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Biomedical subjects

J Schlessinger

Publications and source records attributed to J Schlessinger.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Tyrosine phosphorylation of the c-cbl proto-oncogene protein product and association with epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor upon EGF stimulation.

The murine retroviral oncogene v-cbl induces pre-B cell lymphomas and myelogenous leukemias. The protein product of the mammalian c-cbl proto-oncogene is a widely expressed cytoplasmic 120-kDa protein (p120cbl) whose normal cellular function has not been determined. Here we show that upon stimulation of human epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, p12ocbl becomes strongly tyrosine-phosphorylated and associates with activated EGF receptor in vivo. A GST fusion protein containing amino acids 1-486 of p120cbl, including a region highly conserved in nematodes, binds directly to the autophosphorylated carboxyl-terminal tail of the EGF receptor. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), or nerve growth factor (NGF) stimulation also results in tyrosine phosphorylation of p120cbl. Recent genetic studies in Caenorhabditis elegans indicate that Sli-1, a p120cbl homologue, plays a negative regulatory role in control of the Ras signaling pathway initiated by the C. elegans EGF receptor homologue. Our results indicate that p120cbl is involved in an early step in the EGF signaling pathway that is conserved from nematodes to mammals.

Animals↗

Protein tyrosine kinase PYK2 involved in Ca(2+)-induced regulation of ion channel and MAP kinase functions.

The protein tyrosine kinase PYK2, which is highly expressed in the central nervous system, is rapidly phosphorylated on tyrosine residues in response to various stimuli that elevate the intracellular calcium concentration, as well as by protein kinase C activation. Activation of PYK2 leads to modulation of ion channel function and activation of the MAP kinase signalling pathway. PYK2 activation may provide a mechanism for a variety of short- and long-term calcium-dependent signalling events in the nervous system.

3T3 Cells↗

The carbonic anhydrase domain of receptor tyrosine phosphatase beta is a functional ligand for the axonal cell recognition molecule contactin.

Receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase beta (RPTP beta) is expressed in the developing nervous system and contains a carbonic anhydrase (CAH) domain as well as a fibronectin type III repeat in its extracellular domain. Fusion proteins containing these domains were used to search for ligands of RPTP beta. The CAH domain bound specifically to a 140 kDa protein expressed on the surface of neuronal cells. Expression cloning in COS7 cells revealed that this protein is contactin, a GPI membrane-anchored neuronal cell recognition molecule. The CAH domain of RPTP beta induced cell adhesion and neurite growth of primary tectal neurons, and differentiation of neuroblastoma cells. These responses were blocked by antibodies against contactin, demonstrating that contactin is a neuronal receptor for RPTP beta. These experiments show that an individual domain of RPTP beta acts as a functional ligand for the neuronal receptor contactin. The interaction between contactin and RPTP beta may generate unidirectional or bidirectional signals during neural development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The Drosophila insulin receptor homolog: a gene essential for embryonic development encodes two receptor isoforms with different signaling potential.

We report the cloning and primary structure of the Drosophila insulin receptor gene (inr), functional expression of the predicted polypeptide, and the isolation of mutations in the inr locus. Our data indicate that the structure and processing of the Drosophila insulin proreceptor are somewhat different from those of the mammalian insulin and IGF 1 receptor precursors. The INR proreceptor (M(r) 280 kDa) is processed proteolytically to generate an insulin-binding alpha subunit (M(r) 120 kDa) and a beta subunit (M(r) 170 kDa) with protein tyrosine kinase domain. The INR beta 170 subunit contains a novel domain at the carboxyterminal side of the tyrosine kinase, in the form of a 60 kDa extension which contains multiple potential tyrosine autophosphorylation sites. This 60 kDa C-terminal domain undergoes cell-specific proteolytic cleavage which leads to the generation of a total of four polypeptides (alpha 120, beta 170, beta 90 and a free 60 kDa C-terminus) from the inr gene. These subunits assemble into mature INR receptors with the structures alpha 2(beta 170)2 or alpha 2(beta 90)2. Mammalian insulin stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of both types of beta subunits, which in turn allows the beta 170, but not the beta 90 subunit, to bind directly to p85 SH2 domains of PI-3 kinase. It is likely that the two different isoforms of INR have different signaling potentials. Finally, we show that loss of function mutations in the inr gene, induced by either a P-element insertion occurring within the predicted ORF, or by ethylmethane sulfonate treatment, render pleiotropic recessive phenotypes that lead to embryonic lethality. The activity of inr appears to be required in the embryonic epidermis and nervous system among others, since development of the cuticle, as well as the peripheral and central nervous systems are affected by inr mutations.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Shc binding to nerve growth factor receptor is mediated by the phosphotyrosine interaction domain.

Shc is an adaptor protein that contains two phosphotyrosine-binding domains, a Src homology 2 (SH2) domain and the newly described phosphotyrosine interaction (PI) domain. Shc interacts with several tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins and is itself tyrosine-phosphorylated in cells stimulated with a variety of growth factors and cytokines. Upon phosphorylation, Shc binds to the Grb2.Sos complex leading to the activation of the Ras signaling pathway. Mutational analysis of the nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor (TrkA) suggested that the binding of Shc to the activated receptor is required for NGF-induced neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells. Here we report that the PI domain of Shc directly binds to tyrosine 490 on the autophosphorylated NGF receptor. The PI domain specifically recognizes an I/LXN-PXpY motif (where p indicates phosphorylation) as determined by phosphopeptide competition assay. In addition, the PI domain is able to efficiently compete for binding of full-length Shc proteins to the NGF receptor. In PC12 cells, the Shc SH2 domain interacts with an unidentified tyrosine-phosphorylated protein of 115 kDa but not with the activated NGF receptor. The ability of Shc to interact with different tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins via its PI and SH2 domains may allow Shc to play a unique role in tyrosine kinase signal transduction pathways.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Expression of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase-sigma (RPTP-sigma) in the nervous system of the developing and adult rat.

The expression of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase-sigma (RPTP-sigma) mRNA during rat development was examined by Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses. Northern blot analysis revealed that the two transcripts (5.7 kb and 6.9 kb) had different spatial and temporal patterns of expression. The 6.9-kb transcript was more abundant during embryonic development, whereas the 5.7-kb transcript was more abundant during postnatal development and in the adult. In situ hybridization revealed that RPTP-sigma mRNA was widely expressed throughout the central and peripheral nervous system during embryonic development. Very high levels were seen in the ventricular zone, subventricular zone, cortex, dorsal root ganglia, cranial nerve ganglia, olfactory epithelium, and retina. During postnatal development the level of expression decreased in most brain regions. However, high levels continued to be seen in the hippocampus. Emulsion autoradiography revealed that the majority of RPTP-sigma mRNA is expressed in neurons. Northern analysis showed that cultured glial cells expressed the 6.9-kb transcript, but not the 5.7-kb. RPTP-sigma mRNA expression profiles were clearly distinct from those of leukocyte antigen-related protein (LAR), a closely related RPTP. The spatiotemporal pattern of RPTP-sigma mRNA expression indicates that RPTP-sigma may play a role in the development of the nervous system.

Age Factors↗

Formation of signal transfer complexes between stem cell and platelet-derived growth factor receptors and SH2 domain proteins in vitro.

Cellular growth and differentiation signals are generated and defined by the interaction of specific phosphotyrosine residues of activated receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and src homology-2 (SH2) domain-containing intracellular signal transducers. This appears to involve for both the p145c-kit and beta platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGF-R) cytoplasmic domains the formation of multiprotein signal transfer complexes, which include combinations of noncatalytic and enzymatically active subunits of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3'-K), phospholipase C-gamma (PLC gamma), and guanosine trisphosphatase activating protein (GAP). In vitro association experiments indicate that PLC gamma and PI3'-K bind the beta PDGF-R simultaneously, while these two SH2 proteins compete for association to p145c-kit binding sites, with p85/PI3'-K exhibiting higher affinity. Interestingly, GAP and p85/PI3'-K binding to distinct p145c-kit phosphotyrosines is cooperative, enhancing formation of a heterotetrameric signaling complex, which may include different combinations of p85 alpha and p85 beta with p110, p112, and p116 by interaction with the same tyrosine 721 docking site. The diversity of molecular interactions observed for PDGF-R and p145c-kit suggests a new mode of signal definition and modulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Measurement of the binding of tyrosyl phosphopeptides to SH2 domains: a reappraisal.

Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-mediated interactions with phosphotyrosine residues are critical in many intracellular signal transduction pathways. Attempts to understand the determinants of specificity and selectivity of these interactions have prompted many binding studies that have used several techniques. Some discrepancies, in both the absolute and relative values of the dissociation constants for particular interactions, are apparent. To establish the correct dissociation constants and to understand the origin of these differences, we have analyzed three previously determined interactions using the techniques of surface plasmon resonance and isothermal titration calorimetry. We find that the binding of SH2 domains to phosphopeptides is weaker than generally presumed. A phosphopeptide based on the hamster polyoma middle tumor antigen interacts with the SH2 domain from Src with an equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of 600 nM; a phosphopeptide based on one binding site from the platelet-derived growth factor receptor binds to the N-terminal SH2 domain of the 1-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase p85 subunit with a Kd of 300 nM; and a phosphopeptide based on the C terminus of Lck binds to the SH2 domain of Lck with a Kd of 4 microM. In addition, we demonstrate that avidity effects that result from the dimerization of glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins with SH2 domains could be responsible for overestimates of affinities for these interactions previously studied by surface plasmon resonance.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Reduced activation of RAF-1 and MAP kinase by a fibroblast growth factor receptor mutant deficient in stimulation of phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis.

Signaling via the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1, flg) was analyzed in Ba/F3 hematopoietic cells expressing either wild-type or a mutant FGF receptor (Y766F) unable to activate phospholipase C-gamma (PLC-gamma) and stimulate phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis. Stimulation of cells expressing wild-type or mutant FGFR with acidic FGF (aFGF) caused similar activation of Ras. However, an approximately 3-fold reduced activation of Raf-1 and MAP kinase was observed in aFGF-stimulated cells expressing mutant receptors as compared to cells expressing wild-type FGF receptors. Comparison of phosphopeptide maps of Raf-1 immunoprecipitated from the two cell types activated by either aFGF or the phorbol ester (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) suggests that Raf-1 is phosphorylated by both Ras-dependent and PLC-gamma-dependent mechanisms. In spite of the differential effect on Raf-1 and MAP kinase activation, aFGF stimulated similar proliferation of cells expressing wild-type or mutant receptors indicating that Ras-dependent activation of Raf-1 and MAP kinase is sufficient for transduction of FGFR mitogenic signals. Ras may also activate signal transduction pathways that are complementary or parallel to the MAP kinase pathway to stimulate cell proliferation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Catalytic specificity of protein-tyrosine kinases is critical for selective signalling.

How do distinct protein-tyrosine kinases activate specific down-stream events? Src-homology-2 (SH2) domains on tyrosine kinases or targets of tyrosine kinases recognize phosphotyrosine in a specific sequence context and thereby provide some specificity. The role of the catalytic site of tyrosine kinases in determining target specificity has not been fully investigated. Here we use a degenerate peptide library to show that each of nine tyrosine kinases investigated has a unique optimal peptide substrate. We find that the cytosolic tyrosine kinases preferentially phosphorylate peptides recognized by their own SH2 domains or closely related SH2 domains (group I; ref. 3), whereas receptor tyrosine kinases preferentially phosphorylate peptides recognized by subsets of group III SH2 domains. The importance of these findings for human disease is underscored by our observation that a point mutation in the RET receptor-type tyrosine kinase, which causes multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B, results in a shift in peptide substrate specificity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Solution structure of pleckstrin homology domain of dynamin by heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy.

The pleckstrin homology (PH) domain is a recognition motif thought to be involved in signal-transduction pathways controlled by a variety of cytoplasmic proteins. Assignments of nearly all 1H, 13C, and 15N resonances of the PH domain from dynamin have been obtained from homonuclear and heteronuclear NMR experiments. The secondary structure has been elucidated from the pattern of nuclear Overhauser enhancements, from 13C chemical shift deviations, and from observation of slowly exchanging amide hydrogens. The secondary structure contains one alpha-helix and eight beta-strands, seven of which are arranged in two contiguous, antiparallel beta-sheets. The structure is monomeric, in contrast to the well-defined intimate dimerization of the crystal structure of this molecule. Residues possibly involved in ligand binding are in apparently flexible loops. Steady-state 15N(1H) nuclear Overhauser effect measurements indicate unequivocally the boundaries of this PH domain, and the structured portion of the domain appears to be more extended to the C terminus than previously suggested for other PH domains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Scratching the surface with the PH domain.

Pleckstrin homology (PH) domains bind to membrane surfaces, and inositol phospholipids appear to form part of the binding sites. Recent structural studies provide a model for PH domain anchoring to inositol phospholipids that will open new avenues for functional investigation.

Animals↗

The phosphotyrosine interaction domain of Shc binds an LXNPXY motif on the epidermal growth factor receptor.

Shc is an SH2 domain protein that is tyrosine phosphorylated in cells stimulated with a variety of growth factors and cytokines. Once phosphorylated, Shc binds the Grb2-Sos complex, leading to Ras activation. Shc can interact with tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins by binding to phosphotyrosine in the context of an NPXpY motif, where pY is a phosphotyrosine. This is an unusual binding site for an SH2 domain protein whose binding specificity is usually controlled by residues carboxy terminal, not amino terminal, to the phosphotyrosine. Recently we identified a second region in Shc, named the phosphotyrosine interaction (PI) domain, and we have found it to be present in a variety of other cellular proteins. In this study we used a dephosphorylation protection assay, competition analysis with phosphotyrosine-containing synthetic peptides, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutants to determine the binding sites of the PI domain of Shc on the EGFR. We demonstrate that the PI domain of Shc binds the LXNPXpY motif that encompasses Y-1148 of the activated EGFR. We conclude that the PI domain imparts to Shc its ability to bind the NPXpY motif.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Stimulation of receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase alpha activity and phosphorylation by phorbol ester.

Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Phosphatase alpha (RPTP alpha) is a transmembrane protein with two cytoplasmic catalytic protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) domains and a relatively short (123 amino acids) extracellular domain. Here we report that treatment of transfected cells that express RPTP alpha with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate, a direct activator of protein kinase C, induced a rapid, transient increase in RPTP alpha activity due to a 2- to 3-fold increase in substrate affinity. A transient increase in RPTP alpha serine phosphorylation was concomitant with the enhanced activity. Tryptic phosphopeptide mapping of RPTP alpha demonstrated that phosphorylation of three tryptic peptides was enhanced in response to phorbol ester. In vitro dephosphorylation of RPTP alpha from phorbol ester-treated cells reduced RPTP alpha activity to prestimulation levels, indicating that enhanced serine phosphorylation directly accounted for the increase in activity. Our results demonstrate that serine phosphorylation may play a key role in the regulation of the activity of transmembrane PTPs.

Cell Line↗

Heparin-induced oligomerization of FGF molecules is responsible for FGF receptor dimerization, activation, and cell proliferation.

Heparin is required for fibroblast growth factor (FGF) stimulation of biological responses. Using isothermal titration calorimetry, we show that acidic FGF (aFGF) forms a 1:1 complex with the soluble extracellular domain of FGF receptor (FGFR). Heparin exerts its effect by binding to many molecules of aFGF. The resulting aFGF-heparin complex can bind to several receptor molecules, leading to FGFR dimerization. In two cell lines lacking endogenous heparan sulfate, exogenous heparin is required for FGFR dimerization, tyrosine kinase activation, c-fos mRNA transcription, and cell proliferation. Moreover, a synthetic heparin analog that binds monovalently to aFGF blocks FGFR dimerization, activation, and signaling via FGFR. We propose that heparin causes oligomerization of aFGF such that its binding to FGFR results in dimerization and activation. This represents a novel mechanism for transmembrane signaling and may account for the action of many heparin-bound growth factors.

Animals↗

Independent binding of peptide ligands to the SH2 and SH3 domains of Grb2.

Grb2, composed entirely of SH2 and SH3 domains, serves as an adaptor protein in signaling from growth factor-activated tyrosine kinase receptors. It interacts via its SH2 domain with the autophosphorylated carboxyl-terminal tail of activated epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and via its SH3 domains with proline-rich sequences in the Ras guanine nucleotide releasing factor, Son of sevenless (Sos). Recruitment of the Grb2-Sos complex to the receptor upon its stimulation leads to Ras activation. A major question remains as to whether SH2-mediated binding of Grb2 to the activated receptor results in conformational changes that influence its SH3-mediated association with Sos, thereby affecting Sos activity. This question is addressed through studies of the binding to intact Grb2 of an EGF receptor-derived phosphotyrosine-containing peptide and a Sos-derived proline-rich peptide using isothermal titration calorimetry and surface plasmon resonance measurements. The phosphopeptide binds to Grb2 in a 1:1 complex, with a KD of 0.4 microns. The Sos proline-rich peptide binds to Grb2 in a 2:1 complex, with a KD of 22 microns. Saturation of the SH2 domain of Grb2 with the EGFR phosphopeptide was found not to affect its subsequent binding to the Sos peptide. Thus we detected no influence of SH2 binding upon SH3-mediated interactions, suggesting that the domains do not communicate, and that recruitment itself of Sos to the cell surface is sufficient for Ras signaling.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗