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Ligand-activated epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) associate with coated pit adaptor proteins (AP2) in vivo, implying a mechanism for receptor retention in coated pits during internalization. Using an in vitro binding assay, we localized the adaptor binding determinant to residues 970-991 of EGFRs and confirmed specificity by competition with a synthetic peptide corresponding to this sequence. A mutant EGFR lacking this AP2 binding determinant did not associate with AP2 in vivo but demonstrated internalization and down-regulation kinetics indistinguishable from its wild-type counterpart. Immunocytochemistry confirmed ligand-induced internalization of the mutant EGFR. These data suggest that endocytic determinants are distinct from AP2 binding determinants and that processes other than association with AP2 regulate endocytosis of EGFRs.

The intrinsic protein tyrosine kinase activity of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is necessary for ligand-induced signaling. To determine whether cellular protein tyrosine kinases are substrates for EGF-activated receptors, phosphotyrosine-containing proteins were isolated from EGF-treated cells and assayed for tyrosine kinase activity using peptide substrates. A tyrosine kinase activity that is distinct from the EGF receptor was adsorbed to monoclonal anti-phosphotyrosine antibody columns and eluted with phenyl phosphate. Near-maximal tyrosine phosphorylation of this kinase occurred within 1 min of cell stimulation with an ED50 for EGF of 2.5 nM. The kinase was deactivated by incubation with purified CD45 tyrosine phosphatase in vitro, but activity could be restored by incubation with purified EGF receptor and Mn2+ ATP. These results suggest a cascade of tyrosine kinase signaling analogous to well characterized serine/threonine kinase cascades.

Activation of the EGF receptor tyrosine kinase by ligand indirectly activates a series of other cellular enzymes, including protein kinase C. To test the hypothesis that phosphorylation of the EGF receptor by protein kinase C provides an intracellular negative feedback loop to attenuate EGF receptor signaling, we used scanning EM to follow the characteristic EGF-induced retraction of lamellipodia and concomitant cell shape changes. Wild type and mutant EGF receptors were expressed in receptor-deficient NR6 cells. The mutant receptors were prepared by truncation at C' terminal residue 973 (c'973) to provide resistance to ligand-induced down regulation that strongly attenuates receptor signaling and by replacement of threonine 654 (T654) with alanine (A654) to remove the site of phosphorylation by protein kinase C. Cells expressing WT and c'973 EGF receptors demonstrated characteristic lamellipodial retraction after exposure to EGF, with the non-down regulating c'973 EGF receptors responding more rapidly. Exposure of cells to TPA blocked this response. Replacement of T654 by alanine resulted in EGF receptors that were resistant to TPA. Cells expressing the A654 mutation underwent more rapid and more extensive morphologic changes than cells with the corresponding T654 EGF receptor. In cells expressing T654 EGF receptors, down regulation of protein kinase C resulted in more rapid and extensive EGF-induced changes similar to those seen in cells expressing A654 EGF receptors. These data indicate that activation of protein kinase C and subsequent phosphorylation of the EGF receptor at T654 lead to rapid physiological attenuation of EGF receptor signaling.

Phosphorylation of the RAF-1 protooncogene product and activation of its associated serine/threonine kinase are common features of the response of cells to peptide growth factors. We have used wild-type and mutant epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors to investigate mechanisms of RAF-1 phosphorylation. In vivo EGF treatment rapidly stimulated phosphorylation of RAF-1 exclusively on serine residues. Stimulation of RAF-1 phosphorylation occurred at 37 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C and persisted after dissociation of EGF from its receptor. EGF-induced RAF-1 serine phosphorylation required the intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity of the EGF receptor but was independent of EGF receptor self-phosphorylation and of ligand-induced receptor internalization. Down-regulation of protein kinase C did not affect the EGF-induced increase in RAF-1 phosphorylation. These data suggest that the activated tyrosine kinase activity of the EGF receptor enhances serine phosphorylation of RAF-1 via an intermediary molecule(s).

To assess the functional significance of phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor at Thr654, we compared the effects of 12-O-tetradecanoyl-13-acetate (TPA) on ligand-induced internalization and down-regulation between wild-type and mutant receptors that contain an alanine substitution at position 654. Activation of protein kinase C with TPA blocked EGF-induced internalization and down-regulation of Thr654 receptors and inhibited in vivo tyrosine kinase activity by 80%. TPA did not inhibit transferrin receptor internalization or constitutive EGF receptor internalization, suggesting that protein kinase C activation inhibits only the ligand-induced process. Inhibition by TPA of induced internalization, down-regulation, and kinase activity required threonine at position 654 since full-length Ala654 EGF receptors were significantly resistant to TPA inhibition of these ligand-induced activities. However, C'-terminal truncation further enhanced this resistance to TPA inhibition. The EGF-dependent internalization of kinase-inactive receptors truncated at residue 1022 was also impaired by TPA in Thr654 receptors, but not in Ala654 receptors, indicating that phosphorylation at Thr654 also interferes with tyrosine kinase-independent receptor activities. We conclude that the dominant regulatory effect of protein kinase C on the EGF receptor is mediated through phosphorylation at Thr654 which effectively inactivates the receptor. The submembrane region of the EGF receptor appears to regulate transmission of conformational information from the extracellular ligand-binding site to the cytoplasmic kinase and regulatory domains.

The role of EGF receptor concentration in tumor growth was investigated in athymic mice by measuring the rate of growth of clonal human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells containing different extents of EGF receptor gene amplification and protein expression. A direct correlation-between the rate of tumor growth and EFG receptor concentration was found, supporting previous cell culture studies that quantitated the relationship between activated EGF receptors and cell proliferation. Holo EGF receptor is activated by ligand binding to the extracellular domain to activate cytoplasmic tyrosine protein kinase activity. A model of single molecule transmembrane signaling is proposed. The function of two phosphorylation sites on the EGF receptor has been analyzed by use of site-directed mutagenesis. Comparison of normal and mutant hEGF receptors expressed in rodent cells lacking endogenous EGF receptors indicates that: 1) Thr654, located 10 amino acids carboxyl terminal to the inner membrane boundary, is a major site of heterologous regulation via protein kinase C catalyzed phosphorylation, and 2) Tyr1173, the major site of self-phosphorylation, located at the carboxyl terminus, provides a secondary level of regulation of receptor function by acting as a competitive inhibitor with exogenous substrates.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates phosphorylation of its own receptor at a tyrosine residue. Similarly, the viral gene product pp60src, which is responsible for cellular transformation by avian sarcoma virus (ASV), phosphorylates itself and immunoglobulin directed against pp60src at tyrosine residues. This unusual site of phosphorylation catalysed by two membrane-associated protein kinases involved in growth control prompted us to study the immunological relatedness of the EGF-stimulated protein kinase and the pp60src. Using anti-pp60src antisera, we attempted to immunoprecipitate the EGF-stimulated protein kinase solubilized from plasma membranes. We report here that neither the EGF-stimulated kinase nor the EGF receptor were immunoprecipitable by anti-pp60src sera. However, anti-pp60src IgG served as a specific substrate for the EGF-stimulated kinase, suggesting a close similarity between the EGF-stimulated kinase and pp60src.

The effect of self-phosphorylation on the protein-tyrosine kinase activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor has been investigated using immunoaffinity-purified protein. Enzyme was first incubated for various times with excess ATP to phosphorylate it to differing extents; the ability of the enzyme to phosphorylate exogenous peptide substrates was then measured as a function of its self-phosphorylation state. Increasing self-phosphorylation to 1.3-1.8 mol of phosphate mol-1 of epidermal growth factor receptor enhanced protein-tyrosine kinase activity 2-3-fold. Comparison of the kinetics of protein-tyrosine kinase activity at different ATP concentrations revealed significant differences between unphosphorylated and phosphorylated enzyme. At low levels of ATP, a double reciprocal plot of the protein-tyrosine kinase activity of the unphosphorylated enzyme was hyperbolic, suggesting that ATP may act as an activator of the enzyme. At higher ATP concentrations, where greater levels of self-phosphorylation occurred during the reaction, the kinetics appeared linear and similar to those of the phosphorylated enzyme. Dose-response studies using three different peptide substrates (angiotensin II, gastrin, and a synthetic peptide corresponding to the self-phosphorylation site in p60v-src) showed that exogenous substrates inhibit receptor self-phosphorylation. In each case, half-maximal inhibition was observed at a peptide concentration approximately equal to the substrate's Km. A kinetic analysis comparing peptide phosphorylation using unphosphorylated and prephosphorylated enzyme indicated that the self-phosphorylation site can act as a competitive inhibitor (alternate substrate) versus peptide substrates. These results suggest that self-phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor removes a competitive constraint so that exogenous substrates can be more readily phosphorylated.

Four mouse monoclonal antibodies specific for human epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors have been prepared using EGF receptor protein from human A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells as immunogen. We have determined the effect of these antibodies on two known functions of the EGF receptor: EGF binding and tyrosine kinase. Three of these antibodies (225, 528, and 579) are inhibitors of EGF binding, whereas the fourth (455) does not compete for binding but immunoprecipitates the EGF receptor. Inhibition is of the mixed competitive and noncompetitive type. The three competing monoclonal antibodies are antagonists of EGF-stimulated tyrosine protein kinase activity assayed both in intact cells and using an exogenous peptide substrate in solubilized membranes. These immunoglobulins are partial agonists in self-phosphorylation of the EGF receptor in solubilized membranes but exhibit only antagonist activity for this reaction in intact cells. The three competing monoclonal immunoglobulins recognize receptors in variant A431 cells with the same efficiency as in parental A431 cells. Such antagonist monoclonal antibodies can be used to control the concentration of receptors which can be activated by EGF.

To test the functional consequence of phosphorylation of the EGF receptor at Thr 654 by protein kinase C, the normal Thr 654 human EGF receptor cDNA or a mutant encoding an Ala 654 were expressed in heterologous cells. In cell lines expressing both the Thr 654 and Ala 654 receptors, functional cell-surface Thr 654 receptors were reduced or were totally lost, but were not degraded, following activation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters (TPA), whereas Ala 654 receptors were unaffected. These data suggest that protein kinase C regulates ligand-independent receptor binding and internalization via phosphorylation of Thr 654 of the EGF holoreceptor. Because EGF induces internalization and degradation of the Ala 654 EGF receptor, at least two independent mechanisms can serve to signal loss of functional EGF receptors.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF), which stimulates tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity both in vivo and in vitro, inhibits proliferation of A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells. After mutagenesis clonal cell lines that were resistant to the growth inhibitory effects of EGF were selected. All six variants examined contained decreased EGF-stimulated protein kinase. The number of EGF receptors in variant cells decreased in parallel with EGF-stimulated protein kinase activity so that the specific activity of EGF-stimulated protein kinase per EGF receptor remained constant in variant cell lines with up to tenfold reductions in both activities. This result suggests that both EGF binding and kinase activities reside in the same or closely coupled molecules. The effect of EGF on growth of two resistant variants was examined in detail. Clone 29 contains approximately 50% and clone 4 contains approximately 20% of the EGF-stimulated protein kinase activity of the parental A431 cell line. In serum-supplemented medium, EGF stimulated proliferation of clone 29 but did not affect growth of clone 4. In a 1:1 mixture of DME and F-12 medium without serum, EGF caused both clone 29 and clone 4 to grow as well as in 10% serum. These variants, which were selected for resistance to the growth inhibitory effects of EGF, thus exhibit a strong mitogenic response to EGF. This result suggests that resistance to the growth inhibitory effect of EGF may involve both a decrease in EGF-stimulated protein kinase and an alteration in the response pathway.

To determine the role of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated protein kinase in the biological effects caused by EGF, tyrosine-specific kinase activity has been quantitated in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells and six variant cell lines. Because EGF inhibited proliferation of A431 cells, variants resistant to this inhibition were selected by treatment with mutagen and maintenance for 1 month in 0.1 muM EGF. After cloning and growth for 6-20 generations without EGF, the resistance of the variants to the growth-inhibitory effect of EGF was confirmed. Whereas EGF increased cellular phosphotyrosine content approximately 10-fold in parental A431 cells, EGF caused smaller or undetectable increases in the six variant cell lines. Solubilized membranes from the six variants displayed diminished EGF-stimulated phosphorylation of the EGF receptor and of antibodies to p60(src) (the product of the Rous sarcoma virus transforming gene), which act as an exogenous substrate. The decrease in EGF-stimulated tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity varied from approximately 40% (clone 16) to approximately 8% (clone 18) of parental A431 activity. Phosphorylated EGF receptors from parental and variant cells migrated identically on sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels. The number of EGF receptors in variant cells decreased in parallel with EGF-stimulated protein kinase activity, so that the specific activity of EGF-stimulated protein kinase per EGF receptor remained constant in the six variant cell lines with reductions in both activities to as low as 10%. These results suggest that this tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity mediates the growth-inhibitory effect of EGF on A431 cells and that both EGF binding and kinase activities reside in the same or tightly associated molecules.

To test the relationship between the concentration of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors and tumor growth in vivo, we measured the rate of growth of several independently isolated A431 cell lines in athymic mice. This series of A431 clonal variants with differing extents of EGF receptor gene amplification and protein expression were implanted into athymic mice and the time to solid tumor formation and rate of growth were measured. Results of these experiments indicate that the degree of gene amplification and concentration of EGF receptors are directly correlated with the growth of these cells as solid tumors in host animals. Complementary DNA hybridization analysis revealed no change in the extent of gene amplification and expression in implanted cells versus excised tumors nor any evidence of further gene rearrangement in vivo. A high concentration of EGF receptors appears to facilitate the growth of tumor cells in vivo and in vitro.

Growth of a selected variant of A431 cells (clone 29) is stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF) in contrast to the growth inhibition caused by EGF in an unselected clone, A431(8). Twelve phosphoproteins from each clone were compared to determine whether unique EGF-dependent substrate phosphorylations might explain the cells' differing growth responses to EGF. Treatment of both clone 29 and A431(8) cells with EGF increased phosphorylation of the EGF receptor/kinase and six cellular proteins identified on 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gels. Four of these proteins (the EGF receptor/kinase and proteins of 36, 70, and 81 kd) contained phosphotyrosine in both clone 29 and A431(8) cells, indicating that the same modification of several proteins occurred in cells which have totally different growth responses to EGF. Two proteins were identified whose phosphorylation was EGF dependent and which were unique to clone 29 cells; however, EGF increased phosphorylation of only serine residues in these proteins. This indicates that these proteins are not primary targets of the EGF-dependent tyrosine-specific protein kinase, but rather are substrates for serine-specific kinase(s) activated as a consequence of EGF:receptor interaction. cAMP, which inhibited growth of both clones, was utilized to compare the effects of EGF when the growth response of both cell lines was similar. In the presence of cAMP, EGF increased A431(8) cellular phosphotyrosine content and the phosphorylation of the same phosphotyrosine-containing proteins of both clone 29 and A431(8) cells. The in vivo activity of a second tyrosine-specific protein kinase, p60V -src in B77 Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-transformed newborn rat kidney (NRK) cells, was also unaffected by cAMP. Thus cAMP did not block the in vivo activity of two tyrosine-specific kinases or the tyrosine phosphorylation of three specific protein substrates. A threshold model of tyrosine kinase activity is proposed as an alternative explanation for the differing growth responses to EGF.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor protein has been purified in a single high-yield step by immunoaffinity chromatography of extracts of A431 cells. A monoclonal antibody directed against the EGF binding site of the receptor was immobilized to Sepharose 4B as a specific immune absorbent and competitive elution with EGF was used to obtain purified EGF receptor protein with tyrosine kinase activity. The stoichiometry of EGF binding was determined by comparing 125I-EGF binding to A431 cells with the mass of EGF receptor protein in those cells as measured by immunoaffinity chromatography, radioimmunoassay, and immune precipitation. Each measurement indicated one EGF binding site/EGF receptor protein molecule. Study of the kinetics of autophosphorylation revealed rapid incorporation of 1 mol of phosphate/mol of enzyme followed by slower incorporation of additional phosphate groups. The autophosphorylation reaction has a Km for ATP (0.2 microM) which is about 10-fold lower than that for phosphorylation of exogenous substrates. The kinetically preferred autophosphorylation is an intramolecular reaction.

Early events in ligand-induced endocytosis of the EGF receptor have been examined. A mutant EGF receptor devoid of intrinsic protein-tyrosine kinase activity bound EGF and dimerized normally yet failed to undergo ligand-induced internalization. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that receptors lacking kinase activity failed to undergo the ligand-induced internalization characteristic of receptors with kinase activity. Monoclonal anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies effectively inhibited phosphorylation of exogenous substrates in vitro and, when microinjected into cells containing active EGF receptors, prevented internalization of the receptor when cells were subsequently challenged with EGF. These results point to a crucial role for the kinase activity of the EGF receptor in the process of ligand-induced endocytosis of receptors, and imply that a phosphorylated substrate(s) is required.

Primary functional bovine adrenal cortical cell cultures have been developed to study the factors controlling adrenal cell growth. Cells were prepared by the collagenase technique and maintained in F-12 medium containing fetal calf serum and horse serum. Cells contained abundant lipid as demonstrated by staining with Oil Red O and showed strongly positive staining for delta5,3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. ACTH inhibited DNA synthesis and stimulated steriodogenesis in these cells. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) was shown to be a potent stimulator of the growth of normal bovine adrenal cortical cells maintained in tissue culture. The minimal effective dose of FGF was 1 ng/ml with maximal effects being observed at 100 ng/ml. The effect of FGF was dependent on the serum concentration. Inclusion of FGF in F-12 medium containing serum permitted cloning of functional bovine adrenal cortical cells from cultures seeded at low density (4 cells/cm2). ACTH inhibited the mitogenic effects of FGF. In addition to its mitogenic action, FGF is a migratory factor for bovine adrenal cortical cells. Though ACTH inhibited the mitogenic effects of FGF, it did not block the migratory activity. Epidermal growth factor did not affect the growth of either normal bovine adrenal or functional mouse adrenal tumor cells (Y-1) in tissue culture. FGF is the first direct mitogen identified for adrenal cortical cells; ACTH opposes this mitogenic action and functions directly as a differentiate function signal.

Human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cell clones have been obtained whose growth is inhibited, stimulated, or unaffected by epidermal growth factor (EGF). In clones exhibiting each type of growth response, EGF induced similar morphologic changes consisting of aggregation of cells into dense clusters with baring of large areas of the culture dish. The similarity of the clones' morphologic responses, despite their differing growth responses, indicates that the effects of EGF on morphology are distinct from effects on growth. Cells whose growth was inhibited by EGF contained high numbers of EGF receptors, whereas the concentration of EGF receptors was reduced in cells whose growth was stimulated or unaffected by EGF. There were, however, no consistent differences in EGF receptor concentrations between stimulated or null clones. Cells that exhibited each type of growth response displayed similar rates of EGF binding to receptors, rates of internalization of EGF, and rates and extent of EGF-induced receptor down-regulation. Changes in EGF-stimulated tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity paralleled changes in EGF receptors, both between clones and upon down-regulation. These studies indicate that a reduction in the concentration of EGF receptors in A431 cells allows escape from the growth inhibitory effects of EGF, but suggest that the pattern of growth response depends on biochemical events subsequent to EGF-receptor metabolism and activation of tyrosine-specific protein kinase.

The Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (C-kinase) binds tightly in the presence of Ca2+ to purified membranes of A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells. The major membrane substrate for C-kinase is the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. Phosphorylation of the EGF receptor is Ca2+-dependent and occurs at threonine and serine residues. After tryptic digestion of the receptor, three major phosphothreonine-containing peptides were identified. These are identical with three new phosphopeptides present in the EGF receptor isolated from A431 cells treated with either of the tumor promoters 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate or teleocidin. C-kinase catalyzes phosphorylation at these same sites in purified EGF receptor protein. These results indicate that, in A431 cells exposed to tumor promoters, C-kinase catalyzes phosphorylation of a significant population of EGF receptor molecules. This phosphorylation of EGF receptors results in decreased self-phosphorylation of the EGF receptor at tyrosine residues both in vivo and in vitro and in decreased EGF-stimulated tyrosine kinase activity in vivo.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) binds with high affinity and specificity to a single site on the external domain of its transmembrane receptor to activate the tyrosine protein kinase activity of its cytoplasmic portion. The EGF receptor gene is amplified and over-expressed in several human tumors, suggesting that increased concentrations of the proto-oncogene leads to constitutive activity similar to that seen with oncogene erb B. Synthesis and degradation of the EGF receptor are regulated, in addition, covalent modification by phosphorylation regulates activity of the receptor protein. Intramolecular self-phosphorylation of Tyr1173 removes a competitive inhibitory constraint to enhance phosphorylation of substrates. Phosphorylation of Thr654 by protein kinase C decreases high affinity EGF binding and EGF-stimulated tyrosine protein kinase activity, providing a mechanism for heterologous regulation of the EGF receptor by tumor promoters and other ligand X receptor complexes. Extensive regulation contributes to normal growth control, abrogation of regulatory controls contributes to uncontrolled growth as seen with erb B transformation and EGF receptor gene amplification in human tumors.