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P66Shc regulates life span in mammals and is a critical component of the apoptotic response to oxidative stress. It functions as a downstream target of the tumor suppressor p53 and is indispensable for the ability of oxidative stress-activated p53 to induce apoptosis. The molecular mechanisms underlying the apoptogenic effect of p66Shc are unknown. Here we report the following three findings. (i) The apoptosome can be properly activated in vitro in the absence of p66Shc only if purified cytochrome c is supplied. (ii) Cytochrome c release after oxidative signals is impaired in the absence of p66Shc. (iii) p66Shc induces the collapse of the mitochondrial trans-membrane potential after oxidative stress. Furthermore, we showed that a fraction of cytosolic p66Shc localizes within mitochondria where it forms a complex with mitochondrial Hsp70. Treatment of cells with ultraviolet radiation induced the dissociation of this complex and the release of monomeric p66Shc. We propose that p66Shc regulates the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis by inducing mitochondrial damage after dissociation from an inhibitory protein complex. Genetic and biochemical evidence suggests that mitochondria regulate life span through their effects on the energetic metabolism (mitochondrial theory of aging). Our data suggest that mitochondrial regulation of apoptosis might also contribute to life span determination.

Of the three Shc isoforms, p66Shc is responsible for fine-tuning p52/p46Shc signaling to Ras and has been implicated in apoptotic responses to oxidative stress. Here we show that human peripheral blood lymphocytes and mouse thymocytes and splenic T cells acquire the capacity to express p66Shc in response to apoptogenic stimulation. Using a panel of T-cell transfectants and p66Shc(-/-) T cells, we show that p66Shc expression results in increased susceptibility to apoptogenic stimuli, which depends on Ser36 phosphorylation and correlates with an altered balance in apoptosis-regulating gene expression. Furthermore, p66Shc blunts mitogenic responses to T-cell receptor engagement, at least in part by transdominant inhibition of p52Shc signaling to Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinases, in an S36-dependent manner. The data highlight a novel interplay between p66Shc and p52Shc in the control of T-cell fate.

Correlative evidence links stress, accumulation of oxidative cellular damage and ageing in lower organisms and in mammals. We investigated their mechanistic connections in p66Shc knockout mice, which are characterized by increased resistance to oxidative stress and extended life span. We report that p66Shc acts as a downstream target of the tumour suppressor p53 and is indispensable for the ability of stress-activated p53 to induce elevation of intracellular oxidants, cytochrome c release and apoptosis. Other functions of p53 are not influenced by p66Shc expression. In basal conditions, p66Shc-/- and p53-/- cells have reduced amounts of intracellular oxidants and oxidation-damaged DNA. We propose that steady-state levels of intracellular oxidants and oxidative damage are genetically determined and regulated by a stress-induced signal transduction pathway involving p53 and p66Shc.

Vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin is endothelium specific, mediates homophilic adhesion, and is clustered at intercellular junctions. VE-cadherin is required for normal development of the vasculature in the embryo and for angiogenesis in the adult. Here, we report that VE-cadherin is associated with VE growth factor (VEGF) receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) on the exposure of endothelial cells to VEGF. The binding parallels receptor phosphorylation on tyrosine residues, which is maximal at 5 minutes and then declines within 30 minutes. Tyrosine phosphorylation of VE-cadherin was maximal at 30 minutes after the addition of the growth factor. At this time point, the protein could be coimmunoprecipitated with the adaptor protein Shc. Pull-down experiments with different Shc domains and mutants of the VE-cadherin cytoplasmic tail have shown that Shc binds to the carboxy-terminal domain of the VE-cadherin tail through its Src homology 2 domain (SH2). We found that Shc phosphorylation lasts longer in endothelial cells carrying a targeted null mutation in the VE-cadherin gene than in VE-cadherin-positive cells. These data suggest that VE-cadherin expression exerts a negative effect on Shc phosphorylation by VEGFR-2. We speculate that VE-cadherin binding to Shc promotes its dephosphorylation through associated phosphatases.

The activation of protein tyrosine kinase(s) (PTK) is a critical event required for the development of NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Here we demonstrate that the adaptor protein shc undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation during the generation of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and natural killing. In addition, we report that, upon direct or antibody-dependent target cell interaction, shc coprecipitates with the Src homology 2 (SH2)-containing inositol phosphatase, SHIP. To gain information on the functional role of shc in NK cytotoxicity, we overexpressed wild-type or dominant negative shc constructs in the human NKL cell line. Our findings show a consistent shc-mediated down-regulation of ADCC and natural killing. Such functional effect correlates with a perturbation of the phosphoinositide (PI) metabolism by means of a shc-mediated negative regulation of inositol 1,4,5 triphosphate (IP3) generation and intracellular calcium flux upon CD16 ligation. Furthermore, our data show that dominant-negative shc-mediated perturbation of shc/SHIP interaction leads to inhibition of ligand-dependent SHIP recruitment to CD16 zeta chain. We suggest that shc plays a role of negative adaptor by modulating SHIP recruitment to activation receptors involved in the generation of NK cytotoxic function.

The Shc adaptor is responsible for coupling receptor tyrosine kinases and tyrosine kinase-associated receptors to the Ras/MAP kinase pathway. Shc is believed to be regulated by a change in subcellular localization from the cytosol to the plasma membrane, where it recruits Grb-2/Sos complexes and hence permits juxtaposition of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Sos to Ras, resulting in GDP/GTP exchange and Ras activation. Shc has been recently shown to inducibly colocalize in detergent-resistant membrane rafts together with the activated TCR and associated signaling molecules. To understand whether Shc localization in membrane rafts is sufficient to regulate Shc function, we constructed a Shc chimera containing the Ras membrane localization motif at the C-terminus. We show that membrane targeted Shc was constitutively localized in the plasma membrane of T-cells, and was mostly compartmentalized in lipid rafts. Membrane targeted Shc was phosphorylated on tyrosine residues and bound Grb-2/Sos in the absence of TCR engagement. Furthermore, expression of membrane targeted Shc resulted in constitutive downstream signaling, including Erk2 activation and enhancement of TCR dependent activation of the TCR responsive transcription factor NF-AT. Hence localization of Shc in membrane rafts is sufficient for Shc to acquire a signaling competent state. Interestingly, a membrane targeted Shc mutant lacking both Grb-2 binding sites was not only incapable of signaling in the absence of TCR triggering, but transdominantly inhibited endogenous Shc, supporting a non redundant role for Shc in the activation of the Ras/MAP kinase pathway in T-cells.

Gene mutations in invertebrates have been identified that extend life span and enhance resistance to environmental stresses such as ultraviolet light or reactive oxygen species. In mammals, the mechanisms that regulate stress response are poorly understood and no genes are known to increase individual life span. Here we report that targeted mutation of the mouse p66shc gene induces stress resistance and prolongs life span. p66shc is a splice variant of p52shc/p46shc (ref. 2), a cytoplasmic signal transducer involved in the transmission of mitogenic signals from activated receptors to Ras. We show that: (1) p66shc is serine phosphorylated upon treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or irradiation with ultraviolet light; (2) ablation of p66shc enhances cellular resistance to apoptosis induced by H2O2 or ultraviolet light; (3) a serine-phosphorylation defective mutant of p66shc cannot restore the normal stress response in p66shc-/- cells; (4) the p53 and p21 stress response is impaired in p66shc-/- cells; (5) p66shc-/- mice have increased resistance to paraquat and a 30% increase in life span. We propose that p66shc is part of a signal transduction pathway that regulates stress apoptotic responses and life span in mammals.

Background: In several animal species the pancreas has the capacity to partially regenerate in a self regulating process. A complex network of growth factors modulates this process. There is evidence that bombesin stimulates pancreatic regeneration in rodents. Whether bombesin stimulates pancreas regrowth in large mammals is unknown. Shc proteins, the target of tyrosine kinase-coupled receptors, activate p42 and p44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and induce the transcriptional upregulation of genes involved in cell proliferation. The aims of our study were to determine whether bombesin stimulates pancreatic growth in large mammals and whether this event requires Shc-MAP kinase pathway upregulation., Methods: Three groups of pigs were submitted to sham operation (group 1); to subtotal (70%) distal pancreatectomy (group 2), and to subtotal pancreatectomy followed by bombesin (5 mg three times daily) for 4 weeks (group 3). After a 4-week follow-up a second laparotomy was performed, and the residual pancreas removed. p46Shc, p52Shc and p66Shc, Grb2, and p42/p44 MAP kinase expression and phosphorylation were measured either in freshly isolated pancreatic acinar cells or whole pancreatic extracts., Results: In vivo bombesin administration resulted in: 1) approximately 100% growth of pancreatic duodenal lobe; 2) rapid recovery from exocrine pancreatic failure; and 3) a threefold increase in the rate of pancreatic acinar cell proliferation. Incubating freshly isolated pancreatic acinar cells with bombesin resulted in time- and concentration-dependent stimulation of p46Shc/p52Shc phosphorylation, Shc-Grb2 complex formation, and p42/p44 MAP kinase activation. In vivo bombesin administration significantly upregulated p46Shc/p52Shc and MAP kinase expression and/or activity in whole pancreatic extracts., Conclusions: In vivo chronic bombesin administration stimulates pancreatic regeneration after pancreatectomy in large mammals. Bombesin-stimulated pancreatic growth is associated with upregulation of the Shc-Grb2-SOS-Ras-MAP kinase pathway.

The protein tyrosine kinase ZAP-70 plays a central role in T-cell activation. Following receptor engagement, ZAP-70 is recruited to the phosphorylated subunits of the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR). This event results in ZAP-70 activation and in association of ZAP-70 with a number of signaling proteins. Among these is the Shc adaptor, which couples the activated TCR to Ras. Shc interaction with ZAP-70 is mediated by the Shc PTB domain. The inhibitory effect of a Shc mutant containing the isolated PTB domain suggests that Shc interaction with ZAP-70 might be required for TCR signaling. Here, we show that a point mutation (Phe474) of the putative Shc binding site on ZAP-70, spanning tyrosine 474, prevented ZAP-70 interaction with Shc and the subsequent binding of Shc to phospho-zeta. Neither ZAP-70 catalytic activity nor the pattern of protein phosphorylation induced by TCR triggering was affected by this mutation. However expression of the Phe474 ZAP-70 mutant resulted in impaired TCR-dependent gene activation. ZAP-70 could effectively phosphorylate Shc in vitro. Only the CH domain, which contains the two Grb2 binding sites on Shc, was phosphorylated by ZAP-70. Both Grb2 binding sites were excellent substrates for ZAP-70. The data show that Tyr474 on ZAP-70 is required for TCR signaling and suggest that Shc association with ZAP-70 and the resulting phosphorylation of Shc might be an obligatory step in linking the activated TCR to the Ras pathway.

Shc proteins are targets of activated tyrosine kinases and are implicated in the transmission of activation signals to Ras. The p46shc and p52shc isoforms share a C-terminal SH2 domain, a proline- and glycine-rich region (collagen homologous region 1; CH1) and a N-terminal PTB domain. We have isolated cDNAs encoding for a third Shc isoform, p66shc. The predicted amino acid sequence of p66shc overlaps that of p52shc and contains a unique N-terminal region which is also rich in glycines and prolines (CH2). p52shc/p46shc is found in every cell type with invariant reciprocal relationship, whereas p66shc expression varies from cell type to cell type. p66shc differs from p52shc/p46shc in its inability to transform mouse fibroblasts in vitro. Like p52shc/p46shc, p66shc is tyrosine-phosphorylated upon epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation, binds to activated EGF receptors (EGFRs) and forms stable complexes with Grb2. However, unlike p52shc/p46shc it does not increase EGF activation of MAP kinases, but inhibits fos promoter activation. The isolated CH2 domain retains the inhibitory effect of p66shc on the fos promoter. p52shc/p46shc and p66shc, therefore, appear to exert different effects on the EGFR-MAP kinase and other signalling pathways that control fos promoter activity. Regulation of p66shc expression might, therefore, influence the cellular response to growth factors.

The intracellular localization of Shc proteins was analyzed by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy in normal cells and cells expressing the epidermal growth factor receptor or the EGFR/erbB2 chimera. In unstimulated cells, the immunolabeling was localized in the central perinuclear area of the cell and mostly associated with the cytosolic side of rough endoplasmic reticulum membranes. Upon epidermal growth factor treatment and receptor tyrosine kinase activation, the immunolabeling became peripheral and was found to be associated with the cytosolic surface of the plasma membrane and endocytic structures, such as coated pits and endosomes, and with the peripheral cytosol. Receptor activation in cells expressing phosphorylation-defective mutants of Shc and erbB-2 kinase showed that receptor autophosphorylation, but not Shc phosphorylation, is required for redistribution of Shc proteins. The rough endoplasmic reticulum localization of Shc proteins in unstimulated cells and their massive recruitment to the plasma membrane, endocytic structures, and peripheral cytosol following receptor tyrosine kinase activation could account for multiple putative functions of the adaptor protein.

In murine fibroblasts activation of the Shc/Grb-2 pathway by the ErbB-2 kinase involves tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc products and the formation of Shc/ErbB-2, Shc/Grb-2 and Grb-2/ErbB-2 complexes. Tyr 1139 of ErbB-2 bound to the Grb-2 SH2 domain in vitro as well as in intact cells. Tyr 1221 and 1248 are binding sites of gp185ErbB-2 for Shc SH2 domain in vitro whereas Tyr 1196 and 1248 are major binding sites of ErbB-2 for Shc PTB domain. Inhibition of Shc/ErbB-2 complex formation in intact cells was obtained by simultaneous mutational inactivation of Shc SH2 and Shc PTB binding sites of gp185ErbB-2. Shc/ErbB-2 complexes are formed upon activation of the ErbB-2 kinase and tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc proteins; they are located in both cytosol and cellular membranes. ErbB-2 activation induces also translocation of Grb-2 from cytosol to membranes. This network of protein-protein interactions may reflect the ability of the Shc/Grb-2 pathway to act as a molecular switch controlling different cellular functions regulated by RTK activation. In fact the Ras GDP exchanger mSOS was recruited in Grb-2/ErbB-2 complexes; furthermore besides mSOS, other polypeptides present in either cytosolic or membrane preparations were able to complex in vitro with Grb-2 SH3 domains.

Abnormalities due to chromosomal aberration or point mutation in gene products of growth factor receptors or in ras gene products, which lie on the same signaling pathway, can cause disease in animals and humans. Thus, it can be important to determine chromosomal map positions of genes encoding "adapter" proteins, which are involved in transducing signals from receptor tyrosine kinases to downstream signal recipients such as ras, because adaptor protein genes could also, logically, serve as targets of mutation, rearrangement, or other aberration in disease. Therefore, DNAs from panels of rodent-human hybrids carrying defined complements of human chromosomes were assayed for the presence of the cognate genes for NCK, SHC, and GRB2, three SH2 or SH2/SH3 (Src homology 2 and 3) domain-containing adapter proteins. Additionally, NCK and SHC genes were more narrowly localized by chromosomal in situ hybridization. The NCK locus is at chromosome region 3q21, a region involved in neoplasia-associated changes; the SHC cognate locus, SHC1, is at 1q21, and the GRB2 locus is at 17q22-qter telomeric to the HOXB and NGFR loci. Both SHC1 and GRB2 are in chromosome regions that may be duplicated in some tumor types.

Polyoma virus middle T-antigen converts normal fibroblasts to a fully transformed, tumorigenic phenotype. It achieves this, at least in part, by binding and activating one of the non-receptor tyrosine kinases, pp60c-src, pp62c-yes or pp59c-fyn (reviewed in refs 2 and 3). As a result, middle T-antigen itself is phosphorylated on tyrosine residues, one of which (Tyr 315) acts as a binding site for the SH2 domains of phosphatidylinositol-3'OH kinase 85K subunit. Here we show that another tyrosine phosphorylation site in middle T-antigen (Tyr 250; refs 4, 5) acts as a binding region for the SH2 domain of the transforming protein Shc. This results in Shc also becoming tyrosine-phosphorylated and binding to the SH2 domain of Grb2 (ref. 10). This probably stimulates p21ras activity through the mammalian homologue of the Drosophila guanine-nucleotide-exchange factor Sos (reviewed in ref. 11). We suggest that middle T-antigen transforms cells by acting as a functional homologue of an activated tyrosine kinase-associated growth-factor receptor.

A new SH2-containing sequence, SHC, was isolated by screening cDNA libraries with SH2 representative DNA probes. The SHC cDNA is predicted to encode overlapping proteins of 46.8 and 51.7 kd that contain a single C-terminal SH2 domain, and an adjacent glycine/proline-rich motif with regions of homology with the alpha 1 chain of collagen, but no identifiable catalytic domain. Anti-SHC antibodies recognized three proteins of 46, 52, and 66 kd in a wide range of mammalian cell lines. These SHC proteins complexed with and were phosphorylated by activated epidermal growth factor receptor. The physical association of SHC proteins with activated receptors was recreated in vitro by using a bacterially expressed SHC SH2 domain. NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts that constitutively overexpressed SHC acquired a transformed phenotype in culture and formed tumors in nude mice. These results suggest that the SHC gene products couple activated growth factor receptors to a signaling pathway that regulates the proliferation of mammalian cells.