Phosphorylation of tyrosine 992, 1068, and 1086 is required for conformational change of the human epidermal growth factor receptor c-terminal tail.

We reported previously that a conformation-specific antibody, Ab P2, to a 16-amino acid peptide (Glu-Gly-Tyr-Lys-Lys-Lys-Tyr-Gln-Gln-Val-Asp-Glu-Glu-Phe-Leu-Arg) of the cytoplasmic domain of the beta-type platelet-derived growth factor receptor also recognizes the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. Although the antibody is not directed to phosphotyrosine, it recognizes in immunoprecipitation the activated and hence phosphorylated form of both receptors. In P2 peptide, there are two tripeptide sequences, Asp-Glu-Glu and Tyr-Gln-Gln, that are also present in the EGF receptor. Our present studies using either EGF receptor C-terminal deletion mutants or point mutations (Tyr-->Phe) and our previous studies on antibody inhibition by P2-derived peptides suggest that Gln-Gln in combination with Asp-Glu-Glu forms a high-affinity complex with Ab P2 and that such complex formation is dependent on tyrosine phosphorylation. Of the five phosphate acceptor sites in the EGF receptor, clustered in the extreme C-terminal tail, phosphorylation of three tyrosine residues (992, 1068, and 1086) located between Asp-Glu-Glu and Gln-Gln is necessary for Ab P2 binding. In contrast, the acceptor sites Tyr 1173 and 1148 play no role in the conformation change. Asp-Glu-Glu and Gln-Gln are located 169 amino acids apart, and it is highly likely that the interactions among three negatively charged phosphotyrosine residues in the receptor C terminus may result in the bending of the peptide chain in such a way that these two peptides come close to each other to form an antibody-binding site. Such a possibility is also supported by our finding that receptor dephosphorylation results in complete loss of Ab P2-binding activity. In conclusion, we have identified a domain within the cytoplasmic part of the EGF receptor whose conformation is altered by receptor phosphorylation; furthermore, we have identified the tyrosine residues that positively regulate this conformation.

Conformational analysis of the phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor.

Phosphorylation-induced conformational changes have been well documented with different receptor tyrosine kinases. However. the susceptible epitopes and the tyrosine residue(s) involved in particular structural alteration mostly remain to be determined. Using a conformation-specific anti-peptide antibody, we have not only identified one such domain in the C-terminal tail of the EGF receptor but also identified the phosphate acceptor sites that are involved in the conformational change.

c-Cbl/Sli-1 regulates endocytic sorting and ubiquitination of the epidermal growth factor receptor.

Ligand-induced down-regulation of two growth factor receptors, EGF receptor (ErbB-1) and ErbB-3, correlates with differential ability to recruit c-Cbl, whose invertebrate orthologs are negative regulators of ErbB. We report that ligand-induced degradation of internalized ErbB-1, but not ErbB-3, is mediated by transient mobilization of a minor fraction of c-Cbl into ErbB-1-containing endosomes. This recruitment depends on the receptor's tyrosine kinase activity and an intact carboxy-terminal region. The alternative fate is recycling of internalized ErbBs to the cell surface. Cbl-mediated receptor sorting involves covalent attachment of ubiquitin molecules, and subsequent lysosomal and proteasomal degradation. The oncogenic viral form of Cbl inhibits down-regulation by shunting endocytosed receptors to the recycling pathway. These results reveal an endosomal sorting machinery capable of controlling the fate, and, hence, signaling potency, of growth factor receptors.

Integrins induce activation of EGF receptor: role in MAP kinase induction and adhesion-dependent cell survival.

Adhesion of human primary skin fibroblasts and ECV304 endothelial cells to immobilized matrix proteins, beta1 or alphav integrin antibodies stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. This tyrosine phosphorylation is transiently induced, reaching maximal levels 30 min after adhesion, and it occurs in the absence of receptor ligands. Similar results were observed with EGF receptor-transfected NIH-3T3 cells. Use of a kinase-negative EGF receptor mutant demonstrates that the integrin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation is due to activation of the receptor's intrinsic kinase activity. Integrin-mediated EGF receptor activation leads to Erk-1/MAP kinase induction, as shown by treatment with the specific inhibitor tyrphostin AG1478 and by expression of a dominant-negative EGF receptor mutant. EGF receptor and Erk-1/MAP kinase activation by integrins does not lead per se to cell proliferation, but is important for entry into S phase in response to EGF or serum. EGF receptor activation is also required for extracellular matrix-mediated cell survival. Adhesion-dependent MAP kinase activation and survival are regulated through EGF receptor activation in cells expressing this molecule above a threshold level (5x10(3) receptors per cell). These results demonstrate that integrin-dependent EGF receptor activation is a novel signaling mechanism involved in cell survival and proliferation in response to extracellular matrix.

PED/PEA-15 gene controls glucose transport and is overexpressed in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

We have used differential display to identify genes whose expression is altered in type 2 diabetes thus contributing to its pathogenesis. One mRNA is overexpressed in fibroblasts from type 2 diabetics compared with non-diabetic individuals, as well as in skeletal muscle and adipose tissues, two major sites of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. The levels of the protein encoded by this mRNA are also elevated in type 2 diabetic tissues; thus, we named it PED for phosphoprotein enriched in diabetes. PED cloning shows that it encodes a 15 kDa phosphoprotein identical to the protein kinase C (PKC) substrate PEA-15. The PED gene maps on human chromosome 1q21-22. Transfection of PED/PEA-15 in differentiating L6 skeletal muscle cells increases the content of Glut1 transporters on the plasma membrane and inhibits insulin-stimulated glucose transport and cell-surface recruitment of Glut4, the major insulin-sensitive glucose transporter. These effects of PED overexpression are reversed by blocking PKC activity. Overexpression of the PED/PEA-15 gene may contribute to insulin resistance in glucose uptake in type 2 diabetes.

Post-transcriptional control regulates transforming growth factor alpha in the human carcinoma KB cell line.

Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) antisense RNA results in a drastic reduction of EGF-R levels in the human carcinoma KB cell line and induces a reversion of their transformed phenotype (Moroni, M. C., Willingham, M. C., and Beguinot, L. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 2714-2722). We used parental and EGF-R antisense KB clones as a genetic system to study, in the same cell line, the role of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) in the establishment and maintenance of the transformed phenotype. KB cells produce TGF-alpha mRNA, and their conditioned medium is able to sustain growth of antisense cells, mimicking the effect of exogenous EGF or TGF-alpha. In antisense cells there is a marked reduction of TGF-alpha mRNA steady-state levels. In addition, the decrease in TGF-alpha parallels the levels of residual EGF-R in the various antisense clones, indicating a direct correlation between receptors and growth factor levels. The addition of exogenous TGF-alpha (10 ng/ml) to antisense clones induces TGF-alpha levels. The half-life of TGF-alpha mRNA is 40-60 min in antisense cells and more than 8 h in parental KB cells, as determined by actinomycin D decay curves. This result indicates a predominant regulation of TGF-alpha mRNA at the post-transcriptional level. Nuclear run-on experiments show that there is only a marginal effect at the transcriptional level. We conclude that the autocrine loop responsible for the transformed phenotype of the human carcinoma KB cell line is dependent on both elevated levels of EGF-R and the presence of TGF-alpha. In addition, TGF-alpha is able to induce its own mRNA via a signal due to activation of the EGF-R acting predominantly at the post-transcriptional level.

Lysosomal targeting of epidermal growth factor receptors via a kinase-dependent pathway is mediated by the receptor carboxyl-terminal residues 1022-1123.

Binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to its receptor induces rapid internalization and degradation of both ligand and receptor via the lysosomal pathway. To study the mechanism of intracellular sorting of EGF-EGF receptor complexes to lysosomes, NIH 3T3 cells transfected with wild-type and mutant EGF receptors were employed. The kinetics of 125I-EGF trafficking was analyzed using low concentrations of the ligand to avoid saturation of the specific sorting system. The relative size of the pool of internalized 125I-EGF-receptor complexes that were capable of recycling decreased as receptors traversed the endosomal system. The rate of 125I-EGF sequestration from the recycling pathway correlated with the rate of 125I-EGF transition from early to late endosomes as measured by Percoll gradient fractionation. Deletion of the last 63 amino acids of the EGF receptor cytoplasmic tail did not inhibit the process of sequestration and targeting to the late endosomes and lysosomes. Truncation of the 123 residues, however, resulted in impaired lysosomal targeting and increased recycling of EGF. Receptor mutant in which 165 residues were deleted displayed maximal ability to recycle and a minimal extent of sorting to the late endosomes. The data suggest that two regions of the EGF receptor molecule, residues 1022-1063 and to a lesser extent residues 1063-1123, contribute in the regulation of routing of EGF receptors to the degradation pathway. The kinase-negative receptor mutant recycled EGF more intensively compared with the wild-type receptor, and the transport of this mutant to late endosomes was inhibited. These results support the view that the receptor kinase activity is important for ligand-induced sorting of EGF receptors to the pathway of lysosomal degradation.

Epidermal growth factor receptor interaction with clathrin adaptors is mediated by the Tyr974-containing internalization motif.

The carboxyl-terminal regulatory domain of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is essential for its endocytosis and interaction with the clathrin-associated protein complex AP-2. To identify AP-2 binding motif in the receptor, several single and multiple-point mutations within the region between residues 966 and 977 of the human EGF receptor were made, and the mutant receptors were expressed in NIH3T3 cells. Mutation of tyrosine 974 alone or together with surrounding residues and the deletion of residues 973-975 essentially eliminated AP-2 co-immunoprecipitation with the EGF receptor. Furthermore, a synthetic peptide corresponding to receptor residues 964-978 blocked AP-2 association with the wild-type EGF receptor. These data suggest that AP-2 has only one high-affinity binding site in the EGF receptor composed of Tyr974-containing motif. Receptor mutants that did not bind AP-2 displayed a lower rate of internalization, down-regulation, and turnover compared to wild-type receptors when expressed at high levels. However, similar receptor mutants expressed at low levels were internalized and down-regulated as efficiently as wild-type receptors. Internalization of the mutant receptors lacking the high-affinity binding site for AP-2 was inhibited by K+-depletion of the cells, indicating that their endocytosis required intact coated pits. We suggest that whereas one mechanism of EGF receptor recruitment into coated pits involves high-affinity binding of AP-2 to Tyr974-containing motif, another pathway may be mediated by weak receptor/AP-2 interactions or by proteins other than AP-2.

SHC and GRB-2 are constitutively by an epidermal growth factor receptor with a point mutation in the transmembrane domain.

A single point mutation, Glu627--> Val, equivalent to the activating mutation in the Neu oncogene, was inserted in the transmembrane domain of the human epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. Unlike the wild type, Glu627-EGF receptor, transfected in NIH3T3 cells, gave rise to focal transformation and growth in agar even in the absence EGF. Constitutive activity of mutant EGF receptor amounted to 20% of that of wild type receptor stimulated by EGF. In addition, the mutant receptor was more sensitive to EGF, reaching maximum transforming activity at 5 ng/ml EGF. NIH3T3 cells expressing Glu627-EGF receptor showed a transformed phenotype and were not arrested in G0 upon serum deprivation. The mutant receptor was constitutively autophosphorylated, and several other cellular proteins were phosphorylated on tyrosine in absence of the ligand. Among these, the SHC adaptor protein was phosphorylated in absence of EGF, the other adaptor, GRB-2 was constitutively associated with the Glu627-EGF receptor in vivo and in vitro, and mitogen-activated protein kinase was constitutively phosphorylated. In contrast, other EGF receptor substrates, like phospholipase C gamma, were not phosphorylated in absence of EGF. The mutant receptor showed a higher sensitivity to cleavage by calpain both in absence and presence of EGF, appeared as a 170- and 150-kDa doublet in cell extracts, and a specific calpain inhibitor blocked the appearance of the 150-kDa form. Since the calpain cleavage site is located in the receptor cytoplasmic tail, this finding suggests that the Glu627 mutation induces a slightly different conformation in the EGF receptor intracellular domain. In conclusion, our data show that a point mutation in the EGF receptor transmembrane domain was able to constitutively activate the receptor and to induce transformation via constitutive activation of the Ras pathway.

Structural requirements of the epidermal growth factor receptor for tyrosine phosphorylation of eps8 and eps15, substrates lacking Src SH2 homology domains.

Phosphorylation of two newly identified epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor substrates, eps8 and eps15, which do not possess Src homology (SH2) domains, was investigated using EGF receptor mutants of the autophosphorylation sites and deletion mutants of the carboxyl-terminal region. Two mutants, F5, in which all five tyrosine autophosphorylation sites substituted by phenylalanine, and Dc 123F, in which four tyrosines were removed by deletion and the fifth (Tyr-992) was mutated into phenylalanine, phosphorylated eps8 and eps15 as efficiently as the wild-type receptor. In contrast, SH2-containing substrates, phospholipase C gamma, the GTPase-activating protein of Ras, the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase, and the Src and collagen homology protein, are not phosphorylated by the F5 and Dc 123F mutants. A longer EGF receptor deletion mutant, Dc 214, lacking all five autophosphorylation sites, was unable to phosphorylate eps15 but phosphorylated eps8 13-fold more than the wild-type receptor. To determine the EGF receptor region important for phosphorylation of eps8 and eps15, progressive deletion mutants lacking the final 123, 165, 196, and 214 COOH-terminal residues were used. eps8 phosphorylation was progressively increased in Dc 165, Dc 196, and Dc 214 EGF receptor mutants, indicating that removal of the final 214 COOH-terminal residues increases the phosphorylation of this substrate by the EGF receptor. In contrast, eps15 was phosphorylated by Dc 123 and Dc 165 EGF receptor mutants but not by Dc 196 and Dc 214 mutants. This indicates that a region of 30 residues located between Dc 165 and Dc 196 is essential for eps15 phosphorylation. This is the first demonstration of structural requirements in the EGF receptor COOH terminus for efficient phosphorylation of non-SH2-containing substrates. In addition, enhanced eps8 phosphorylation correlates well with the increased transforming potential of EGF receptor deletion mutants Dc 196 and Dc 214, suggesting that this substrate may be involved in mitogenic signaling.

Biochemical characterization of human GCF transcription factor in tumor cells.

GCF is a transcriptional regulator that was found to repress transcription of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and several other genes and is encoded by a 3-kb mRNA (R. Kageyama and I. Pastan, Cell, 59: 815-825, 1989; A. C. Johnson et al., J. Biol. Chem., 267: 1689-1694, 1992). To identify and characterize the GCF gene product at the cellular level, we have developed antibodies against a bacterially expressed GCF fusion protein. GCF antibodies recognize GCF present in extracts from human cells and causes a "supershift" of a protein DNA complex containing a GCF oligonucleotide binding site. The major form of GCF has a molecular weight of approximately M(r) 97,000, identical to that of GCF transiently expressed in CV1 cells by the vaccinia virus system. In addition, other less abundant species with slightly higher and lower apparent molecular weight are specifically recognized, suggesting extensive posttranslational modification. GCF is highly expressed in EGF receptor-negative human cell lines (HUT102, U266, and CA46) and in lower amounts in several EGF receptor-expressing cells (KB, A431, TMK, and HeLa). Cell fractionation studies indicate that GCF is predominantly localized in the nucleus. GCF is a stable protein with a relatively long half-life. In addition, GCF is a phosphoprotein, and the phosphorylated form is found to be associated with the nuclear compartment in both HUT102 and KB cells. Phosphorylation occurs on serine and threonine residues and is stimulated by okadaic acid, phorbol myristate acetate, and cyclic AMP, but not vanadate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Potent SHC tyrosine phosphorylation by epidermal growth factor at low receptor density or in the absence of receptor autophosphorylation sites.

The importance of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor expression level and autophosphorylation sites in src homology and collagen protein (SHC) tyrosine phosphorylation has been studied. In contrast to EGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the GTPase-activating protein for ras (rasGAP) and phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma 1), SHC tyrosine phosphorylation occurs at a very low receptor density in parental NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts expressing less than 1 x 10(4) EGF receptors per cell. In transfected NIH3T3 cells expressing human EGF receptors (approximately 4 x 10(5) receptors per cell), maximal levels of SHC and PLC-gamma 1 tyrosine phosphorylation occur when approximately 4 x 10(4) receptors or more are occupied by ligand. At lower levels of receptor occupancy only SHC phosphorylation was significant. Also, EGF treatment of mouse keratinocytes, which represent a physiological target of EGF, express a low number of EGF receptors (approximately 2 x 10(4) receptors per cell), and stringently require EGF to grow, results in intense SHC tyrosine phosphorylation, compared to rasGAP or PLC-gamma 1. SHC is also efficiently tyrosine phosphorylated by an EGF receptor deletion mutant (Dc214) that is devoid of autophosphorylation sites, but which remains mitogenically responsive to EGF. The EGF receptor mutant Dc214 is able to activate the ras guanine nucleotide exchanger and phosphorylate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), presumable as a result of complex formation between tyrosine phosphorylated SHC and GRB2. These results indicate that potent EGF-induced SHC tyrosine phosphorylation can be triggered in cells having relatively few receptors. Also, our data show that EGF receptors are able to phosphorylate SHC, activate the exchange of guanine nucleotide on ras and phosphorylate MAPK by a mechanism that does not require receptor autophosphorylation sites and, therefore, the src homology 2 (SH2):phosphotyrosine-dependent interaction of SHC or GRB2 with the EGF receptor.

Internalization of the constitutively active arginine 1152-->glutamine insulin receptor occurs independently of insulin at an accelerated rate.

Signals controlling the insulin receptor endocytotic pathway have been investigated using the R1152Q insulin receptor mutant (M). This mutant receptor exhibits high levels of insulin-independent kinase activity, impaired autophosphorylation, and lack of an insulin stimulatory effect on both auto- and substrate phosphorylation. NIH-3T3 fibroblasts expressing M receptors displayed a 2.5-fold higher 125I-insulin internalization rate than wild type (WT) but lacked insulin-induced receptor internalization and down-regulation. Cell surface recycling of internalized receptors also occurred at a higher rate in M cells and was unaffected by insulin. Cell preincubation with 35 mM Tris, which inhibits the insulin receptor degradative route, elicited no effect on M receptor recycling but inhibited that of WT by 40%. In contrast, the energy depleter 2,4-dinitrophenol, which inhibits normal insulin receptor retroendocytosis, impaired M receptor recycling 4-fold more effectively than that of WT. The release of internalized intact 125I-insulin was 6-fold greater in M than in WT fibroblasts and was almost completely inhibited by dinitrophenol, whereas insulin degradation by M cells was 4-fold decreased as compared with WT. Thus, internalization and recycling of the constitutively active Gln1152 receptor kinase occur in the absence of autophosphorylation. However, tyrosine phosphorylation appears to be required for proper sorting of endocytosed insulin receptors.

Individual epidermal growth factor receptor autophosphorylation sites do not stringently define association motifs for several SH2-containing proteins.

To determine whether individual autophosphorylation sites in the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor define specific interaction sites for the in vivo association of signal transduction proteins that contain src homology 2 (SH2) domains, the capacity of wild-type and mutant EGF receptors to associate with several SH2 domain-containing proteins has been assayed. Mutants included receptors with single autophosphorylation site mutations at each of five autophosphorylation sites and receptors in which multiple autophosphorylation sites were removed by point mutation or deletion of carboxyl-terminal residues. Receptor association, as measured by coimmunoprecipitation, has been determined for phospholipase C-gamma 1, the ras GTPase-activating protein, the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and the src homology and collagen protein. In contrast to data obtained with single autophosphorylation site mutants of other receptor tyrosine kinases, none of the EGF receptor single site mutants was dramatically impaired in its capacity to associate with any of these SH2-containing proteins. However, association was completely abrogated when all five autophosphorylation sites were mutated or removed by deletion. These results indicate that individual autophosphorylation sites in the EGF receptor are not stringently required for the recognition and association of different SH2-containing substrates. Thus, EGF receptor autophosphorylation sites seem to be flexible and/or compensatory in their capacity to mediate association with these four SH2-containing substrates.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of ras GTPase-activating protein does not require association with the epidermal growth factor receptor.

The importance of the carboxyl-terminal domain of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and its five autophosphorylation sites in the in vivo interaction and tyrosine phosphorylation of the ras GTPase-activating protein (rasGAP) has been investigated, using NIH 3T3 cells transfected with mutant EGF receptors. Phosphorylation of rasGAP by EGF receptor mutants, in which one to four autophosphorylation sites (Tyr-1173, -1148, -1086, and -1068) were mutated to phenylalanine, was reduced by 50-60% compared to the wild-type receptor. Elimination of these four autophosphorylation sites by truncation of 123 carboxyl-terminal residues of the EGF receptor paralleled results obtained with point mutants. Substantial inhibition (about 90%) of rasGAP tyrosine phosphorylation by the EGF receptor occurred only when the remaining autophosphorylation site (Tyr-992) was mutated, in the context of this truncated receptor or in the full-length receptor mutated at all four other autophosphorylation sites. However, a point mutation of only Tyr-992 in the full-length receptor suppressed tyrosine phosphorylation of rasGAP only by 50%. In contrast, an EGF receptor lacking the last 214 amino acid residues (Dc214), which encompasses all five autophosphorylation sites, phosphorylated rasGAP to the same extent as the wild-type receptor. However, this truncated receptor was significantly impaired in its capacity to phosphorylate phospholipase C-gamma 1. Interestingly, while EGF receptor autophosphorylation sites are required for EGF-induced rasGAP association with the receptor, maximal phosphorylation of rasGAP by the truncated receptor Dc214 occurred without detectable formation of receptor-rasGAP complexes. Furthermore, the capacity of mutated EGF receptors to bring about focal transformation was correlated with their capacity to phosphorylate rasGAP.

Defective insulin action in fibroblasts from noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients with Gln1152 insulin receptor mutation.

Insulin action was investigated in cultured skin fibroblasts from two consanguineous patients with a heterozygous point mutation in the insulin receptor kinase (Arg1152-Gln). In spite of normal binding, Gln1152 insulin receptor exhibited 20% increased basal kinase activity, but significantly reduced insulin-dependent autophosphorylation and kinase activity compared to controls from either weight-matched noninsulin-dependent diabetic patients (n = 4) or normal subjects (n = 5). In fibroblasts from the mutant patients, basal alpha-aminoisobutyric acid and 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake, cytochalasin-B (CB) plasma membrane binding, and glycogen synthase activity were increased to levels similar to those in maximally insulin-stimulated control cells. No insulin stimulation of these metabolic effects was detected in the mutant cells. In spite of the high basal 2-DG uptake and CB binding and the lack of further insulin response, fibroblasts from the mutant patients responded to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate with a further 50% increase in 2-DG uptake and CB binding. The magnitude of the effects of insulin and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in control cells were nearly identical. We conclude that the Gln1152 insulin receptor impairs insulin regulation of metabolic responses in patient cells. Its presence in fibroblasts from the mutant patients appears to be accompanied by an increased pool of glucose transporters.

Mutation in a conserved motif next to the insulin receptor key autophosphorylation sites de-regulates kinase activity and impairs insulin action.

We have recently reported two non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients exhibiting a heterozygous point mutation (R1152-Q) next to the key tyrosine autophosphorylation sites (Y1146, Y1150, Y1151) of the insulin receptor. In the present study, we demonstrate that the Q1152 mutation alters a previously unrecognized consensus sequence in the insulin receptor family of tyrosine kinases. To define the effect of this alteration on insulin receptor function, the mutant insulin receptor (Q1152) was constructed and overexpressed in NIH-3T3 cells. In spite of normal insulin binding, "in vivo" and "in vitro" autophosphorylation as well as transphosphorylation by the wild-type receptor (WT) were deficient in Q1152 as compared with the transfected WT receptors. Insulin-stimulated kinase activity toward poly(Glu, Tyr) 4:1 and the endogenous substrates p120 and p175 were also impaired in Q1152. However, insulin-independent kinase activity of Q1152 was 2-5-fold higher than that of WT. While insulin stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake and glycogen synthase activity in WT-transfected cells with a sensitivity proportional to receptor number, no insulin stimulation was observed in Q1152 cells. Similar to the kinase, insulin-independent glycogen synthase activity and 2-deoxyglucose uptake were 2-fold higher in Q1152 than in either WT or parental cells. We conclude that the Q1152 mutation deregulates insulin receptor kinase and generates insulin insensitivity in cells. Alterations in this highly conserved region of the insulin receptor may contribute to non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitin pathogenesis in humans.

Multiple autophosphorylation sites of the epidermal growth factor receptor are essential for receptor kinase activity and internalization. Contrasting significance of tyrosine 992 in the native and truncated receptors.

The role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor autophosphorylation sites in the regulation of receptor functions has been studied using cells transfected with mutant EGF receptors. Simultaneous point mutation of 4 tyrosines (Y1068, Y1086, Y1148, Y1173) to phenylalanine, as well as removal of these sites by truncation of the carboxyl-terminal 123 amino acid residues, resulted in reduced receptor phosphorylation of an in vivo specific substrate phospholipase C-gamma 1 to less than 50% compared to the wild-type receptor. The internalization rate constant Ke was also significantly lower in these mutants (0.15/min) compared to cells transfected with wild-type receptor (0.27/min). Additional mutation of tyrosine 992 to phenylalanine in the truncated receptor mutant (Dc-123F) further decreased the receptor internalization rate to a minimal level (ke = 0.07-0.10/min), equivalent to the ke measured for cells expressing kinase-negative receptor (A721). Moreover, tyrosine kinase activity of the Dc-123F receptor toward phospholipase C-gamma 1, compared to wild-type receptor, was reduced by 90%. Taken together, these results show that EGF receptor lacking five autophosphorylation sites functions similar to a kinase-negative receptor. Mutation of tyrosine residue Y992 alone in the context of full length EGF receptor, however, did not affect receptor internalization or kinase activity toward phospholipase C-gamma 1. These data indicate that tyrosine 992 is critical for substrate phosphorylation and internalization only in the context of the truncated receptor, and that minor autophosphorylation sites, such as Y992, may act as compensatory regulatory sties in the absence of the major EGF receptor autophosphorylation sites.

EGF-R antisense RNA blocks expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor and suppresses the transforming phenotype of a human carcinoma cell line.

We have used an antisense approach to investigate the role of overexpression of the normal human epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in the transformed phenotype of KB cells, which are a tumor derived human cell line. Initial experiments performed in vitro, showed that antisense RNA complementary to the entire coding region (AS-FL) or to parts of the EGF-R mRNA (AS-3', AS-5', and AS-K) effectively blocked translation of EGF-R mRNA. In addition, upon microinjection into KB cells, the in vitro synthesized antisense RNAs were able to inhibit transiently the synthesis of EGF-R. Inhibition was concentration-dependent, both in vitro and in cells, and the most effective constructs were those complementary to the entire coding region (AS-FL) or to the 3'-coding end of the mRNA (AS-3'). Transfection of the same EGF-R antisense RNA constructs into the human epidermoid carcinoma KB cell line gave rise to several clones stably expressing elevated levels of antisense RNA and resulting in low residual levels of EGF receptor. The most reduced clones exhibited a totally restored serum-dependent growth and were severely impaired in colony formation and growth in agar. In addition the severity of the phenotype was directly proportional to the residual amount of EGF-R expressed. We conclude that over-expression of normal EGF-R plays a direct primary role in the development of the transformed phenotype of this human cancer cell line.