Autophosphorylation of EGFR at Y954 Facilitated Homodimerization and Enhanced Downstream Signals.

Asymmetric dimer formation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is crucial for EGF-induced receptor activation. Even though autophosphorylation is important for activation, its role remains elusive in the context of regulating dimers. In this study, employing overlapping time series analysis to raster image correlation spectroscopy (RICS), we observed time-dependent transient dynamics of EGFR dimerization and found EGFR kinase activity to be essential for dimerization. As a result of which, we hypothesized that phosphorylation could influence dimerization. Evaluating this point, we observed that one of the tyrosine residues (Y954) located in the C-terminal lobe of the activator kinase domain was important to potentiate dimerization. Functional imaging to monitor Ca2+ and ERK signals revealed a significant role of Y954 in influencing downstream signaling cascade. Crucial for stabilization of EGFR asymmetric dimer is a "latch" formed between kinase domains of the binding partners. Because Y954 is positioned adjacent to the latch binding region on the kinase domain, we propose that phosphorylation strengthened the latch interaction. On the contrary, we identified that threonine phosphorylation (T669) in the latch domain negatively regulated EGFR dimerization and the downstream signals. Overall, we have delineated the previously anonymous role of phosphorylation at the latch interface of kinase domains in regulating EGFR dimerization.

Inhibition of Receptor Dimerization as a Novel Negative Feedback Mechanism of EGFR Signaling.

Dimerization of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is crucial for initiating signal transduction. We employed raster image correlation spectroscopy to continuously monitor the EGFR monomer-dimer equilibrium in living cells. EGFR dimer formation upon addition of EGF showed oscillatory behavior with a periodicity of about 2.5 min, suggesting the presence of a negative feedback loop to monomerize the receptor. We demonstrated that monomerization of EGFR relies on phospholipase Cγ, protein kinase C, and protein kinase D (PKD), while being independent of Ca2+ signaling and endocytosis. Phosphorylation of the juxtamembrane threonine residues of EGFR (T654/T669) by PKD was identified as the factor that shifts the monomer-dimer equilibrium of ligand bound EGFR towards the monomeric state. The dimerization state of the receptor correlated with the activity of an extracellular signal-regulated kinase, downstream of the EGFR. Based on these observations, we propose a novel, negative feedback mechanism that regulates EGFR signaling via receptor monomerization.

Fluorescence lifetime measurements of intrinsically unstructured proteins: application to α-synuclein.

Lifetimes of fluorescent states and their fluorescence intensities are strictly coupled and very sensitive to the environment of the fluorophores. The advantage of measuring lifetimes, next to intensities, comes from the fact that it can reveal heterogeneity and dynamic properties of this environment. In this way lifetime analysis can be used to characterize static and dynamic conformational properties and heterogeneity of fluorescent groups in different areas of a protein and as a function of time for an evolving protein. The phenomena that determine the lifetime of a label are its intrinsic properties, dynamic quenching by neighboring groups, exposure to the solvent, as well as Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between different groups. The basic principles of these fluorescence phenomena can be found extensively described in the excellent book of Lakowicz (Principles of fluorescence spectroscopy, 3rd edn. Springer, New York, 2006). The fluorescent groups involved are either natural amino acid side chains like tryptophan (Trp) or tyrosine (Tyr), or fluorescent labels covalently engineered into the protein. Even a single fluorescent group can show indications of heterogeneity in the local environment. If several natural fluorescent groups are present, the properties of the individual groups can be separated using site-directed mutagenesis, and additivity of their contributions can be analyzed (Engelborghs, Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc 57(11):2255-2270, 2001). If no fluorescent group is naturally present, site-directed mutagenesis can be used to introduce either a fluorescent amino acid or a cysteine allowing chemical labeling.

Generalized solvent scales as a tool for investigating solvent dependence of spectroscopic and kinetic parameters. Application to fluorescent BODIPY dyes.

Two difluoroboron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) based fluorescent dyes - 4,4-difluoro-3-{2-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethenyl}-8-[4-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl]-1,5,7-trimethyl-3a,4a-diaza-4-bora-s-indacene (1) and 4,4-difluoro-3-[2-(4-fluoro-3-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]-8-[4-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl]-1,5,7-trimethyl-3a,4a-diaza-4-bora-s-indacene (3) - have been synthesized via condensation of p-N,N-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde and 4-fluoro-3-hydroxybenzaldehyde, respectively, with 4,4-difluoro-8-[4-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl]-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-3a,4a-diaza-4-bora-s-indacene (2). UV-vis spectrophotometry and steady-state and time-resolved fluorometry have been used to study the spectroscopic and photophysical characteristics of in various solvents. The multi-parameter Kamlet-Taft {pi*, alpha, beta} solvent scales and a new, generalized treatment of the solvent effect, proposed by Catalán (J. Phys. Chem. B, 2009, 113, 5951-5960), have been used in the analysis of the solvatochromic shifts of the UV-vis absorption and fluorescence emission maxima of 1-3, and the rate constants of excited-state deactivation via fluorescence (k(f)) and radiationless decay (k(nr)). The four Catalán solvent scales (dipolarity, polarizability, acidity and basicity of the medium) are the most appropriate for describing the solvatochromic effects. Solvent dipolarity and polarizability are the important causes for the solvatochromism of 1. Conversely, the absorption and emission maxima of 2 and 3 are hardly dependent on the solvent: the small changes reflect primarily the polarizability of the solvent surrounding the dye. Fluorescence decay profiles of 1 can be described by a single-exponential function in aprotic solvents, whereas two decay times are found in alcohols. The fluorescence decays of 2 (lifetimes tau in 1.9-2.9 ns range) and 3 (tau between 3.5 and 4.0 ns) are mono-exponential in all solvents studied. The fluorescence properties of dye are very sensitive to the solvent: upon increasing solvent dipolarity, the fluorescence quantum yields and k(f) values decrease and the emission maxima become more red-shifted. The k(f) values of 2 [(1.6 +/- 0.3) x 10(8) s(-1)] and 3 [(1.5 +/- 0.2) x 10(8) s(-1)] are practically independent of the solvent properties. The crystal structure of reveals that the BODIPY core is nearly planar with the boron atom moved out of the plane. The angle between the phenyl group at the meso-position and the BODIPY plane equals 80 degrees.

Density functional theory study of intramolecular hydrogen bonding and proton transfer in o-hydroxyaryl ketimines.

The potential energy surface and the reaction pathway for the intramolecular hydrogen transfer in o-hydroxyaryl ketimines are characterized using DFT methods. Structural changes in the proton-transfer process in quasi-aromatic hydrogen bonding are described. A transition state and a state with a low proton-transfer barrier were studied in sterically compressed o-hydroxyaryl ketimines (2(N-methyl-alpha-iminoethyl)phenols) possessing two potential minimums. The potentials for proton vibration in the OH and HN tautomers of o-hydroxyaryl ketimines were investigated and anharmonic frequencies were determined. Solvent and substituent effects were analyzed. The energies of the various conformers of the OH and HN tautomers were compared with the related forms of o-hydroxyaryl aldimine.