Elevated membrane association of phospholipase C-gamma 1 in MDA-468 mammary tumor cells.

We have examined the distribution of phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma 1) between membrane and cytosolic fractions in several cell lines. In MDA-468 cells, which are derived from a human breast tumor, greater than one-half of the total PLC-gamma 1 is associated with the membrane fraction of the cell. Unlike the situation in A-431 cells [G. Todderud, M. I. Wahl, S. G. Ree, and G. Carpenter, Science, 248: 296-298, 1990], epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation of MDA-468 cells does not result in significantly increased PLC-gamma 1 association with membranes. Immunoblot analysis reveals low levels of phosphotyrosine in PLC-gamma 1 and EGF receptors in unstimulated MDA-468 cells and greatly increased phosphotyrosine levels in these proteins as a result of EGF stimulation of the cells. We conclude that autocrine activation of EGF receptors is not responsible for the elevated association of PLC-gamma 1 with membranes in these cells.

Constitutive expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor abrogates all requirements for exogenous growth factors.

BALB/c3T3 cells are exquisitely growth regulated and require both platelet-derived growth factor and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) for optimal proliferation. BALB/c3T3 cells that constitutively express IGF-1 and elevated levels of IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) are capable of growth in serum-free medium without the addition of any exogenous growth factors. BALB/c3T3 cells overexpressing only the IGF-1R plasmid required IGF-1 or insulin for serum-free growth. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides complementary to IGF-1R mRNA inhibited IGF-1-mediated cell growth. Under these conditions, neither the epidermal growth factor receptor nor phospholipase C gamma 1 was autophosphorylated. These findings indicate that constitutive expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R allows 3T3 cells to grow in serum-free medium without addition of those exogenous growth factors that are required by the parent cell line.

Recycling of epidermal growth factor-receptor complexes in A431 cells: identification of dual pathways.

The intracellular sorting of EGF-receptor complexes (EGF-RC) has been studied in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. Recycling of EGF was found to occur rapidly after internalization at 37 degrees C. The initial rate of EGF recycling was reduced at 18 degrees C. A significant pool of internalized EGF was incapable of recycling at 18 degrees C but began to recycle when cells were warmed to 37 degrees C. The relative rate of EGF outflow at 37 degrees C from cells exposed to an 18 degrees C temperature block was slower (t1/2 approximately 20 min) than the rate from cells not exposed to a temperature block (t1/2 approximately 5-7 min). These data suggest that there might be both short- and long-time cycles of EGF recycling in A431 cells. Examination of the intracellular EGF-RC dissociation and dynamics of short- and long-time recycling indicated that EGF recycled as EGF-RC. Moreover, EGF receptors that were covalently labeled with a photoactivatable derivative of 125I-EGF recycled via the long-time pathway at a rate similar to that of 125I-EGF. Since EGF-RC degradation was also blocked at 18 degrees C, we propose that sorting to the lysosomal and long-time recycling pathway may occur after a highly temperature-sensitive step, presumably in the late endosomes.

Accumulation of epidermal growth factor receptors in retinoic acid-treated fetal rat lung cells is due to enhanced receptor synthesis.

125I-Epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding capacity in fetal rat lung (FRL) cells is increased approximately 2 to 3-fold within 18 h of retinoic acid addition. Analysis of 125I-EGF binding assays at 0 C reveals approximately 25,000 receptors per cell, while analysis of growth factor binding to retinoic acid-treated cells demonstrates an increase in receptor levels to approximately 70,000 receptors per cell with no detectable changes in receptor affinities. We show by immunoprecipitation of 35S-methionine labeled EGF receptors that retinoic acid addition produces an increase in the accumulation of EGF receptor protein. Using brief pulses of 35S-methionine, an increase in EGF receptor synthesis can be identified within 3 h after retinoic acid addition. These results are the first to demonstrate that a retinoic acid-induced increase in 125I-EGF binding capacity is due to increased EGF receptor protein synthesis. Also, we find that a transient decrease in the rate of EGF receptor turnover occurs when retinoic acid is initially added to FRL cells. On the basis of our data, we conclude that the retinoic acid-induced accumulation of EGF receptors in FRL cells is primarily due to increased receptor synthesis. The effect of retinoic acid on EGF receptor turnover may be a secondary factor, influencing the rate at which receptors accumulate.

Similarities in glycosylation and transport between the secreted and plasma membrane forms of the epidermal growth factor receptor in A-431 cells.

We have studied the synthesis and oligosaccharide processing of the 110,000 dalton form of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor that is secreted into the medium of A-431 cells. Its 90,000 dalton precursor is soluble within the lumen of intracellular membrane vesicles shortly after synthesis, indicating that it lacks a membrane anchor. Analysis of labeled glycopeptides reveals that the glycosylation of the 110,000 dalton, secreted receptor is very similar to that of the 170,000 dalton, plasma membrane receptor. Based on Concanavalin A-Sepharose elution profiles of its glycopeptides, the secreted receptor has both complex and high-mannose N-linked oligosaccharides. Also, like the plasma membrane receptor, the secreted receptor contains N-acetylgalactosamine residues in its complex chains. Not only are major features of oligosaccharide processing of the soluble and membrane-bound forms of the receptor similar, but the kinetics of transport to the cell exterior is the same for each. These data indicate that the glycosylation pattern and kinetics of cellular transport of the EGF receptor are determined by factors other than the sequence of its cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains.

Transforming growth factor alpha and beta expression in human colon cancer lines: implications for an autocrine model.

Three human colon cancer lines (SW480, SW620, WIDR) secrete different levels of transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta)-like and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha)/epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like molecules into serum-free conditioned media as measured by competing activity in TGF beta and EGF radioreceptor assays. SW480 cells, the highest producers of TGF beta-like activity, lack detectable TGF beta receptors while SW620 cells, the highest producers of TGF alpha/EGF-like activity, lack EGF receptors. This study investigated the production of these growth factors at the mRNA level and examined the mechanism of loss of detectable receptors. Using complementary DNA probes for TGF beta and TGF alpha, it was demonstrated that mRNA levels correlated with the amounts of TGF beta and TGF alpha produced; TGF beta gene expression was highest in SW480 cells and TGF alpha gene expression was highest in SW620 cells. Acid washing of the SW480 cells prior to performing the TGF beta binding assay resulted in the unmasking of substantial levels of TGF beta receptors. Neither acid washing nor preincubation with suramin uncovered EGF receptors in SW620 cells. Also, and in contrast to the other two lines, EGF receptor expression could not be detected in SW620 cells by Northern gel analysis of receptor messenger RNA or by immunological analysis of receptor protein. Thus two distinct mechanisms (occupation of TGF beta receptor in SW480 cells, or absence of EGF receptor in SW620 cells) explain the lack of detectable TGF beta and EGF receptors in the binding assays. The autocrine hypothesis remains viable for TGF beta in SW480 cells but not for TGF alpha in SW620 cells; this would not discount a paracrine role in this latter case.

The oligosaccharide moieties of the epidermal growth factor receptor in A-431 cells. Presence of complex-type N-linked chains that contain terminal N-acetylgalactosamine residues.

The receptor for epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the human epidermoid carcinoma cell line A-431 is a glycoprotein of apparent molecular weight = 170,000. During biosynthesis, the receptor is first detected as a precursor of apparent Mr = 160,000. In this report we describe our studies on the structures of the oligosaccharide moieties of the mature receptor and its precursor. A-431 cells were grown in medium containing radioactive sugars and the radiolabeled receptors were purified by immunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Radiolabeled glycopeptides were prepared from the purified receptor by proteolysis, and their structures were examined by a variety of techniques. The mature EGF receptor contains both complex-type and high mannose-type Asn-linked oligosaccharides in the approximate ratio of 2 to 1, while the precursor contains only high mannose-type chains. A number of experimental results demonstrate that the mature receptor does not contain oligosaccharides in O-linkage through N-acetylgalactosamine to either serine or threonine. The high mannose-type oligosaccharides in both precursor and mature receptor can be cleaved by endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H and occur in the mature receptor as Man9GlcNAc2 (6%), Man8GlcNAc2 (49%), Man7GlcNAc2 (25%), and Man6GlcNAc2 (20%), whereas, in the receptor precursor the high mannose chains occur primarily as Man8GlcNAc2 (70%). The complex-type oligosaccharides in the mature receptor are predominantly tri- or tetraantennary species and are unusual in several respects. (i) Many of the chains do not contain sialic acid, while the remaining chains contain 1-2 sialic acid residues. (ii) Half of the [3H] mannose-derived radioactivity was recovered as [3H] fucose and the remaining half as [3H] mannose, indicating that there may be an average of 3 fucose residues/chain. (iii) About one-third of the [3H] glucosamine-derived radioactivity in these glycopeptides was recovered as N-acetylgalactosamine and these residues are all alpha-linked and occur at the nonreducing termini. These data demonstrate that the complex-type Asn-linked oligosaccharides in the EGF receptor from A-431 cells contain sugar residues related to human blood type A. In light of other recent studies, these results suggest that in A-431 cells blood group determinants in surface glycoproteins are contained in Asn-linked but not O-linked oligosaccharides.

Biosynthesis of the epidermal growth factor receptor in cultured human cells.

A 160,000 mol wt precursor of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor has been identified in human A-431 carcinoma cells and skin fibroblasts. The presence of one discrete precursor band indicates the presence of a slow processing step. We have determined that this slow processing step involves the conversion of high mannose N-linked oligosaccharides on the receptor precursor to primarily complex oligosaccharides on the mature form of the receptor. This is shown by 1) the presence of fucose, a characteristic terminal sugar of complex oligosaccharides, in only the mature receptor and by 2) the susceptibility of the precursor to digestion with endoglycosidase H, which cleaves high mannose N-linked oligosaccharides, but not complex oligosaccharides from glycoproteins. The precursor to mature receptor transition half-time is 1.7 h in A-431 cells. This long transition half-time causes an accumulation of approximately 7.2 X 10(5) precursor molecules per cell (approximately 12% of the total population of EGF receptors). The net quantity of mature EGF receptors, but not of receptor precursors, is reduced when EGF is added to the culture medium of A-431 cells. The presence of EGF in the growth medium also decreases electrophoretic migration (as a result of increased phosphate incorporation) of the mature receptor, but not that of the precursor. The EGF-insensitive state of the precursor is most likely due to its intracellular location.

Glycosylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor in A-431 cells. The contribution of carbohydrate to receptor function.

A-431 cells were treated with inhibitors of either N-linked glycosylation (tunicamycin or glucosamine) or of N-linked oligosaccharide processing (swainsonine or monensin) to examine the glycosylation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors and to determine the effect of glycosylation modification on receptor function. The receptor was found to be an Mr = 130,000 polypeptide to which a relatively large amount of carbohydrate is added co-translationally in the form of N-linked oligosaccharides. Processing of these oligosaccharides accounts for the 10,000-dalton difference in electrophoretic migration between the Mr = 160,000 precursor and Mr = 170,000 mature forms of the receptor. No evidence was found for O-linked oligosaccharides on the receptor. Mr = 160,000 receptors resulting from swainsonine or monensin treatment were present on the cell surface and retained full function, as judged by 125I-EGF binding to intact cells and detergent-solubilized extracts and by in vitro phosphorylation in the absence or presence of EGF. On the other hand, when cells were treated with tunicamycin or glucosamine, ligand binding was reduced by more than 50% in either intact cells or solubilized cell extracts. The Mr = 130,000 receptors synthesized in the presence of these inhibitors were not found on the cell surface. In addition, no Mr = 130,000 phosphoprotein was detected in the in vitro phosphorylation of tunicamycin or glucosamine-treated cells. It appears, therefore, that although terminal processing of N-linked oligosaccharides is not necessary for proper translocation or function of the EGF receptor, the addition of N-linked oligosaccharides is required.

Developments in the mechanism of growth factor action: activation of protein kinase by epidermal growth factor.

The interaction between epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its target cells has been used as a model for studying the regulation of cell proliferation. Many of the details of binding and subsequent internalization and degradation of this growth factor have been elucidated by following the fate of [125I]EGF in the presence of responsive cells. To investigate the membrane-localized biochemical consequences of EGF-receptor complex formation, a subcellular membrane system has been developed. In this system, EGF enhances phosphorylation of its receptor as well as other endogenous proteins. This EGF-stimulable protein kinase activity is not separated from the EGF receptor activity either by detergent solubilization or by affinity purification of the solubilized membranes. The data suggest that the EGF-binding activity and EGF-sensitive protein kinase activity reside in a single membrane protein.