A rat Sertoli cell factor similar to basic fibroblast growth factor increases c-fos messenger ribonucleic acid in cultured Sertoli cells

We have shown that the cultured Sertoli cell from the immature rat contains a fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-like factor. It behaves as a cationic peptide, is a potent competence factor for BALB/c3T3 mouse embryo fibroblasts, and displays a high affinity for heparin. Both bovine basic FGF and Sertoli cell FGF-like factor rapidly increase c-fos mRNA in cultured Sertoli cells. FSH, serum, and phorbol esters individually stimulate c-fos in cultured Sertoli cells whereas platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and insulin-like growth factor-I have little affect. However, unlike FSH, basic FGF does not stimulate an increase in cAMP and unlike either serum or phorbol esters, basic FGF does not stimulate phosphoinositol turnover or intracellular calcium changes. When Sertoli cell protein kinase C activity is suppressed by preexposure to phorbol ester, basic FGF continues to be a potent stimulator of c-fos, indicating that the calcium/phospholipid pathway is not involved in FGF induction. Basic FGF and FSH also increase jun-B mRNA levels in cultured Sertoli cells. In response to FGF, jun-B is more transiently increased than c-fos. In contrast, in response to FSH, jun-B persists longer than c-fos. These results indicate that cultured Sertoli cells contain a FGF-like factor that increases c-fos mRNA via a mechanism not involving cAMP and the calcium/phospholipid pathways. The different responsiveness of c-fos and jun-B to FSH and basic FGF may explain differences in the ultimate actions of these two ligands.     

Nuclear localization of basic fibroblast growth factor is mediated by heparan sulfate proteoglycans through protein kinase C signaling

Understanding the process of wound healing will provide valuable insight for the development of new strategies to treat diseases associated with improper regeneration, such as blindness induced by corneal scarring. Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) are not normally expressed in the corneal stroma, but their presence at sites of injury suggests their involvement in the wound healing response. Primary cultured corneal stromal fibroblasts constitutively express HSPG and represent an injured phenotype. Recently, nuclear localization of HSPG was shown to increase in corneal stromal fibroblasts plated on fibronectin (FN), an extracellular matrix protein whose appearance in the corneal stroma correlates with injury. One possible role for the nuclear localization of HSPG is to function as a shuttle for the nuclear transport of heparin-binding growth factors, such as basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2). Once in the nucleus, these growth factors might directly modulate cellular activities. To investigate this hypothesis, cells were treated with (125)I-labelled FGF-2 under various conditions and fractionated. Our results show that nuclear localization of FGF-2 was increased in cells plated on FN compared to those on collagen type I (CO). Interestingly, FGF-2-stimulated proliferation was increased in cells plated on FN compared to CO and this effect was absent in the presence of heparinase III. Furthermore, pre-treatment with heparinase III decreased nuclear FGF-2, and CHO cells defective in the ability to properly synthesize heparan sulfate chains showed reduced nuclear FGF-2 indicating that the heparan sulfate chains of HSPG are critical for this process. HSPG signaling, particularly through the cytoplasmic tails of syndecans, was investigated as a potential mechanism for the nuclear localization of FGF-2. Treatment with phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), under conditions that caused downregulation of protein kinase Calpha (PKCalpha), decreased nuclear FGF-2. Using pharmacological inhibitors of specific PKC isozymes, we elucidated a potential mode of regulation whereby PKCalpha mediates the nuclear localization of FGF-2 and PKCdelta inhibits it. Our studies suggest a novel mechanism in which FGF-2 translocates to the nucleus in response to injury.     

Regulation of mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptor distribution by activators and inhibitors of protein kinase C

The tumor-promotor phorbol dibutyrate (PDBt) increases the binding of a neoglycoprotein containing mannose 6-phosphate (Man6P) and of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) to the Man6P/IGF-II receptor at the cell surface. This effect is dependent on time and concentration and is also seen with synthetic 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol, but not with 4 alpha-phorbol, an inactive tumor-promoter. The increase is due to a 3-4-fold increase in the number of cell-surface, receptors, accompanied by a 1.6-fold increase in ligand-binding affinity. The internalization rate of the Man6P/IGF-II receptor is not affected by PDBt, suggesting that the redistribution of these receptors to the cell surface is due to an accelerated externalization rate. The redistribution of Man6P/IGF-II receptors did not impair the sorting of newly synthesized Man6P-containing ligands while uptake of these ligands is 2-4-fold increased. Inactivation or down regulation of protein kinase C decreased the binding of the Man6P-containing neoglycoprotein to 65% of controls. Incubation of cells with Man6P, IGF-I, IGF-II or epidermal growth factor induces a rapid redistribution of Man6P/IGF-II receptors to the plasma membrane [Braulke, T., Tippmer, S., Neher, E. & von Figura, K. (1989) EMBO J. 8, 681-686]. Incubation with PDBt prevented the effect of growth factors but not that of Man6P on receptor redistribution. Inactivation of protein kinase C did not affect the Man6P/IGF-II receptor redistribution induced by Man6P and growth factors. These data suggest that Man6P, growth factors and activation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters and diacylglycerols modulate Man6P/IGF-II receptor cell-surface binding by at least two independent mechanisms, receptor redistribution as well as an increase of binding affinity, which might be involved in regulation of endocytosis of ligands.     

Estrogen regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor messenger ribonucleic acid

Previous studies have demonstrated that 17 beta-estradiol (E2) causes a 3-fold increase in epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors in uterine membranes. We now report that the increase in uterine EGF receptor levels is due to an increase in the steady-state levels of EGF receptor mRNA. After a single E2 injection, EGF receptor mRNA levels, as determined by RNA blots, increase 3- to 4-fold between 1 and 3 h, remain elevated at 6 h, and decline between 12 and 18 h. The effect is specific for E2 since the nonestrogenic hormones progesterone, dexamethasone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, and the inactive stereoisomer of E2, 17 alpha-estradiol, are without effect. E2-Mediated increases in EGF receptor mRNA levels are blocked by actinomycin D but not by puromycin. Taken together, these results indicate that E2 regulates the level of EGF receptor by increasing the steady-state concentration of EGF receptor mRNA in vivo.     

Phosphorylation of basic fibroblast growth factor by purified protein kinase C and the identification of a cryptic site of phosphorylation

We have further characterized the protein kinase C (PK-C) dependent phosphorylation of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF). Intact recombinant basic FGF and a series of ten peptide fragments of basic FGF were phosphorylated by PK-C and the products were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. As expected, peptide fragments containing the known site of phosphorylation (Ser64) are substrates for phosphorylation. Surprisingly however, peptides containing the receptor binding domain of the mitogen [basic FGF(106-115)] are also phosphorylated. An examination of this sequence reveals the presence of a consensus sequence (Ser108-Ala109-Lys110) that mediates the reaction. Accordingly, all peptides that contain the core amino acids basic FGF(106-111) are substrates for phosphorylation. Peptide mapping of basic FGF confirms that Ser64 is the primary site of phosphorylation, suggesting that Ser108 is a cryptic consensus sequence. Because basic FGF is metabolized to sequence specific fragments after its binding and internalization into target cells, this cryptic site may in fact be phosphorylated in vivo.     

Regulation of VL30 gene expression by activators of protein kinase C

The mouse genome contains a retrovirus-like sequence, designated VL30, which is expressed at high levels in transformed cells and which can be induced by exogenously supplied epidermal growth factor (EGF). Binding of EGF to the EGF receptor produces changes in intracellular calcium levels and phospholipase activity which indirectly lead to activation of protein kinase C. We treated AKR-2B cells, Swiss 3T3 cells, and the 3T3 variants NR6 (EGF receptorless) and TNR9 (phorbol ester nonresponsive) with various phorbol ester tumor promoters and with the synthetic diacylglycerol sn-1,2-dioctanoylglycerol. Tumor-promoting phorbol esters (e.g. 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA] increased the level of VL30 expression. Stimulation with either TPA or EGF produced a similar time course of VL30 expression. TPA induced VL30 expression in the EGF-receptorless NR6 cell line, indicating that neither EGF ligand-receptor binding nor phosphorylation of the EGF receptor was required for induction of VL30 expression. Protein synthesis was not required for the TPA-mediated increase in VL30 expression, as pretreatment with cycloheximide did not block or reduce the TPA effect. VL30 expression was also stimulated by treatment with sn-1,2-dioctanoylglycerol, an analog of a probable endogenous activator of protein kinase C. These results suggest that activation of protein kinase C plays a direct role in regulating VL30 expression.     

Stabilizing basic fibroblast growth factor using protein engineering

Using site directed mutagenesis, each of the four cysteines present at amino acid residues 26, 70, 88, and 93 of the mature protein of human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was individually changed to serine. The biological activity and heparin binding ability was retained when the serine was substituted for the cysteine residue at either 70 or 88 of the bFGF protein. This finding indicates that the cysteines at these positions are not essential for expressing biological activity. The substitution of the residues at these positions, especially at position 88, reduced the heterogeneity recognized as several peaks of bFGF eluted from a heparin affinity column, even after oxidation with hydrogen peroxide, suggesting that the cysteines at these positions are exposed to the surface of the molecule to form disulfide bonds that induce heterologous conformations. Furthermore, under acidic conditions, these modified bFGFs are revealed to be more stable in maintaining their activity. These facts suggest that this protein has been successfully modified by protein engineering.     

Activation of protein kinase-C differentially regulates insulin-like growth factor-I and basic fibroblast growth factor messenger RNA levels.

Fibroblasts represent one of the in vivo sites of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) production. In this study rat dermal fibroblasts in culture were used as a model system to assess the effect of activation of protein kinase-C on the levels of the mRNAs encoding IGF-I and another growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). IGF-I and bFGF mRNA levels were determined using a solution hybridization/RNase protection assay. Treatment of cells in serum-free medium containing 0.25% BSA (MEM + BSA) with the tumor-promoting phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) decreased IGF-I and increased bFGF mRNA levels in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. The peak effect of 100 nM PMA on IGF-I mRNA levels occurred at 9 h, whereas the peak effect on bFGF mRNA levels occurred after 3 h of incubation. In dose-response studies, half-maximal inhibition of IGF-I mRNA levels was achieved with approximately 0.08 nM PMA, while half-maximal stimulation of bFGF mRNA levels was achieved with approximately 3 nM PMA. Inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide abrogated the effect of PMA on bFGF mRNA levels, but only partially inhibited the effect of PMA on IGF-I mRNA levels. Studies employing sphingosine or staurosporine to inhibit protein kinase-C or preincubation in high doses of PMA to down-regulate protein kinase-C suggested that the effect of PMA on IGF-I and bFGF mRNA levels was mediated by activation of protein kinase-C, although both staurosporine and sphingosine had independent effects on the levels of these mRNAs and down-regulation of protein kinase-C had a sustained effect on IGF-I mRNA levels. Ligands known to activate protein kinase-C were then tested. Treatment of cells with 100 micrograms/ml of the synthetic diacylglycerol 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol decreased IGF-I mRNA levels to 25% and increased bFGF mRNA levels to 520% of the level present in cells maintained in MEM + BSA. Treatment of cells with thrombin or bradykinin also decreased IGF-I mRNA levels and increased bFGF mRNA levels, but whereas the effect of thrombin on IGF-I mRNA levels was marked, the effect of bradykinin was minimal, and whereas the effect of thrombin on bFGF mRNA levels was sustained, the effect of bradykinin was transient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Regulation of aspartate aminotransferase messenger ribonucleic acid level by testosterone

The effect of testosterone on precursor mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (pmAAT) mRNA was studied in rat ventral prostate and primary cell cultures of mini-pig prostate. Testosterone induced a 2-3-fold increase in pmAAT mRNA level in both rat ventral prostate and mini-pig prostate cultures. The pmAAT mRNA induction occurred 30 min after testosterone treatment and was maximal by 1.5 h. Prostatic mAAT activity was also induced by testosterone with a 1-2 h lag period. The time-course of induction of pmAAT mRNA, pmAAT activity and mAAT activity was consistent with stimulation of mRNA synthesis followed by increased synthesis and import of pmAAT into mitochondria. The effect of testosterone on pmAAT mRNA was specific because the increase in pmAAT mRNA was at least 2-fold greater than the increase in poly (A+) RNA. These results suggest that testosterone stimulated mAAT activity by induction of pmAAT mRNA. This continues to support our proposal that a major physiological effect of testosterone is increased pmAAT mRNA steady-state levels which result in increased pmAAT synthesis and increased mAAT activity. These changes ultimately result in increased citrate production by prostate epithelial cells.     

Stimulatory effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on induction of heat shock protein 27 in osteoblasts: role of protein kinase C

In a previous study we showed that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) stimulates activation of protein kinase C through phosphoinositide hydrolysis by phospholipase C and phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis by phospholipase D in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. In the present study, we investigated whether bFGF stimulates the induction of heat shock protein (HSP) 27, a low-molecular-weight HSP, and HSP70, a high-molecular-weight HSP, in MC3T3-E1 cells and the mechanism behind the induction. bFGF increased the level of HSP27 while having little effect on HSP70 level. bFGF stimulated the accumulation of HSP27 dose-dependently in the range between 1 and 30 ng/ml. bFGF induced an increase in the level of the mRNA for HSP27. The bFGF-stimulated accumulation of HSP27 was reduced by inhibitors of protein kinase C. The bFGF-induced HSP27 accumulation was reduced in protein kinase C-downregulated MC3T3-E1 cells. U-73122, an inhibitor of phospholipase C, and propranolol, a phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase inhibitor, suppressed the bFGF-stimulated HSP27 accumulation. These results strongly suggest that bFGF stimulates HSP27 induction through protein kinase C activation in osteoblasts.     

Autocrine growth stimulation by secreted Kaposi fibroblast growth factor but not by endogenous basic fibroblast growth factor

We studied the different potentials of a secreted and a nonsecreted member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family to induce autocrine growth stimulation in human adrenal cortex carcinoma cells (SW-13). These epithelial cells express basic FGF (bFGF) cell surface receptors, and picomolar concentrations of bFGF suffice to induce anchorage-independent growth. The requirement for exogenously added bFGF contrasts with the intracellular storage of biologically active bFGF in SW-13 cells greater than 10,000-fold in excess of the concentration needed to stimulate anchorage independent growth. To study whether the expression of a secreted FGF would alter the growth phenotype of these cells, we transfected them with an expression vector coding for the Kaposi-fgf (K-fgf) oncogene. In contrast to controls, K-fgf-transfected cells secrete significant amounts of biologically active K-fgf protein into the growth media, show up to 50-fold increased colony formation in soft agar, and grow into rapidly progressing, highly vascularized tumors in athymic nude mice. A reversible inhibition of the autocrine growth stimulation in vitro is brought about by the polyanionic compound suramin. We conclude that FGF has to be released from SW-13 cells to function fully as a growth stimulator in vitro and in vivo.     

Regulation of retinal capillary cells by basic fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and hypoxia

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) feature prominently in retinal neovascular diseases. Although the role of VEGF in retinal angiogenesis is well established, the importance of bFGF in this process requires further clarification. This study was undertaken to investigate the responses of retinal capillary cells (endothelial cells and pericytes) to bFGF under hypoxic conditions, as well as the potentially synergistic effects of bFGF and VEGF on the proliferation and cord formation of retinal endothelial cells. Cell proliferation was determined by cell number and by 3H-thymidine incorporation. Cord formation was assessed in three-dimensional gels of collagen type I. VEGF and bFGF increased 3H-thymidine incorporation by both cell types, an effect that was more pronounced in a hypoxic environment. Moreover, the proliferation of pericytes was stimulated to a greater extent by bFGF relative to VEGF. Endothelial migration in collagen gels, however, was induced more effectively by VEGF than by bFGF. A synergistic effect of VEGF and bFGF on cell invasion was observed in the collagen gel assay. VEGF and bFGF each augment proliferation of these cells, especially under hypoxia. We thus propose that these two cytokines have a synergistic effect at several stages of angiogenesis in the retina.     

Differential effects of heparin, fibronectin, and laminin on the phosphorylation of basic fibroblast growth factor by protein kinase C and the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is synthesized as a phosphoprotein by both bovine capillary endothelial and human hepatoma cells in culture. Because basic FGF is characterized by its high affinity for heparin and its association in vivo with the extracellular matrix, we examined the possibility that the phosphorylation of this growth factor by purified protein kinase C (PK-C) and the catalytic subunit of cAMP- dependent protein kinase-A (PK-A) can be modulated by components of the extracellular matrix. Heparin and other glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) inhibit the ability of PK-C to phosphorylate basic FGF. In contrast, heparin can directly increase the phosphorylation of basic FGF by PK-A. While fibronectin, laminin, and collagen IV have no effect on the ability of PK-C to phosphorylate basic FGF, they all can inhibit the effects of PK-A. Thus, there is a differential effect of extracellular matrix-derived proteins and GAGs on the phosphorylation of basic FGF. The enhanced phosphorylation of basic FGF that is mediated by heparin is associated with a change in the kinetics of the reaction and the identity of the amino acid targeted by this enzyme. The amino acids that are targeted by PK-C and PK-A have been identified by phosphopeptide analyses as Ser64 and Thr112, respectively. In the presence of heparin, basic FGF is no longer phosphorylated by PK-A at the usual PK-A consensus site (Thr112), but instead is phosphorylated at the canonical PK-C site (Ser64). Accordingly, heparin inhibits the phosphorylation of basic FGF by PK-C presumably by masking the PK-C dependent consensus sequence surrounding Ser64. Thus, when basic FGF is no longer phosphorylated by PK-A in the receptor binding domain (Thr112), it loses the increased receptor binding ability that characterizes PK-A phosphorylated basic FGF. The results presented here demonstrate three novel features of basic FGF. First, they identify a functional effect of the binding of heparin to basic FGF. Second, they establish that the binding of heparin to basic FGF can induce structural changes that alter the substrate specificity of protein kinases. Third, and perhaps most important, the results demonstrate the existence of a novel interaction between basic FGF, fibronectin, and laminin. Although the physiological significance of this phosphorylation is not known, these results clearly suggest that the biological activities of basic FGF are regulated by a complex array of biochemical interactions with the proteins, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans present in the extracellular milieu and the cytoplasm.     

Beta-nerve growth factor influences the expression of androgen-binding protein messenger ribonucleic acid in the rat testis.

The effect of infusion of nerve growth factor (NGF) into the rat testis on the expression of androgen-binding protein (ABP) mRNA was studied. A major 1.7-kb and a minor 3.7-kb ABP mRNA were present at all stages of the seminiferous epithelium with maximal levels at stages VIII-XI and the lowest levels at stages IV-VI. Infusion of 15 ng/h of NGF with a mini-osmotic pump for 14 days resulted in a 2-fold increase of ABP mRNA as revealed by Northern blots, whereas the mRNA level of another Sertoli cell protein, urokinase-type plasminogen activator, remained unchanged. Image analysis of autoradiograms obtained by in situ hybridization of sections from treated testes showed a similar increase in APB mRNA compared to noninfused or PBS-infused testes. However, at the cellular level the labeling intensity for ABP mRNA over Sertoli cells of different stages of the seminiferous epithelium was the same in NGF-infused and control testes. This suggests that the increase of ABP mRNA in NGF-infused testes was caused by prolongation of stages VII-VIII with maximal ABP mRNA expression; the suggestion is supported by an increase of 30 percent in frequency of these stages in histological sections from NGF-infused testes.     

Lipid activators of protein kinase C

Among the many reported lipid activators of protein kinase C only those of high affinity can be considered true physiological effectors, at present the tumor promoters, e.g., phorbol esters; 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerols; and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. Many other compounds (including arachidonic acid) are activators at high, unphysiological concentrations only, and they seem to be sterically unsuited for bonding to the enzyme. Such pseudo-activators possibly act by scrambling the structure of the regulatory moiety of the kinase.     

Release of cell surface-associated basic fibroblast growth factor by glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C.

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) are ubiquitous constituents of mammalian cell surfaces and most extracellular matrices. A portion of the cell surface HSPG is anchored via a covalently linked glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (Pl) residue, which can be released by treatment with a glycosyl-Pl specific phospholipase C (Pl-PLC). We report that exposure of bovine aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells to Pl-PLC resulted in release of cell surface-associated, growth-promoting activity that was neutralized by antibasic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) antibodies. Active bFGF was also released by treating the cells with bacterial heparitinase. Under the same conditions there was no release of mitogenic activity from cells (BHK-21, NIH/3T3, PF-HR9) that expressed little or no bFGF, as opposed to Pl-PLC-mediated release of active bFGF from the same cells transfected with the bFGF gene. The released bFGF competed with recombinant bFGF in a radioreceptor assay. Addition of Pl-PLC to sparsely seeded vascular endothelial cells resulted in a marked stimulation of cell proliferation, but there was no mitogenic effect of Pl-PLC on 3T3 fibroblasts. Studies with exogenously added 125I-bFGF revealed that about 6.5% and 20% of the cell surface-bound bFGF were released by treatment with Pl-PLC and heparitinase, respectively. Both enzymes also released sulfate-labeled heparan sulfate from metabolically labeled 3T3 fibroblasts. Pl-PLC failed to release 125I-bFGF from the subendothelial extracellular matrix (ECM), as compared to release of 60% of the ECM-bound bFGF by heparitinase. Our results indicate that 3-8% of the total cellular content of bFGF is associated with glycosyl-Pl anchored cell surface HSPG. This FGF may exert both autocrine and paracrine effects, provided that it is released by Pl-PLC and adequately presented to high affinity bFGF cell surface receptor sites.     

Regulation of estrogen receptor protein and messenger ribonucleic acid by estradiol and progesterone in rat uterus

The objective of this study was to examine the mechanisms of estrogen receptor (ER) processing and replenishment in the uterus of ovariectomized rats after estradiol and progesterone treatment. Uterine ER binding activity, ER protein and ER mRNA were measured by receptor binding exchange assay, Western blot and slot blot, respectively. The regulation of ER levels in rat uterus by estradiol and progesterone was very dramatic. Changes in ER protein were faithfully reflected by changes in binding activity. Estradiol caused receptor “processing” within 4 h of administration followed by recovery or “replenishment” of ER levels to the initial level by 20 h. The term “processing” has previously been used to describe the loss of ER binding activity in the early phase of estradiol-action, but it was never clear whether the ligand binding site was inactivated by processing or if the receptor molecule actually disappeared. This study shows that receptor “processing” constitutes disappearance of receptor protein and the later “replenishment” phase represents new ER protein rather than recycling of “processed” receptor. Progesterone-action, on the other hand, influenced only the “replenishment” phase by blocking recovery of ER protein. ER mRNA was suppressed by estradiol at 8 h, after the receptor was “processed” and “replenishment” already initiated. Progesterone, on the other hand, did not alter the steady state level of the message. Other mechanisms, such as regulation of translation rate of existing mRNA and changes in the rate of degradation of ER proteins are more likely involved in acute regulation of ER by these ovarian steroid hormones.     

Modulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor by basic fibroblast growth factor

Treatment of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) lead to a rapid reduction in epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding and a slower inhibition of EGF receptor autophosphorylation. The reduction in binding was due to a complete loss of the highest affinity EGF binding sites and a reduction in the lower affinity binding sites. Neither the inhibition of EGF binding nor the inhibition of EGF receptor autophosphorylation required protein kinase C. Treatment of cells with bFGF stimulated the phosphorylation of the EGF receptor, which persisted for several hours. The inhibition of EGF receptor autophosphorylation by bFGF was reduced in the presence of cycloheximide. However, cycloheximide had no effect on the reduction of EGF binding by bFGF. In contrast to these results with Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts, treatment of PC12 cells with bFGF lead to a reduction in EGF binding but no inhibition of EGF receptor autophosphorylation. Thus inhibited of EGF receptor autophosphorylation and inhibition of EGF binding can be uncoupled. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.