PKCbeta modulates antigen receptor signaling via regulation of Btk membrane localization.

Mutations in Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) result in X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) in humans and X-linked immunodeficiency (xid) in mice. While targeted disruption of the protein kinase C-beta (PKCbeta) gene in mice results in an immunodeficiency similar to xid, the overall tyrosine phosphorylation of Btk is significantly enhanced in PKCbeta-deficient B cells. We provide direct evidence that PKCbeta acts as a feedback loop inhibitor of Btk activation. Inhibition of PKCbeta results in a dramatic increase in B-cell receptor (BCR)-mediated Ca2+ signaling. We identified a highly conserved PKCbeta serine phosphorylation site in a short linker within the Tec homology domain of Btk. Mutation of this phosphorylation site led to enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation and membrane association of Btk, and augmented BCR and FcepsilonRI-mediated signaling in B and mast cells, respectively. These findings provide a novel mechanism whereby reversible translocation of Btk/Tec kinases regulates the threshold for immunoreceptor signaling and thereby modulates lymphocyte activation.

A conditional form of Bruton's tyrosine kinase is sufficient to activate multiple downstream signaling pathways via PLC Gamma 2 in B cells.

BACKGROUND: Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) is essential for B cell development and function. Mutations of Btk elicit X-linked agammaglobulinemia in humans and X-linked immunodeficiency in the mouse. Btk has been proposed to participate in B cell antigen receptor-induced signaling events leading to activation of phospholipase C-gamma2 (PLCgamma2) and calcium mobilization. However it is unclear whether Btk activation is alone sufficient for these signaling events, and whether Btk can activate additional pathways that do not involve PLCgamma2. To address such issues we have generated Btk:ER, a conditionally active form of the kinase, and expressed it in the PLCgamma2-deficient DT40 B cell line. RESULTS: Activation of Btk:ER was sufficient to induce multiple B cell signaling pathways in PLCgamma2-sufficient DT40 cells. These included tyrosine phosphorylation of PLCgamma2, mobilization of intracellular calcium, activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, and apoptosis. In DT40 B cells deficient for PLCgamma2, Btk:ER activation failed to induce the signaling events described above with the consequence that the cells failed to undergo apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that Btk:ER regulates downstream signaling pathways primarily via PLCgamma2 in B cells. While it is not known whether activated Btk:ER precisely mimics activated Btk, this conditional system will likely facilitate the dissection of the role of Btk and its family members in a variety of biological processes in many different cell types.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase is required for signaling the CD79b-mediated pro-B to pre-B cell transition.

Formation of the pre-BCR complex is a critical check point during B cell development and induces the transition of pro-B to pre-B cells. CD79b (Igbeta) is a signaling component in the pre-BCR complex, since differentiation to the pre-B phenotype is induced by cross-linking the CD79b expressed on developmentally arrested pro-B cells from recombination-activating gene (RAG)-2-deficient mice. Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) plays important roles in B cell development. However, its molecular mechanisms in early B cell development are not fully understood. To examine whether BTK functions in CD79b-mediated signaling for the pro-B/pre-B transition, we utilized RAG2/BTK double-knockout (DKO) mice. Pro-B cells from RAG2/BTK-DKO mice did not differentiate into pre-B cells following CD79b cross-linking, although tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins including Erk1/2 and phospholipase C-gamma2 was induced in the same manner as RAG2-KO mice. BTK is phosphorylated after cross-linking of CD79b on RAG2-deficient pro-B cells. These findings suggest that BTK-dependent pathways downstream of CD79b are critical for the pro-B/pre-B transition and BTK-independent signaling pathways are also activated via the pre-BCR complex.

Engagement of the human pre-B cell receptor generates a lipid raft-dependent calcium signaling complex.

Pre-B cell receptor (pre-BCR) expression is critical for B lineage development. The signaling events initiated by the pre-BCR, however, remain poorly defined. We demonstrate that lipid rafts are the major functional compartment for human pre-B cell activation. A fraction of pre-BCR was constitutively raft associated, and receptor engagement enhanced this association. These events promoted Lyn activation and Igbeta phosphorylation and led to the generation of a raft-associated signaling module composed of tyrosine phosphorylated Lyn, Syk, BLNK, PI3K, Btk, VAV, and PLCgamma2. Formation of this module was essential for pre-BCR calcium signaling. Together, these observations directly link the previously identified genetic requirement for the components of this module in B lineage development with theirfunctional role(s) in human preBCR signaling.

Rapid tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of Bruton's tyrosine/Tec kinases in platelets induced by collagen binding or CD32 cross-linking.

Stimulation of the platelet nonintegrin collagen receptor, glycoprotein VI, evokes a signaling response similar to that induced by antigen receptor activation in B and T lymphocytes. A key transducer of the lymphocyte signaling pathways is the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk)/Tec kinase family, which connects receptors to the elevation of intracellular-free calcium levels. An important signaling function for Btk in collagen-induced platelet activation in vitro was recently demonstrated by other researchers using Btk-deficient platelets from patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA). Since Btk-deficiency does not induce an overt platelet-based bleeding disorder in vivo, collagen receptor responses may include other Btk/Tec kinase family members in normal platelets. Both Btk and Tec had increased tyrosine following stimulation of collagen receptors or CD32 cross-linking. Data from kinetic analyses and inhibitor studies and the use of phosphopeptide-specific antibodies recognizing 2 Btk regulatory phosphorylated tyrosine residues suggest a mechanism for coordinate recruitment of Btk and Tec through the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif, Src family kinases, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. In XLA platelets, collagen treatment increased tyrosine phosphorylation of Tec and several other signaling proteins, including Lyn, Fyb, Slp-76, and the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein. This indicates that important elements of the collagen signaling pathway proximal and distal to Btk and Tec are preserved despite the lack of functional Btk. The results are consistent with the conclusion that activation of Tec may sustain XLA platelet function in vivo, while some in vitro assays of nonintegrin collagen receptor signaling through the Btk/Tec kinase family reflect the additive dosage of the transducers. (Blood. 2000;95:1663-1670)

Posttranscriptional regulation of Bruton's tyrosine kinase expression in antigen receptor-stimulated splenic B cells.

Mutation of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) causes human X-linked agammaglobulinemia and murine X-linked immunodeficiency syndrome (xid). Quantitative aspects of B lymphocyte development and function have been demonstrated to depend on Btk level in vivo by using a murine transgenic model system. A sensitive intracellular immunofluorescent assay was developed to measure Btk protein on a per cell basis to test the hypothesis that its dosage is dynamically regulated during B cell development or functional responses. Marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells, common lymphoid progenitor cells, and developing B and myeloid lineages expressed Btk protein at comparable levels. Resting peripheral B lineage cells had a significantly lower amount of Btk than marrow-derived cells in both wild-type and xid mice. Activation of the B cell antigen receptor up-regulated Btk protein level 10-fold within several hours by a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent, posttranscriptional mechanism. In contrast, the protein level of Btk R28C in activated B lymphocytes from xid mice remained low. Bypass of the antigen receptor signaling pathways by treatment of cells with phorbol myristic acid and ionomycin rescued up-regulation of Btk protein in xid splenic B cells. These combined results suggest that certain receptor signals mediated by Btk regulate the level of expression of Btk protein in responding B lymphocytes to potentiate signal transduction. Dynamic regulation of Btk protein dosage is an additional mechanism to modulate B lymphocyte immune functions.

In situ detection of activated Bruton's tyrosine kinase in the Ig signaling complex by phosphopeptide-specific monoclonal antibodies.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) is a critical transducer of signals originating from the B cell antigen receptor (BCR). Dosage, sequential phosphorylation, and protein interactions are interdependent mechanisms influencing Btk function. Phosphopeptide-specific mAbs recognizing two distinct phosphotyrosine modifications were used to quantify Btk activation by immunofluorescent techniques during B cell stimulation. In a population of cultured B cells stimulated by BCR crosslinking and analyzed by flow cytometry, transient phosphorylation of the regulatory Btk tyrosine residues (551Y and 223Y) was detected. The kinetics of phosphorylation of the residues were temporally distinct. Tyrosine 551, a transactivating substrate site for Src-family kinases, was maximally phosphorylated within approximately 30 seconds of stimulation as monitored by flow cytometry. Tyrosine 223, an autophosphorylation site within the SH3 domain, was maximally phosphorylated at approximately 5 minutes. Btk returned to a low tyrosine phosphorylation level within 30 minutes, despite persistent elevation of global tyrosine phosphorylation. Colocalization of activated Btk molecules with the crosslinked BCR signaling complex was observed to coincide with the period of maximal Btk tyrosine phosphorylation when stimulated B cells were analyzed with confocal microscopy. The results of these in situ temporal and spatial analyses imply that Btk signaling occurs in the region of the Ig receptor signaling complex, suggesting a similar location for downstream targets of its activity.

A DNA damage and stress inducible G protein-coupled receptor blocks cells in G2/M.

Cell cycle progression is monitored by highly coordinated checkpoint machinery, which is activated to induce cell cycle arrest until defects like DNA damage are corrected. We have isolated an anti-proliferative cell cycle regulator named G2A (for G2 accumulation), which is predominantly expressed in immature T and B lymphocyte progenitors and is a member of the seven membrane-spanning G protein-coupled receptor family. G2A overexpression attenuates the transformation potential of BCR-ABL and other oncogenes, and leads to accumulation of cells at G2/M independently of p53 and c-Abl. G2A can be induced in lymphocytes and to a lesser extent in nonlymphocyte cell lines or tissues by multiple stimuli including different classes of DNA-damaging agents and serves as a response to damage and cellular stimulation which functions to slow cell cycle progression.

Btk/Tec kinases regulate sustained increases in intracellular Ca2+ following B-cell receptor activation.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) is essential for B-lineage development and represents an emerging family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases implicated in signal transduction events initiated by a range of cell surface receptors. Increased dosage of Btk in normal B cells resulted in a striking enhancement of extracellular calcium influx following B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) cross-linking. Ectopic expression of Btk, or related Btk/Tec family kinases, restored deficient extracellular Ca2+ influx in a series of novel Btk-deficient human B-cell lines. Btk and phospholipase Cgamma (PLCgamma) co-expression resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation of PLCgamma and required the same Btk domains as those for Btk-dependent calcium influx. Receptor-dependent Btk activation led to enhanced peak inositol trisphosphate (IP3) generation and depletion of thapsigargin (Tg)-sensitive intracellular calcium stores. These results suggest that Btk maintains increased intracellular calcium levels by controlling a Tg-sensitive, IP3-gated calcium store(s) that regulates store-operated calcium entry. Overexpression of dominant-negative Syk dramatically reduced the initial phase calcium response, demonstrating that Btk/Tec and Syk family kinases may exert distinct effects on calcium signaling. Finally, co-cross-linking of the BCR and the inhibitory receptor, FcgammaRIIb1, completely abrogated Btk-dependent IP3 production and calcium store depletion. Together, these data demonstrate that Btk functions at a critical crossroads in the events controlling calcium signaling by regulating peak IP3 levels and calcium store depletion.

Phosphorylation of two regulatory tyrosine residues in the activation of Bruton's tyrosine kinase via alternative receptors.

Mutation of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) impairs B cell maturation and function and results in a clinical phenotype of X-linked agammaglobulinemia. Activation of Btk correlates with an increase in the phosphorylation of two regulatory Btk tyrosine residues. Y551 (site 1) within the Src homology type 1 (SH1) domain is transphosphorylated by the Src family tyrosine kinases. Y223 (site 2) is an autophosphorylation site within the Btk SH3 domain. Polyclonal, phosphopeptide-specific antibodies were developed to evaluate the phosphorylation of Btk sites 1 and 2. Crosslinking of the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) or the mast cell Fcepsilon receptor, or interleukin 5 receptor stimulation each induced rapid phosphorylation at Btk sites 1 and 2 in a tightly coupled manner. Btk molecules were singly and doubly tyrosine-phosphorylated. Phosphorylated Btk comprised only a small fraction (

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-gamma activates Bruton's tyrosine kinase in concert with Src family kinases.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) is essential for normal B lymphocyte development and function. The activity of Btk is partially regulated by transphosphorylation within its kinase domain by Src family kinases at residue Tyr-551 and subsequent autophosphorylation at Tyr-223. Activation correlates with Btk association with cellular membranes. Based on specific loss of function mutations, the Btk pleckstrin homology (PH) domain plays an essential role in this activation process. The Btk PH domain can bind in vitro to several lipid end products of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) family including phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate. Activation of Btk as monitored by elevation of phosphotyrosine content and a cellular transformation response was dramatically enhanced by coexpressing a weakly activated allele of Src (E378G) and the two subunits of PI 3-kinase-gamma. This activation correlates with new sites of phosphorylation on Btk identified by two-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping. Activation of Btk was dependent on the catalytic activity of all three enzymes and an intact Btk PH domain and Src transphosphorylation site. These combined data define Btk as a downstream target of PI 3-kinase-gamma and Src family kinases.

Regulation of Btk function by a major autophosphorylation site within the SH3 domain.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) plays a crucial role in B cell development. Overexpression of Btk with a Src family kinase increases tyrosine phosphorylation and catalytic activity of Btk. This occurs by transphosphorylation at Y551 in the Btk catalytic domain and the enhancement of Btk autophosphorylation at a second site. A gain-of-function mutant called Btk* containing E41 to K change within the pleckstrin homology domain induces fibroblast transformation. Btk* enhances the transphosphorylation of Y551 by endogenous Src family tyrosine kinases and autophosphorylation at the second site. We mapped the major Btk autophosphorylation site to Y223 within the SH3 domain. Mutation of Y223 to F blocks Btk autophosphorylation and dramatically potentiates the transforming activity of Btk* in fibroblasts. The location of Y223 in a potential ligand-binding pocket suggests that autophosphorylation regulates SH3-mediated signaling by Btk.

Activation of BTK by a phosphorylation mechanism initiated by SRC family kinases.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is pivotal in B cell activation and development through its participation in the signaling pathways of multiple hematopoietic receptors. The mechanisms controlling BTK activation were studied here by examination of the biochemical consequences of an interaction between BTK and SRC family kinases. This interaction of BTK with SRC kinases transphosphorylated BTK on tyrosine at residue 551, which led to BTK activation. BTK then autophosphorylated at a second site. The same two sites were phosphorylated upon B cell antigen receptor cross-linking. The activated BTK was predominantly membrane-associated, which suggests that BTK integrates distinct receptor signals resulting in SRC kinase activation and BTK membrane targeting.

Growth factor stimulation of phospholipase C-gamma 1 activity. Comparative properties of control and activated enzymes.

We demonstrated previously tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent modulation of phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma 1) catalytic activity (Nishibe, S., Wahl, M. I., Hernandez-Sotomayor, S. M. T., Tonks, N. K., Rhee, S. G., and Carpenter, G. (1990) Science 250, 1253-1256). The increase in PLC-gamma 1 catalytic activity in A-431 cells occurs rapidly, with maximal activation 5 min after epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation. Certain other growth factors (fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor) also stimulate PLC-gamma 1 catalytic activity, whereas insulin does not. A similar increase in PLC-gamma 1 specific activity (2-3-fold) was observed in both soluble (cytosol) and particulate (membrane) preparations from EGF-treated cells. Tyrosine-phosphorylated PLC-gamma 1 was detected in both cytosol and membrane fractions in lysates from EGF-treated A-431 cells, but the proportion of tyrosine-phosphorylated PLC-gamma 1 was higher in the cytosol (approximately 50%) than in the membrane (approximately 20%). Because a micellar concentration of the non-ionic detergent Triton X-100 allows detection of the tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent increase in PLC-gamma 1 catalytic activity in this assay, we evaluated the kinetic properties of PLC-gamma 1, immunoprecipitated from cytosol of control or EGF-treated cells, using substrate, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns 4,5-P2), solubilized in Triton X-100 at various molar ratios. The behavior of the control enzyme differed from the EGF-activated enzyme with respect to both Ks and Km. The control enzyme has a 7.5-fold higher Ks value than the activated enzyme (1.5 mM as compared with 0.22 mM). Activation by EGF is also a positive allosteric modifier of PLC-gamma 1-catalyzed PtdIns 4,5-P2 hydrolysis, i.e. the activated enzyme displayed apparent Michalis-Menton kinetics, with a Km of 0.6 mol fraction PtdIns 4,5-P2, whereas the control enzyme displayed sigmoidal kinetics with respect to PtdIns 4,5-P2 hydrolysis. At low substrate mol fractions (e.g. 0.07), the reaction velocity of the control enzyme was 4-fold lower than the activated enzyme. However, at a high substrate mol fraction (e.g. 0.33), the estimated maximal reaction velocities (Vmax) for both forms of PLC-gamma 1 were equivalent. PLC-gamma 1 activity from both control and EGF-treated cells was stimulated by increasing nanomolar Ca2+ concentrations. Although the catalytic activity of PLC-gamma 1 from EGF-treated cells was greater than control PLC-gamma 1 at every Ca2+ concentration tested, the relative stimulation of activity was markedly greater at Ca2+ concentrations above approximately 300 nM.

Increase of the catalytic activity of phospholipase C-gamma 1 by tyrosine phosphorylation.

Phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma 1), an isozyme of the phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C family, which occupies a central role in hormonal signal transduction pathways, is an excellent substrate for the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor tyrosine kinase. Epidermal growth factor elicits tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis in various cell lines. The ability of tyrosine phosphorylation to activate the catalytic activity of PLC-gamma 1 was tested. Tyrosine phosphorylation in intact cells or in vitro increased the catalytic activity of PLC-gamma 1. Also, treatment of EGF-activated PLC-gamma 1 with a tyrosine-specific phosphatase substantially decreased the catalytic activity of PLC-gamma 1. These results suggest that the EGF-stimulated formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol in intact cells results, at least in part, from catalytic activation of PLC-gamma 1 through tyrosine phosphorylation.

Feedback regulation of phospholipase C-beta by protein kinase C.

Treatment of a variety of cells and tissues with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), an activator of protein kinase C (PKC) results in the inhibition of receptor-coupled inositol phospholipid-specific phospholipase C (PLC) activity. To determine whether or not the targets of TPA-activated PKC include one or more isozymes of PLC, studies were carried out with PC12, C6Bu1, and NIH 3T3 cells, which contain at least three PLC isozymes, PLC-beta, PLC-gamma, and PLC-delta. Treatment of the cells with TPA stimulated the phosphorylation of serine residues in PLC-beta, but the phosphorylation state of PLC-gamma and PLC-delta was not changed significantly. Phosphorylation of bovine brain PLC-beta by PKC in vitro resulted in a stoichiometric incorporation of phosphate at serine 887, without any concomitant effect on PLC-beta activity. We propose, therefore, that rather than having a direct effect on enzyme activity, the phosphorylation of PLC-beta by PKC may alter its interaction with a putative guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein and thereby prevent its activation.

Stimulation of phospholipase C-gamma 1 membrane association by epidermal growth factor.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) treatment of A-431 epidermoid carcinoma cells elicited a redistribution of phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma 1) from a predominantly cytosolic localization to membrane fractions. The temporal coincidence of this redistribution with EGF stimulation of inositol phosphate formation and EGF increased phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 suggests that the membrane association of PLC-gamma 1 is a significant event in second messenger transduction.

Tyrosine residues in bovine phospholipase C-gamma phosphorylated by the epidermal growth factor receptor in vitro.

We have identified the sites phosphorylated in vitro by epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor kinase in bovine brain phospholipase C-gamma (PLC-gamma). They are tyrosine residues 472, 771, 783, and 1254. The rate of phosphorylation was fastest with the sites at 771 and 783, then at 1254, and slowest at 472. PLC-gamma isolated from cells treated with EGF is known to contain at least four tyrosine phosphate-containing peptides and two of them are identified to be residues 771 and 1254 in the accompanying paper (Wahl, M. I., Nishibe, S., Kim, J. W., Kim, H., Rhee, S. G., and Carpenter, G. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 3944-3948). The 3 residues 472, 771, and 783 are located closely to the regions of PLC-gamma which exhibit a high sequence similarity to the regulatory domain of the src family tyrosine kinases. Nevertheless, the tyrosine phosphorylation did not affect the catalytic activity of PLC-gamma in vitro. We propose, therefore, that the phosphorylation of PLC-gamma by EGF receptor kinase alters its interaction with putative inhibitory proteins and leads to its activation.

Identification of two epidermal growth factor-sensitive tyrosine phosphorylation sites of phospholipase C-gamma in intact HSC-1 cells.

The 145-kDa phospholipase C isozyme, PLC-gamma, is an excellent substrate for the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor both in vivo and in vitro. We now demonstrate that EGF treatment of HSC-1 cells, a human squamous cell carcinoma-derived cell line that expresses high levels of the EGF receptor, rapidly induces tyrosine phosphorylation of two-thirds of the total cellular PLC-gamma pool. A two-step immunoaffinity protocol was used for large-scale isolation of phosphorylated PLC-gamma from the cytosol of EGF-treated HSC-1 cells. Phosphorylated PLC-gamma was digested with trypsin, then phosphotyrosine-containing peptides were purified by phosphotyrosine affinity chromatography and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The two major phosphotyrosine-containing tryptic peptides were sequenced. Comparison of the sequence data with the bovine brain PLC-gamma amino acid sequence indicated that the major, EGF-sensitive tyrosine phosphorylation sites of human PLC-gamma correspond to the bovine brain PLC-gamma tyrosine residues 771 and 1254. The former residue is adjacent to regions of PLC-gamma that contain high homology to the non-catalytic, amino-terminal region of the src tyrosine kinase. The latter residue lies near the carboxyl terminus of the PLC-gamma molecule. The accompanying manuscript (Kim J.W., Sim, S.S., Kim, U-H., Nishibe, S., Wahl, M. I., Carpenter, G., and Rhe, S. G. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 3940-3943) identifies these same 2 residues plus 2 additional tyrosine phosphorylation sites through large-scale in vitro phosphorylation of purified bovine brain PLC-gamma by the EGF receptor.

Selectivity of phospholipase C phosphorylation by the epidermal growth factor receptor, the insulin receptor, and their cytoplasmic domains.

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C isozyme gamma (PLC-gamma, Mr 145,000) is an excellent substrate for the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor both in vivo and in vitro. PLC-beta-1, another PLC isozyme, is a poor substrate for the EGF receptor. We examined the relative phosphorylation of PLC-gamma and PLC-beta-1 by the 170-kDa native EGF receptor molecule, the 66-kDa cytoplasmic kinase domain of the EGF receptor (Arg647-Ala1186), the alpha 2 beta 2 native insulin receptor, and the 48-kDa cytoplasmic kinase domain of the insulin receptor beta subunit (Gly947-Ser1343). Similar to the intact EGF receptor, the cytoplasmic kinase domain of the EGF receptor preferentially phosphorylated PLC-gamma. High-performance liquid chromatographic comparison of tryptic phosphopeptides from PLC-gamma phosphorylated by both forms of the EGF receptor kinase indicated similar patterns of multiple tyrosine phosphorylations. These results imply that substrate selectivity, at least in terms of PLC isozymes, is independent of the extracellular ligand-binding and membrane anchor domains of the EGF receptor. In comparison, neither the intact insulin receptor nor the beta-chain kinase domain was able to phosphorylate PLC-gamma to a significant extent. Also, insulin failed to stimulate the phosphorylation of PLC-gamma in NIH 3T3/HIR cells, which overexpress the human insulin receptor. Thus PLC-gamma is not a phosphorylation substrate for the insulin receptor in vitro or in the intact cell.