The characterization of novel, dual ErbB-2/EGFR, tyrosine kinase inhibitors: potential therapy for cancer.

The type I receptor tyrosine kinases constitute a family of transmembrane proteins involved in various aspects of cell growth and survival and have been implicated in the initiation and progression of several types of human malignancies. The best characterized of these proteins are the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and ErbB-2 (HER-2/neu). We have developed potent quinazoline and pyrido-[3,4-d]-pyrimidine small molecules that are dual inhibitors of ErbB-2 and EGFR. The compounds demonstrate potent in vitro inhibition of the ErbB-2 and EGFR kinase domains with IC(50)s <80 nM. Growth of ErbB-2- and EGFR-expressing tumor cell lines is inhibited at concentrations <0.5 microM. Selectivity for tumor cell growth inhibition versus normal human fibroblast growth inhibition ranges from 10- to >75-fold. Tumor growth in mouse s.c. xenograft models of the BT474 and HN5 cell lines is inhibited in a dose-responsive manner using oral doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg twice per day. In addition, the tested compounds caused a reduction of ErbB-2 and EGFR autophosphorylation in tumor fragments from these xenograft models. These data indicate that these compounds have potential use as therapy in the broad population of cancer patients overexpressing ErbB-2 and/or EGFR.

Nitric oxide stimulates the phosphorylation of rap1b in human platelets and acts synergistically with iloprost.

Phosphorylation of rap 1b in human platelets correlates with both an upward shift of the protein on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels and the translocation of the phosphorylated protein to the cytosolic fraction of platelets. We reported that this phenomenon occurs in platelets in response to agents that stimulate adenylate cyclase and thereby activate the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. We now have evidence that phosphorylation of rap1b in platelets is also induced by nitric oxide generating compounds through stimulation of guanylate cyclase and activation of the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase. We observed time-dependent phosphorylation of rap1b and dose-dependent inhibition of collagen-stimulated aggregation in washed platelets incubated with S-nitroso serum albumin. In the presence of a combination of iloprost and 3-morpholinosydnonimine, when both PKA and PKG are activated, phosphorylation of rap1b increased synergistically to a level three times higher than the sum of their individual actions.

Purification and cDNA sequence of an inducible nitric oxide synthase from a human tumor cell line.

A combination of cytokines induced the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in a human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line, DLD-1. We have purified the enzyme and examined some of its biochemical properties. An antiserum to an inducible NOS from murine macrophages cross-reacted with the DLD-1 NOS. The purified human and murine enzymes displayed a similar lack of dependence on exogenous calcium and calmodulin for activity, which contrasts with the requirement for calcium and calmodulin of purified brain and endothelial isoforms of NOS. We have also isolated a cDNA for a cytokine-induced NOS from DLD-1 cells. Sequence analysis of this cDNA and NOS cDNAs from human liver, smooth muscle, and macrophages suggests that, at the genetic level, there is a single isoform of human-inducible NOS.

Inhibition of ras-induced germinal vesicle breakdown in Xenopus oocytes by rap-1B.

A cDNA clone (Krev-1) has recently been identified that possesses the ability to reverse the transformed phenotype when introduced into a K-ras-transformed NIH/3T3 cell line. The Krev-1 protein, also known as rap-1A, was found to share 50% homology with the ras proteins. The rap-1A protein has also been shown to block the interaction of ras with its GTPase activating protein in vitro, leading to speculation regarding its role in vivo. A closely related protein, rap-1B, has also been identified in platelets, human erythroleukemia cells, neutrophils, and aortic smooth muscle cells. Unlike rap-1A, rap-1B has been shown to be phosphorylated in platelets. Given the high degree of similarity between the amino acid sequences of rap-1A and rap-1B, we sought to investigate the effect of microinjected rap-1B on H-ras(Val12)-induced germinal vesicle breakdown in Xenopus laevis oocytes. In this assay system, equimolar concentrations of rap-1B were found to block germinal vesicle breakdown triggered by the oncogenic ras protein. However, in the presence of IGF-1, this inhibition was not observed. Moreover, rap-1B is readily phosphorylated in the oocytes.

RAP2B: a RAS-related GTP-binding protein from platelets.

A platelet cDNA expression library was screened with the monoclonal antibody M90, which recognizes a specific epitope on RAS-encoded p21 proteins (amino acids 107-130). DNA sequence analysis of one clone revealed that it encoded a partial amino acid sequence of a protein closely related to RAP2, which we have named RAP2B. A repeated screening of the platelet cDNA library with an internal Ava I fragment of the RAP2B cDNA allowed the isolation of a full-length cDNA for the RAP2B sequence. RAP2B is 90% identical to RAP2 at the amino acid level with the most variability at the carboxyl terminus of the protein. Oligonucleotides were synthesized to complete the amino acid sequence of the RAP2B protein and the entire sequence was expressed in Escherichia coli. Analysis of crude soluble extracts indicated that RAP2B was a Mr 22,000 protein that specifically bound GTP on blots. Moreover, incubation of similar extracts with the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase did not cause phosphorylation of RAP2B, as had been observed for the closely homologous proteins, RAP1A and RAP1B. These results suggest that RAP2B, like the other RAP proteins, is a low molecular weight GTP-binding protein in human platelets.

A ras-related protein is phosphorylated and translocated by agonists that increase cAMP levels in human platelets.

The antigenicity of platelet proteins was assayed against various monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that recognize specific epitopes of the ras-encoded p21 protein. mAb M90, which detects the region of p21 protein within amino acids 107-130 and inhibits its GTP-binding activity, strongly reacted with a 22-kDa protein present in the particulate fraction of human platelets. Other mAbs against ras-encoded proteins, including Y13-259, which efficiently detects ras proteins from a variety of organisms, did not recognize the platelet 22-kDa protein. Transfer of the platelet 22-kDa protein to nitrocellulose paper showed that the protein binds [alpha-32P]GTP. Moreover, preincubation of the transferred protein with mAb M90 drastically reduced its GTP-binding activity. Treatment of platelets with iloprost, a prostacyclin analog, caused (i) a time-dependent increase of a 24-kDa protein that is recognized by mAb M90 in particulate and cytosolic fractions and (ii) the gradual decrease of the 22-kDa protein from the particulate fraction. When platelets were labeled with 32P and then treated with iloprost, the 24-kDa protein was found to be phosphorylated. The 32P-labeled 24-kDa protein was specifically immunoprecipitated by mAb M90. These results suggest that appearance of the 24-kDa protein results from phosphorylation of the 22-kDa protein, which shifts its mobility to a higher molecular mass area.

Platelet cytosolic 44-kDa protein is a substrate of cholera toxin-induced ADP-ribosylation and is not recognized by antisera against the alpha subunit of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein.

ADP-ribosylation induced by cholera toxin and pertussis toxin was studied in particulate and cytosolic fractions of human platelets. Platelets were disrupted by a cycle of freezing and thawing in the presence of a hyposmotic buffer containing protease inhibitors. In both fractions, the A subunit of cholera toxin ADP-ribosylates two proteins with molecular masses of 42 and 44 kDa, whereas pertussis toxin ADP-ribosylates a 41-kDa polypeptide. Two antisera against the alpha subunit of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein recognize only the 42-kDa polypeptide. Cholera toxin-induced ADP-ribosylation of the 42- and 44-kDa proteins is reduced by pretreatment of platelets with iloprost, a prostacyclin analog. The 44-kDa protein, which is substrate of cholera toxin, could be extracted completely from the membrane and recovered in the cytosolic fraction when the cells were disrupted by Dounce homogenization and the pellet was extensively washed. A 44-kDa protein can also be labeled with 8-azidoguanosine 5'-[alpha-32P]triphosphate in the cytosol and membranes. These findings indicate that cholera and pertussis toxins produced covalent modifications of proteins present in particulate and cytosolic platelet fractions. Moreover, the 44-kDa protein might be an alpha subunit of a guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein that is not recognized by available antisera.

Specific binding of [alpha-32P]GTP to cytosolic and membrane-bound proteins of human platelets correlates with the activation of phospholipase C.

We have assessed the binding of [alpha-32P]GTP to platelet proteins from cytosolic and membrane fractions. Proteins were separated by NaDodSO4/PAGE and electrophoretically transferred to nitrocellulose. Incubation of the nitrocellulose blots with [alpha-32P]GTP indicated the presence of specific and distinct GTP-binding proteins in cytosol and membranes. Binding was prevented by 10-100 nM GTP and by 100 nM guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[gamma S]) or GDP; binding was unaffected by 1 nM-1 microM ATP. One main GTP-binding protein (29.5 kDa) was detected in the membrane fraction, while three others (29, 27, and 21 kDa) were detected in the soluble fraction. Two cytosolic GTP-binding proteins (29 and 27 kDa) were degraded by trypsin; another cytosolic protein (21 kDa) and the membrane-bound protein (29.5 kDa) were resistant to the action of trypsin. Treatment of intact platelets with trypsin or thrombin, followed by lysis and fractionation, did not affect the binding of [alpha-32P]GTP to the membrane-bound protein. GTP[gamma S] still stimulated phospholipase C in permeabilized platelets already preincubated with trypsin. This suggests that trypsin-resistant GTP-binding proteins might regulate phospholipase C stimulated by GTP[gamma S].