signal transduction

Members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family are essential players in activating the host innate immune response against infectious microorganisms. All TLRs signal through Toll/interleukin 1 receptor domain-containing adapter proteins. MyD88 adapter-like (Mal) is one such adapter that specifically is involved in TLR2 and TLR4 signaling. When overexpressed we have found that Mal undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation. Three possible phospho-accepting tyrosines were identified at positions 86, 106, and 187, and two mutant forms of Mal in which tyrosines 86 and 187 were mutated to phenylalanine acted as dominant negative inhibitors of NF-kappaB activation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Activation of THP-1 monocytic cells with the TLR4 agonist LPS and the TLR2 agonist macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2 induced phosphorylation of Mal on tyrosine residues. We found that the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) inhibitor LFM-A13 could block the endogenous phosphorylation of Mal on tyrosine in cells treated with macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2 or LPS. Furthermore, Btk immunoprecipitated from THP-1 cells activated by LPS could phosphorylate Mal. Our study therefore provides the first demonstration of the key role of Mal phosphorylation on tyrosine during signaling by TLR2 and TLR4 and identifies a novel function for Btk as the kinase involved.     

Role of the interleukin (IL)-28 receptor tyrosine residues for antiviral and antiproliferative activity of IL-29/interferon-lambda 1: similarities with type I interferon signaling

Interferon (IFN)-lambda 1, -lambda 2, and -lambda 3 are the latest members of the class II cytokine family and were shown to have antiviral activity. Their receptor is composed of two chains, interleukin-28R/likely interleukin or cytokine or receptor 2 (IL-28R/LICR2) and IL-10R beta, and mediates the tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT1, STAT2, STAT3, and STAT5. Here, we show that activation of this receptor by IFN-lambda 1 can also inhibit cell proliferation and induce STAT4 phosphorylation, further extending functional similarities with type I IFNs. We used IL-28R/LICR2-mutated receptors to identify the tyrosines required for STAT activation, as well as antiproliferative and antiviral activities. We found that IFN-lambda 1-induced STAT2 tyrosine phosphorylation is mediated through tyrosines 343 and 517 of the receptor, which showed some similarities with tyrosines from type I IFN receptors involved in STAT2 activation. These two tyrosines were also responsible for antiviral and antiproliferative activities of IFN-lambda 1. By contrast, STAT4 phosphorylation (and to some extent STAT3 activation) was independent from IL-28R/LICR2 tyrosine residues. Taken together, these observations extend the functional similarities between IFN-lambdas and type I IFNs and shed some new light on the mechanisms of activation of STAT2 and STAT4 by these cytokines.     

Detergent-resistant membrane domains are required for mast cell activation but dispensable for tyrosine phosphorylation upon aggregation of the high affinity receptor for IgE

Aggregation of the high affinity receptor for IgE (FceRI) on mast cells results in the rapid phosphorylation of tyrosines on the beta and gamma chains of the receptor by the Src family kinase Lyn, which initiates the signaling cascades leading to secretion of inflammatory mediators. The detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) have been implicated in FcepsilonRI signaling because aggregated receptors emigrate to DRMs that are enriched in certain signaling components. We evaluated the role of DRMs in FcepsilonRI signaling by disruption of DRMs using a cholesterol-binding agent, methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MBCD). While treatment of rat basophilic leukemia cells with MBCD inhibits degranulation and Ca(2+) mobilization upon aggregation of FcepsilonRI, MBCD hardly affects the aggregation-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of FcepsilonRI as well as other signaling molecules such as phospholipase C-gamma1 (PLC-gamma1). MBCD delocalizes phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate from DRMs, which may prevent MBCD-treated cells from producing inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate by means of activated PLC-gamma1. These data suggest an indispensable role for DRMs in the Ca(2+) response rather than tyrosine phosphorylation, and support a model of receptor phosphorylation in which aggregated FcepsilonRI is tyrosine phosphorylated outside DRMs by constitutively associated Src family kinase Lyn via a transphosphorylation mechanism.     

The role of tyrosine residues in fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 signaling in PC12 cells. Systematic site-directed mutagenesis in the endodomain.

To assess the contribution of the intracellular domain tyrosine residues to the signaling capacity of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), stably transfected chimeras bearing the ectodomain of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) and the endodomain of FGFR1 were systematically altered by a tyrosine to phenylalanine bloc and individual conversions. The 15 tyrosine residues of the endodomain of this construct (PFR1) were divided into four linear segments (labeled A, B, C, and D) that contained 4, 4, 2, and 5 tyrosine residues, respectively. When stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor, derivatives in which the A, B, or A + B blocs of tyrosines were mutated were about two-thirds as active as the unmodified chimera at 48 h but achieved full activity by 96 h in a neurite outgrowth assay in transfected PC12 cells. Elimination of only the two activation loop tyrosines (C bloc) also inactivated the receptor. All derivatives in which 4 (or 5) of the D bloc tyrosines were mutated were inactive in producing differentiation but showed low levels of kinase activity in in vitro assays. Derivatives in which 1, 2, or 3 tyrosines of the D bloc in different combinations were systematically changed demonstrated that 2 residues (Tyr(677) and Tyr(701), using hFGFR1 numbering) were essential for bioactivity, but the remaining 3 residues, including Tyr(766), the previously identified site for phospholipase C gamma (PLC gamma) activation, were not. Differentiation activity was paralleled by the activation (phosphorylation) of FRS2, SOS, and ERK1/2. PLC gamma activity was dependent on the presence of Tyr(766) but also required Tyr(677) and/or Tyr(701). Although fully active chimeras did not require PLC gamma, the responses of chimeras showing reduced activation of FRS2 were significantly enhanced by this activity. These results establish that PFR1 does not utilize any tyrosine residues, phosphorylated or not, to activate FRS2. However, it does require Tyr(677) and/or Tyr(701), which may function to stabilize the active conformation directly or indirectly.