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Biomedical subjects

A Ullrich

Publications and source records attributed to A Ullrich.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors: distinct neuronal and nonneuronal forms derived by alternative splicing differ in phosphorylation.

We have identified two distinct transcripts of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor by using the PCR on first-strand cDNAs from various rat tissues. The longer form, corresponding to the previously cloned adult rat brain inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor, contains a 120-nucleotide insert between the two cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation consensus sequences. The shorter form (lacking the insert) predominates in fetal brain and peripheral tissues and appears to represent a nonneuronal receptor, whereas the longer form is found in adult brain and appears to be exclusively neuronal. The phosphorylation kinetics by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and the phosphopeptide maps differ for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors purified from tissues predominantly expressing different forms of the transcript.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Expression of the hst-1 and c-kit protooncogenes in human testicular germ cell tumors.

Seventy testicular germ cell tumors were analyzed at the DNA and RNA levels for the c-kit, hst-1, and int-2 oncogenes using Northern and Southern blot analyses, respectively. There were significant differences in oncogene expression between seminomas and nonseminomas with c-kit being expressed in 24 of 30 (80%) seminomas but in only 3 of 40 (7%) nonseminomatous tumors (P = 0.0001, chi 2 test) and hst-1 being expressed in 24 of 38 (63%) nonseminomas but only 1 of 24 (4%) of seminomas (P = 0.0001, chi 2 test), demonstrating an inverse relationship in the expression pattern of these 2 oncogenes in human testicular germ cell tumors. A significant association between tumor stage and hst-1 expression in the nonseminoma group was found (P = 0.0002, chi 2 test). No gross alterations in the c-kit, hst-1, and int-2 loci were found at the DNA level and no int-2 mRNA expression was detected in any of the germ cell tumors examined.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1991

Activation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase by insulin is mediated by both A and B human insulin receptor types.

Activation of a phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3-kinase) is one of the earliest consequences of insulin binding to the receptor. The human insulin receptor exists in two isoforms which differ in the length of the alpha-subunit (HIR-A = 719 aa, HIR-B = 731 aa). To test whether both isoforms transduce an insulin signal on PI-3-kinase we used rat-1-fibroblasts expressing HIR-A or HIR-B. We found that insulin stimulates 32P incorporation into PIP through both HIR-A and HIR-B to a similar extent (approx. 8-10 fold).

Animals↗
PubMed1991

A mutation in the extracellular domain of the insulin receptor impairs the ability of insulin to stimulate receptor autophosphorylation.

Mutations of the insulin receptor gene have been shown to cause insulin-resistant diabetes in patients with genetic forms of insulin resistance. We have previously reported that a mutation substituting valine for Phe382 in the alpha-subunit of the insulin receptor is associated with impaired transport of the mutant receptor to the plasma membrane (Accili, D., Frapier, C., Mosthaf, L., McKeon, C., Elbein, S. C., Permutt, M. A., Ramos, E., Lander, E. S., Ullrich, A., and Taylor, S. I. (1989) EMBO J. 8, 2509-2517). In this study, we demonstrate that the Val382 mutation impairs the ability of insulin to activate receptor autophosphorylation. Furthermore, the Val382 receptor has reduced activity to phosphorylate other peptide substrates in the presence of insulin. Nevertheless, when the Val382 mutant and wild-type receptors are mixed together, the wild-type human insulin receptor is able to phosphorylate the Val382 mutant receptor, thereby activating the tyrosine kinase activity of the mutant receptor. Thus, the conformational change caused by the Val382 mutation compromises the ability of the receptor to transmit a signal across the plasma membrane. Furthermore, our observations suggest that receptor phosphorylation by an intermolecular mechanism (i.e. transphosphorylation) may play a role in mediating the action of insulin upon the target cell.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Heterotransplantation of human breast carcinomas in nude mice. Correlation between successful heterotransplants, poor prognosis and amplification of the HER-2/neu oncogene.

Four hundred and thirty-three human breast carcinomas and 23 cell lines derived from human breast carcinomas were heterotransplanted in nude mice. Twenty-eight tumors and 13 cell lines took and could be serially transplanted. Their human origin was established by isozyme analysis performed on successive passages. Sixteen primary infiltrating duct-cell carcinomas (PIDC) took, from a total of 262 transplanted (6.1%). This is in striking contrast to the greater than 50% rate of takes of most major cancers of epithelial origin. All 16 PIDC growing in nude mice were highly cellular and lacked desmoplastic hyperplasia. The clinical prognosis of the PIDC patients whose tumors were successfully transplanted was poor. Ten of 16 (63%) died of their disease within 3 years, compared to only 49 (20%) of the 246 PIDC patients whose tumors did not take in nude mice. This could not be attributed to later stage disease of the tumors that took, because only 15% of these patients had 4 or more positive axillary lymph nodes as opposed to 28% of the patients whose tumors did not take. Sixty-four percent of the breast carcinomas growing in nude mice exhibited amplification of the HER-2/neu oncogene which is also correlated with poor prognosis in human breast cancer. It is possible that the nude mouse is more susceptible to a population of highly invasive and lethal breast carcinomas.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Transdominant inhibition of tyrosine kinase activity in mutant insulin/insulin-like growth factor I hybrid receptors.

Classical insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptors exist as well defined alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric complexes that are assembled from two identical alpha beta heterodimeric half-receptor precursors. Recent evidence suggests that insulin and IGF-I half-receptors can heterologously assemble to form alpha 2 beta 2 insulin/IGF-I hybrid receptor complexes in vivo and in vitro. We have utilized hybrid receptor complexes to examine ligand-stimulated transmembrane signaling of wild-type insulin (alpha beta INS.WT) or IGF-I (alpha beta IGF.WT) half-receptors assembled with a kinase-defective insulin half-receptor mutant (alpha beta INS.A/K). In vitro assembly of either (alpha beta)IGF.WT/(alpha beta)INS.A/K or (alpha beta)INS.WT/(alpha beta)INS.A/K hybrid receptors resulted in decreased substrate protein kinase activity. The degree of protein kinase inactivation directly correlated with the amount of immunologically cross-reactive hybrid receptors formed. In contrast to substrate kinase activity, insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation of the (alpha beta)INS.WT/(alpha beta)INS.A/K hybrid receptor complex was completely unaffected in comparison to the wild-type (alpha beta)INS.WT/(alpha beta)INS.WT receptor. To assess a molecular basis for this difference, autophosphorylation of a hybrid receptor composed of a truncated beta-subunit insulin half-receptor with the kinase-defective half-receptor, (alpha beta)INS. delta CT/(alpha beta)INS.A/K, demonstrated the exclusive autophosphorylation of the (alpha beta)INS.A/K half-receptor beta subunit. These results demonstrate that ligand-dependent substrate phosphorylation by insulin and IGF-I holoreceptors requires interactions between two functional beta subunits within the alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric complex and occurs through an intramolecular trans-phosphorylation reaction.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1991

Oncogenic forms of the neu/HER2 tyrosine kinase are permanently coupled to phospholipase C gamma.

The neu/HER2 proto-oncogene encodes a transmembrane tyrosine kinase homologous to receptors for polypeptide growth factors. The oncogenic potential for the presumed receptor is released through multiple genetic mechanisms including a specific point mutation, truncation at the extracellular domain and overexpression of the protooncogene. Here we show that all these modes of oncogenic activation result in a constitutively phosphorylated neu protein and an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase (PLC gamma). The examined transforming neu/HER2 proteins, unlike the normal gene product, also co-immunoprecipitated with PLC gamma molecules. A kinase-defective mutant of a transforming neu failed to mediate both tyrosine phosphorylation and association with PLC gamma, suggesting direct interaction of the neu kinase with PLC gamma. This possibility was examined by employing a chimeric protein composed of the extracellular ligand-binding domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor and the neu cytoplasmic portion. The chimeric receptor mediated rapid ligand-dependent modification of PLC gamma on tyrosine residues. It also physically associated, in a ligand-dependent manner, with the phosphoinositidase. Based on the presented results we suggest that the mechanism of cellular transformation by the neu/HER2 receptor involves tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of PLC gamma.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Monoclonal antibody therapy of human cancer: taking the HER2 protooncogene to the clinic.

The HER2 protooncogene encodes a 185-kDa transmembrane protein (p185HER2) with extensive homology to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. Clinical and experimental evidence supports a role for overexpression of the HER2 protooncogene in the progression of human breast, ovarian, and non-small cell lung carcinoma. These data also support the hypothesis that p185HER2 present on the surface of overexpressing tumor cells may be a good target for receptor-targeted therapeutics. The anti-p185HER2 murine monoclonal antibody (muMAb) 4D5 is one of over 100 monoclonals that was derived following immunization of mice with cells overexpressing p185HER2. The monoclonal antibody is directed at the extracellular (ligand binding) domain of this receptor tyrosine kinase and presumably has its effect as a result of modulating receptor function. In vitro assays have shown that muMAb 4D5 can specifically inhibit the growth of tumor cells only when they overexpress the HER2 protooncogene. MuMAb 4D5 has also been shown to enhance the TNF-alpha sensitivity of breast tumor cells that overexpress this protooncogene. Relevant to its clinical application, muMAb 4D5 may enhance the sensitivity of p185HER2-overexpressing tumor cells to cisplatin, a chemotherapeutic drug often used in the treatment of ovarian cancer. In vivo assays with a nude mouse model have shown that the monoclonal antibody can localize at the tumor site and can inhibit the growth of human tumor xenografts which overexpress p185HER2. Modulation of p185HER2 activity by muMAb 4D5 can therefore reverse many of the properties associated with tumor progression mediated by this putative growth factor receptor. Together with the demonstrated activity of muMAb 4D5 in nude mouse models, these results support the clinical application of muMAb 4D5 for therapy of human cancers characterized by the overexpression of p185HER2.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Noncontiguous regions in the extracellular domain of EGF receptor define ligand-binding specificity.

Murine epidermal growth factor (EGF) binds with approximately 250-fold higher binding affinity to the human EGF receptor (EGFR) than to the chicken EGFR. This difference in binding affinity enabled the identification of a major ligand-binding domain for EGF by studying the binding properties of various chicken/human EGFR chimera expressed in transfected cells lacking endogenous EGFR. It was shown that domain III of EGFR is a major ligand-binding region. Here, we analyze the binding properties of novel chicken/human chimera to further delineate the contact sequences in domain III and to assess the role of other regions of EGFR for their contribution to the display of high-affinity EGF binding. The chimeric receptors include chicken EGFR containing domain I of the human EGFR, chicken receptor containing domain I and III of the human EGFR, and two chimeric chicken EGFR containing either the amino terminal or the carboxy terminal halves of domain III of human EGFR, respectively. In addition, the binding of various human-specific anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies that interfere with EGF binding is also compared. It is concluded that noncontiguous regions of the EGFR contribute additively to the binding of EGF. Each of the two halves of domain III has a similar contribution to the binding energy, and the sum of both is close to that of the entire domain III. This suggests that the folding of domain III juxtaposes sequences that together constitute the ligand-binding site. Domain I also provides a contribution to the binding energy, and the added contributions of both domain I and III to the binding energy generate the high-affinity binding site typical of human EGFR.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Carboxy-terminal truncations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor affect diverse EGF-induced cellular responses.

The binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to its receptor induces tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C gamma (PLC gamma), which appears to be necessary for its activation leading to phosphatidyl inositol (PI) hydrolysis. Moreover, EGF-receptor (EGF-R) activation and autophosphorylation results in binding of PLC gamma to the tyrosine phosphorylated carboxy-terminus of the receptor. To gain further insights into the mechanisms and interactions regulating these processes, we have analyzed transfected NIH-3T3 cells expressing two EGF-R carboxy-terminal deletion mutants (CD63 and CD126) with reduced capacity to stimulate PI hydrolysis, Ca2+ rises, and DNA synthesis. In fact, the CD126 mutant lacking 126 carboxy-terminal amino acids, including four tyrosine autophosphorylation sites, was unable to stimulate PI hydrolysis or Ca2+ rise in response to EGF. Surprisingly, EGF binding to the cell lines expressing CD63 or CD126 mutants was followed by similar stimulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC gamma. Our results suggest that although necessary, tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC gamma may not be sufficient for stimulation and PI hydrolysis. It is clear, however, that the carboxy-terminal region of EGF-R is involved in regulation of interactions with cellular targets and therefore plays a crucial role in postreceptor signaling pathways.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1991

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates association and kinase activity of Raf-1 with the EGF receptor.

Raf-1 serine- and threonine-specific protein kinase is transiently activated in cells expressing the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor upon treatment with EGF. The stimulated EGF receptor coimmunoprecipitates with Raf-1 kinase and mediates protein kinase C-independent phosphorylation of Raf-1 on serine residues. Hyperphosphorylated Raf-1 has lower mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels and has sixfold-increased activity in immunocomplex kinase assay with histone H1 or Raf-1 sequence-derived peptide as a substrate. Raf-1 activation requires kinase-active EGF receptor; a point mutant lacking tyrosine kinase activity in inactive in Raf-1 coupling and association. It is noteworthy that tyrosine phosphorylation of c-Raf-1 induced by EGF was not detected in these cells. These observations suggest that Raf-1 kinase may act as an important downstream effector of EGF signal transduction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

A dominant negative mutation suppresses the function of normal epidermal growth factor receptors by heterodimerization.

Recent studies provide evidence that defective receptors can function as a dominant negative mutation suppressing the action of wild-type receptors. This causes various diminished responses in cell culture and developmental disorders in murine embryogenesis. Here, we describe a model system and a potential mechanism underlying the dominant suppressing response caused by defective epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors. We used cultured 3T3 cells coexpressing human wild-type receptors and an inactive deletion mutant lacking most of the cytoplasmic domain. When expressed alone, EGF was able to stimulate the dimerization of either wild-type or mutant receptors in living cells as revealed by chemical covalent cross-linking experiments. In response to EGF, heterodimers and homodimers of wild-type and mutant receptors were observed in cells coexpressing both receptor species. However, only homodimers of wild-type EGF receptors underwent EGF-induced tyrosine autophosphorylation in living cells. These results indicate that the integrity of both receptor moieties within receptor dimers is essential for kinase activation and autophosphorylation. Moreover, the presence of mutant receptors in cells expressing wild-type receptors diminished the number of high-affinity binding sites for EGF, reduced the rate of receptor endocytosis and degradation, and diminished biological signalling via EGF receptors. We propose that heterodimerization with defective EGF receptors functions as a dominant negative mutation suppressing the activation and response of normal receptors by formation of unproductive heterodimers.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Characterization of an anti-p185HER2 monoclonal antibody that stimulates receptor function and inhibits tumor cell growth.

The HER2 protooncogene encodes a growth factor receptor-like transmembrane protein tyrosine kinase (p185HER2) whose ligand remains to be fully characterized. The overexpression of p185HER2 is implicated in aggressive forms of breast and ovarian cancers. The role of p185HER2 in aggressive malignancy, as well as its cell surface localization, makes it an attractive target for therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. In this report we have studied the modulation of p185HER2 function with 2 monoclonal antibodies, termed 4D5 and 6E9, which bind the extracellular domain of p185HER2. 4D5 inhibited proliferation of p185HER2 overexpressing SK-BR-3 human breast carcinoma cells (ED50 of approximately 1 nM) but did not inhibit proliferation of cultured human breast carcinoma MCF7 cells, low expressors of p185HER2. Monoclonal antibody 6E9 does not inhibit the growth of either cell line. Antibody binding studies revealed 2 populations of p185HER2 molecules on SK-BR-3 cells: one of high abundance (approximately 2 x 10(6) sites/cell) recognized by 4D5 (Kd approximately 6 nM) and the other of low abundance (2 x 10(4) sites/cell) recognized by 6E9 (Kd approximately 0.1 nM). 4D5, in an agonistic manner, downregulated SK-BR-3 cell surface p185HER2, was internalized, and stimulated p185HER2 phosphorylation in intact cells. Phosphoamino acid analysis of p185HER2 derived from SK-BR-3 cells incubated with the 4D5 monoclonal antibody demonstrated increased tyrosine, serine and threonine phosphorylation. 4D5, on short term (5 min) exposure to SK-BR-3 cells, stimulated inositol lipid hydrolysis as evidenced by increased intracellular levels of inositol polyphosphates (InsP) and sn-1,2-diacylglycerol (sn-1,2-DAG). On longer (24 h) exposure to the cells, the antibody appeared to downregulate this signalling pathway since the intracellular levels of InsP and sn-1,2-DAG decreased by 30 to 40%. 6E9 did not inhibit SK-BR-3 cell proliferation, downregulate surface p185HER2, stimulate receptor phosphorylation, or stimulate the second messenger pathway. Despite these agonistic properties, 4D5 was an inhibitor of SK-BR-3 cell proliferation at all concentrations tested (0.7 to 70 pM). The data suggest that 4D5 is a partial or weak agonist and thus may inhibit cell proliferation by mimicking ligand-like receptor downregulation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1991

The product of the proto-oncogene c-kit (P145c-kit) is a human bone marrow surface antigen of hemopoietic precursor cells which is expressed on a subset of acute non-lymphoblastic leukemic cells.

A monoclonal antibody (17F11) was raised by immunization of a Balb/c mouse with leukemic blasts from a patient with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). This antibody recognizes most leukemic blasts of myeloid but not of lymphoid lineage and no peripheral blood cells. By screening NIH-3T3 fibroblasts transfected with the human proto-oncogene c-kit (NIH-3T3/hckit) it could be shown that 17F11 specifically recognizes the gene product P145c-kit. Immunofluorescence analysis on normal hemopoietic cells revealed that 17F11 weakly stains 1-3% of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC). By FACS sorting and colony assays it could be shown that granulocyte--macrophage progenitor cells could be enriched 10-20-fold, granulocyte progenitors 50-80-fold, and erythroid and multipotential progenitor cells 15-20-fold, in the 17F11 positive fraction. Double fluorescence analysis revealed that P145c-kit is co-expressed on 40-60% of the CD34 positive BMMNC. Finally, these data show that P145c-kit is expressed on blast cells from most patients with ANLL (26/30) and chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis (7/9), but is absent on blasts from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia expressing the T-, B-lineage, or common ALL phenotypes.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Comparison of EGF receptor sequences as a guide to study the ligand binding site.

While murine and human EGF-receptor (EGF-R) bind mammalian EGF with high affinity their chicken counterpart has approximately 300 fold reduced binding affinity towards mammalian EGF. We now cloned and sequenced the extracellular ligand binding domain of murine EGF-R in order to define the amino-acids which comprise the binding site for EGF. Comparison of human, murine and chicken EGF-R allows the identification of amino acid substitutions which are conservative and would not affect EGF binding, substitutions which are responsible for the low affinity binding of EGF to chicken EGF-R and those responsible for the high affinity binding of EGF to mammalian EGF-R. This analysis will enable future design of point mutations in the EGF-R which will restore the high affinity binding for EFG typical of human or murine EGF-R.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Transphosphorylation as a possible mechanism for insulin and epidermal growth factor receptor activation.

Fully functional chimeric receptors, consisting of major epidermal growth factor and insulin receptor domains, were co-expressed with kinase-negative epidermal growth factor and insulin receptor mutants in human kidney fibroblasts. Under these conditions, homologous extracellular and cytoplasmic domains mediated association of receptors and their precursors. The significance of receptor-receptor interaction was confirmed by transphosphorylation of kinase-negative receptors by ligand-activated chimeric receptors, which was observed between receptors sharing the same cytoplasmic domain as well as between receptors bearing only the same extracellular domain and containing heterologous kinases. Furthermore, the impaired ligand internalization capacity of a kinase-deficient insulin receptor was partially restored by transphosphorylation. Our experiments suggest interreceptor transphosphorylation and transactivation as a possible mechanism for signal amplification.

Cell Line↗