Biomedical subjects

C T Walsh

Publications and source records attributed to C T Walsh.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

Mutagenesis of vitamin K-dependent carboxylase demonstrates a carboxyl terminus-mediated interaction with vitamin K hydroquinone.

The gamma-glutamyl carboxylase and vitamin K epoxidase activities of a series of mutants of bovine vitamin K-dependent carboxylase with progressively larger COOH-terminal deletions have been analyzed. The recombinant wild-type (residues 1-758) and mutant protein carboxylases, Cbx 711, Cbx 676, and Cbx 572, representing residues 1-711, 1-676, and 1-572, respectively, were expressed in baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells. Wild-type carboxylase had a Km for the substrate Phe-Leu-Glu-Glu-Leu (FLEEL) of 0.87 mM; the carboxylation of FLEEL was stimulated 2.5-fold by proPT18, the propeptide of prothrombin. Its Km for vitamin K hydroquinone was 23 microM and the specific epoxidase activity of the carboxylase was 938 pmol vitamin KO/30 min/pmol of carboxylase. Cbx 711, which was also stimulated by proPT18, had a Km for FLEEL, a Km for vitamin K hydroquinone, and a specific epoxidase activity that was comparable to the wild-type carboxylase. In contrast Cbx 572 lacked both carboxylase and epoxidase activities. Although Cbx 676 had a normal carboxylase active site in terms of the Km for FLEEL and its stimulation by proPT18, the Km for vitamin K hydroquinone was 540 microM, and the specific epoxidase activity was 97 pmol KO/30 min/pmol of Cbx 676. The catalytic efficiencies of Cbx 676 for glutamate carboxylation and vitamin K epoxidation were decreased 15- and 400-fold, respectively, from wild-type enzyme reflecting the requirement for formation of an activated vitamin K species for carboxylation to occur. These data indicate that the truncation of COOH-terminal segments of the carboxylase had no effect on FLEEL or propeptide recognition, but in the case of Cbx 676, selectively affected the interaction with vitamin K hydroquinone and the generation of epoxidase activity. These data suggest that a vitamin K epoxidase activity domain may reside near the COOH terminus while the carboxylase active site domain resides toward the NH2 terminus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Active site mapping of Escherichia coli D-Ala-D-Ala ligase by structure-based mutagenesis.

Eleven Escherichia coli D-Ala-D-Ala ligase (DdlB) mutants, at K144, K215, and E270 in the ATP binding site, at E15, S150, H63, and R255 in the first D-Ala subsite, and at Y216, S281, L282, and D257 in the second D-Ala subsite, were constructed, purified, and examined for steady-state kinetic parameters, kcat and Kms for ATP, and both first (D-Ala1), and second (D-Ala2) D-alanines. Of these, E270Q, K215A, R255A, and D257N retained very low or no detectable activity consistent with X-ray structure based predictions for roles in Mg2+ coordination to beta, gamma-P of ATP (E270), coordination to transferring gamma-PO3 of ATP (K215), and coordination/orientation of nucleophilic COO- of D-Ala1 that attacks gamma-PO3 of ATP (R255, D257) and the side chain of R255, respectively. The substantial retention of activity in the Y216F mutant argues against the possibility that Y216 may be a catalytic base that deprotonates the alpha-NH3+ of D-Ala2 to attack the acyl phosphate form of D-Ala1. While all seven mutants that retain activities have a 300-2000 fold elevation in Km for D-Ala1 (1-2 microM in wild type), the S281A mutant has a 500-fold elevation in Km for D-Ala2, consistent with a proposed interaction with the COO- of D-Ala2. Similarly, the kinetics of inhibition by a slow-binding phosphinate inhibitor in the presence of ATP are most altered in the S281A mutant.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

PubMed1995

Overexpression, purification, and characterization of VanX, a D-, D-dipeptidase which is essential for vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus faecium BM4147.

Vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus faecium requires five genes: vanR, vanS, vanH, vanA, and vanX. The functions and mechanism of four gene products have been known, with VanR/S for signal transduction and transcriptional regulation and VanH/A to synthesize D-Ala-D-lactate. But the function of the fifth gene product, VanX, has been unknown until very recently, when Reynolds and colleagues discovered D-, D-dipeptidase activity in crude extracts of a VanX overproducer [Reynolds, P. E., et al. (1994) Mol. Microbiol. 13, 1065-1070]. We report here the expression of VanX in Escherichia coli and its purification to homogeneity. VanX has been characterized as a metal-activated D-, D-dipeptidase with an optimal pH range of 7-9. The kcat and Km of D-Ala-D-Ala in the absence of divalent metal are determined to be 4.7 s-1 and 1 mM, respectively. However, in the presence of metal cations, kcat can be as high as 788 s-1. VanX is unable to hydrolyze D-Ala-D-lactate, the substituted moiety in the peptidoglycan that leads to vancomycin resistance, not only because of low binding affinity (Ki estimated at 242 mM) but also due to a kcat less than 0.005 s-1. The more than 10(5)-fold differential in catalytic efficiency of VanX for hydrolysis of D-Ala-D-Ala vs D-Ala-D-lactate leaves D-Ala-D-lactate intact for subsequent incorporation into peptidoglycan.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Potent stimulation of SH-PTP2 phosphatase activity by simultaneous occupancy of both SH2 domains.

Src homology 2 (SH2) domains are phosphotyrosine binding modules found within many cytoplasmic proteins. A major function of SH2 domains is to bring about the physical assembly of signaling complexes. We now show that, in addition, simultaneous occupancy of both SH2 domains of the phosphotyrosine phosphatase SH-PTP2 (Syp, PTP 1D, PTP-2C) by a tethered peptide with two IRS-1-derived phosphorylation sites potently stimulates phosphatase activity. The concentration required for activation by the tethered peptide is 80-160-fold lower than either corresponding monophosphorylated peptide. Moreover, the diphosphorylated peptide stimulates catalytic activity 37-fold, compared with 9-16-fold for the monophosphorylated peptides. Mutational analyses of the SH2 domains of SH-PTP2 confirm that both SH2 domains participate in this effect. Binding studies with a tandem construct comprising the N- plus C-terminal SH2 domains show that the diphosphorylated peptide binds with 60-90-fold higher affinity than either monophosphorylated sequence. These results demonstrate that SH-PTP2 activity can be potently regulated by interacting via both of its SH2 domains with phosphoproteins having two cognate phosphorylation sites.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1995

A common fold for peptide synthetases cleaving ATP to ADP: glutathione synthetase and D-alanine:d-alanine ligase of Escherichia coli.

Examination of x-ray crystallographic structures shows the tertiary structure of D-alanine:D-alanine ligase (EC 6.3.2.4). a bacterial cell wall synthesizing enzyme, is similar to that of glutathione synthetase (EC 6.32.3) despite low sequence homology. Both Escherichia coli enzymes, which convert ATP to ADP during ligation to produce peptide products, are made of three domains, each folded around a 4-to 6-stranded beta-sheet core. Sandwiched between the beta-sheets of the C-terminal and central domains of each enzyme is a nonclassical ATP-binding site that contains a common set of spatially equivalent amino acids. In each enzyme, two loops are proposed to exhibit a required flexibility that allows entry of ATP and substrates, provides protection of the acylphosphate intermediate and tetrahedral adduct from hydrolysis during catalysis, and then permits release of products.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

PubMed1995

Localization of the factor IX propeptide binding site on recombinant vitamin K dependent carboxylase using benzoylphenylalanine photoaffinity peptide inactivators.

The propeptide binding/activation site on the vitamin K dependent carboxylase has been localized to a region of carboxylase between residues Arg +50 and Glu +225 by photoinactivation studies using [125I]tyrosyl-labeled benzoylphenylalanine (Bpa)-containing analogs of proFIX19, a peptide containing residues -18 to +1 of factor IX. Four proFIX19 analogs with Bpa substituents at -16, -13, -7, and -6 were synthesized. These peptides were specific photoinactivators of carboxylase and were used to label a His6-carboxylase construct produced in baculovirus-infected insect cells. Fragments of the labeled carboxylase produced by V8 protease digestion were analyzed by peptide-specific antibodies and by autoradiography. The propeptide recognition site was localized to the N-terminal one-third of the 94 kDa carboxylase. This is consistent with previous studies using a carboxylase substrate affinity label, N-(bromoacetyl)-FLEELY [Kuliopulos, A., Nelson, N.P., Yamada, M., Walsh, C.T., Furie, B., Furie, B.C., & Roth, D.A. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 21364-21370], indicating that the propeptide binding site and the FLEEL binding site are both located within the N-terminal one-third of the vitamin K dependent carboxylase.

Affinity Labels↗

PubMed1995

An enzyme-substrate complex involved in bacterial cell wall biosynthesis.

The crystal structure of UDP-N-acetylenolpyruvylglucosamine reductase in the presence of its substrate, enolpyruvyl-UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, has been solved to 2.7 A resolution. This enzyme is responsible for the synthesis of UDP-N-acetylmuramic acid in bacterial cell wall biosynthesis and consequently provides an attractive target for the design of antibacterial agents. The structure reveals a novel flavin binding motif, shows a striking alignment of the flavin with the substrate, and suggests a catalytic mechanism for the reduction of this unusual enol ether.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Effects of xenobiotics on milk secretion and composition.

Xenobiotics have the potential of disrupting the differentiated function of the mammary gland, that is, milk secretion, by inhibiting mammary development, by directly interfering with the secretory function of the mammary alveolar cell, by altering the hormonal milieu that supports lactation, or by impeding nutrient transport to the mammary cell. Although solid information is lacking in most of these areas, available research suggests that antiestrogens may interfere with mammary development, that oxidants and phorbol esters may inhibit milk secretion, that ergot alkaloids and alcohol may alter the hormonal milieu, and that dioxins may interfere with lipid transport to the mammary gland. Models for the investigation of these and other environmental toxins and drugs are suggested.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

MurA (MurZ), the enzyme that catalyzes the first committed step in peptidoglycan biosynthesis, is essential in Escherichia coli.

The Escherichia coli gene murZ was recently shown to encode UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferase, which catalyzes the first committed step of peptidoglycan biosynthesis (J. L. Marquardt, D. A. Siegele, R. Kolter, and C. T. Walsh, J. Bacteriol. 174:5748-5752, 1992). The map position of murZ (69.3 min) differed from that determined for murA (90 min), a gene which had been previously proposed to encode the same activity (P.S. Venkateswaran and H. C. Wu, J. Bacteriol. 110:935-944, 1972). Here we describe the construction of a chromosomal deletion of murZ and a plasmid containing murZ under arabinose control. Growth of cells containing the murZ deletion was dependent on the expression of murZ from the plasmid. We conclude that murZ is an essential gene and encodes the sole UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferase of E. coli. To simplify the nomenclature, we recommend that murA be used to designate the gene at 69.3 min that encodes this activity and that the designation murZ be abandoned.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

PubMed1994

Intramolecular regulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase SH-PTP1: a new function for Src homology 2 domains.

The steady-state kinetic properties of SH-PTP1 (PTP1C, SHP, HCP), a Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase), were assessed and compared with those of three truncation mutants, using p-nitrophenyl phosphate, phosphotyrosyl (pY) peptides, and reduced, carboxyamido-methylated, maleylated, and tyrosyl-phosphorylated lysozyme as substrates. At physiological pH (7.4), truncation of the two N-terminal SH2 domains [SH-PTP1(delta SH2)] or the last 35 amino acids of the C-terminus [SH-PTP1(delta C35)] activated the phosphatase activity by 30-fold and 20-34-fold relative to the wild-type enzyme, respectively. Truncation of the last 60 amino acids resulted in a mutant [SH-PTP1(delta C60)] with wild-type activity. SH-PTP1 and SH-PTP1(delta C60) displayed apparent saturation kinetics toward pNPP only at acidic pH (pH < or = 5.4); as pH increased above 5.5, their apparent KM values increased dramatically. In contrast, SH-PTP1(delta SH2) obeyed normal Michaelis-Menten kinetics at all pH values tested (pH 5.1-7.4) with a constant KM (10-14 mM). Furthermore, two synthetic pY peptides corresponding to known and potential phosphorylation sites on the erythropoietin (EPOR pY429) and interleukin-3 (IL-3R pY628) receptors bound specifically to the N-terminal SH2 domain of SH-PTP1 (KD = 1.8-10 microM) and activated the catalytic activity of SH-PTP1 and SH-PTP1(delta C60) but not SH-PTP1(delta SH2), in a concentration-dependent manner. Maximal activation (25-30-fold) of SH-PTP1 was achieved at 70 microM EPOR pY429, and the maximally activated enzyme approached the activity of SH-PTP1(delta SH2). Addition of EPOR pY429 peptide, which corresponds to the recently identified in vivo binding site for SH-PTP1, at 40 microM also completely restored the saturation kinetic behavior of SH-PTP1 (at pH 7.4) toward pNPP, with catalytic parameters (KM = 12.8 mM, kcat = 3.2 s-1) similar to those of SH-PTP1(delta SH2). These data suggest that the SH2 domains of SH-PTP1 serve to autoinhibit the phosphatase activity of the PTPase domain. A model is proposed in which the SH2 domains interact with the PTPase domain in a pY-independent fashion and drive the PTPase domain into an inactive conformation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Evaluation of the catalytic mechanism of recombinant human Csk (C-terminal Src kinase) using nucleotide analogs and viscosity effects.

Tyrosine kinases catalyze phosphoryl transfers from ATP to tyrosine residues in proteins. Despite their growing importance, their kinetic mechanism has remained largely unexplored. In this study, we have investigated the tyrosine kinase reaction catalyzed by purified human recombinant Csk (C-terminal Src kinase). Poly(Glu,Tyr) 4:1 was used as the tyrosine-containing substrate. Both ATP and poly(Glu,Tyr) were shown to be well behaved saturable substrates for recombinant Csk, with Km values that were in reasonable agreement with literature values reported for the non-recombinant enzyme and with kcat about 40 min-1. A sequential kinetic mechanism is suggested by a steady state kinetic analysis. Inhibitor studies with ADP and beta,gamma-imidoadenosine 5'-triphosphate were performed, and these results provided evidence against the possibility that ordered binding of peptide prior to ATP occurs. While a suitable competitive inhibitor of poly(Glu,Tyr) has not yet been identified, other evidence pointed to a rapid equilibrium random mechanism. Csk utilized adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) in place of ATP. The phosphorothioyl transfer occurred with a kcat about 15-20-fold lower than the ATP reaction but with similar Km values. Deuterium solvent isotope effects on kcat were small for both reactions in a pH-independent range, consistent with the possibility that proton transfer is asymmetric in the reaction transition state. Using viscosity effects, ADP product release was suggested to be partially rate determining for catalysis in the standard ATP reaction. A comparison of the Csk kinetic mechanism with that of protein kinase A is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Functional association of cyclophilin A with HIV-1 virions.

Cyclophilins are a family of proteins that bind the immunosuppressant cyclosporin A, possess peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase activity, and assist in the folding of proteins. Human cyclophilins A and B are host cell proteins that bind specifically to the HIV-1 Gag polyprotein p55gag in vitro. Here we report that viral particles formed by p55gag, in contrast to particles formed by the Gag polyproteins of other retroviruses, contain significant amounts of cyclophilin A. Sequences in the capsid domain of p55gag are both required and sufficient for the virion-association of cyclophilin A. The association of cyclophilin A with HIV-1 virions was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by cyclosporin A as well as by SDZ NIM811 ([Melle-4]cyclosporin), a non-immunosuppressive analogue of cyclosporin A. Drug-induced reductions in virion-associated cyclophilin A levels were accompanied by reductions in virion infectivity, indicating that the association is functionally relevant. Moreover, SDZ NIM811 inhibited the replication of HIV-1 but was inactive against SIVMAC, a primate immunodeficiency virus closely related to HIV-1, which does not incorporate cyclophilin A.

Amino Acid Isomerases↗

PubMed1994

Vancomycin resistance: structure of D-alanine:D-alanine ligase at 2.3 A resolution.

The molecular structure of the D-alanine:D-alanine ligase of the ddlB gene of Escherichia coli, co-crystallized with an S,R-methylphosphinate and adenosine triphosphate, was determined by x-ray diffraction to a resolution of 2.3 angstroms. A catalytic mechanism for the ligation of two D-alanine substrates is proposed in which a helix dipole and a hydrogen-bonded triad of tyrosine, serine, and glutamic acid assist binding and deprotonation steps. From sequence comparison, it is proposed that a different triad exists in a recently discovered D-alanine:D-lactate ligase (VanA) present in vancomycin-resistant enterococci. A molecular mechanism for the altered specificity of VanA is suggested.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

PubMed1994

Using affinity capillary electrophoresis to determine binding stoichiometries of protein-ligand interactions.

We have developed a new method utilizing affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) for the determination of binding stoichiometries in biochemical systems. Using the same concentration of a ligand in the sample and the electrophoresis buffer, the appearance of an inverted peak corresponding to the free ligand in the resulting electropherogram provides a criterion of binding of a ligand to its receptor protein. For both low (fast off rates) and high (slow off rates) affinity systems, analysis of the integration of free ligand peak in electropherograms as a function of the total concentration of a ligand in samples at constant concentration of receptor protein yields the binding stoichiometry of the ligand to the protein. Applications of this technique to studies of (i) the inhibition of carbonic anhydrases (CA, EC 4.2.1.1, from human and bovine erythrocytes) by 4-alkylbenzenesulfonamide 1, (ii) the interaction of a monoclonal antibody to human serum albumin (anti-HSA) with its antigen HSA, and (iii) the binding of streptavidin (from Streptomyces avidinii) to biotin derivatives (monobiotinylated oligodeoxyribonucleotide 2, fluorescein biotin, or Lucifer Yellow biotin) yield stoichiometries of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:4, respectively. For multivalent, tight-binding systems, this ACE method can readily separate stable intermediate species. This method is generally applicable to both tight- and weak-binding systems, requires only nanograms of proteins and ligands, involves no radioactive materials, and does not require changes in electrophoretic mobilities of receptor proteins upon binding with ligands. It thereby provides a rapid, sensitive, and convenient method for measuring binding stoichiometries of ligands to proteins.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Detection and characterization of a phospholactoyl-enzyme adduct in the reaction catalyzed by UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvoyl transferase, MurZ.

The MurZ enzyme catalyzes enolpyruvoyl transfer from phosphoenolpyruvate to the 3-OH of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) in Escherichia coli peptidoglycan biosynthesis. The kinetic mechanism of MurZ has been shown to involve the generation of a non-covalently bound tetrahedral phospholactoyl-UDP-GlcNAc intermediate [Marquardt, J.L., et al. (1993) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 115, 10398-10399]. In the work described here, MurZ overproduced in E. coli copurified with 1 equiv of bound PEP. Enzyme free of bound PEP was prepared by incubation of purified MurZ with UDP-GlcNAc followed by removal of small molecules. Addition of either [14C]PEP or [32P]PEP to PEP-free enzyme led to stoichiometric labeling. The MurZ-PEP complex was stable to 6.7 M urea, and digestion of the [32P]PEP-labeled protein followed by SDS-PAGE generated a labeled peptide of molecular weight 5000. Solution NMR of MurZ incubated with [2-13C]PEP suggested a tetrahedral phospholactoyl enzyme adduct attached via C-2 to an enzyme nucleophile. The kon for generation of the phospholactoyl enzyme in the absence of UDP-GlcNAc was 0.24 microM-1 s-1, too slow to represent the binding order of the kinetically preferred pathway since the lower limit of the second-order binding constant for PEP (kcat/Km) is 15 microM-1 s-1. Rapid chemical quench analysis under single-turnover conditions using [32P]PEP in the presence of UDP-GlcNAc demonstrated that the covalent enzyme-phospholactoyl adduct appeared and decayed on a time scale consistent with catalysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

PubMed1994

Kinetics, stoichiometry, and identification of the reactive thiolate in the inactivation of UDP-GlcNAc enolpyruvoyl transferase by the antibiotic fosfomycin.

Fosfomycin [(1R,2S)-1,2-epoxypropylphosphonic acid] has been shown to exert its antibiotic effect through the inhibition of UDP-GlcNAc enolpyruvoyl transferase [Kahan, F. M., et al. (1974) Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 235, 364], the enzyme responsible for catalyzing the first committed step in bacterial cell wall biosynthesis. Time-dependent inactivation of MurZ by fosfomycin was found to be greatly accelerated by the presence of cosubstrate UDP-GlcNAc but could also be speeded appreciably by the unreactive substrate analog 3-deoxy-UDP-GlcNAc. These results argue against a reaction-based participation of the cosubstrate and suggest that UDP-GlcNAc has a role in influencing active site conformation critical to the inactivation event. A study of the influence of UDP-GlcNAc and fosfomycin on the kinetics of inactivation allowed the determination of dissociation constants for fosfomycin (KF = 8.6 microM) and UDP-GlcNAc (KS = 14 microM), in addition to a limiting inactivation rate constant (k(inact) = 7.4 min-1) at saturating UDP-GlcNAc and fosfomycin concentrations. Mass spectrometry of inactivated MurZ demonstrated an increase in molecular weight of 138, consistent with the covalent addition of a molar equivalent of fosfomycin (136 kDa). Titration of MurZ with fosfomycin revealed a stoichiometry of 1 molecule of inhibitor per active site when assessed using either enzyme activity or mass spectrometry as an index of modification. Peptide mapping of tryptic digests of fosfomycin-inactivated MurZ revealed modification of a unique 41-mer, the sequence of which revealed that Cys115 was the site of attachment of fosfomycin.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

PubMed1994

Localization of the affinity peptide-substrate inactivator site on recombinant vitamin K-dependent carboxylase.

A recombinant His6-tagged vitamin K-dependent gamma-glutamyl carboxylase has been produced in baculovirus-infected insect cells. The His6-carboxylase shares nearly identical kinetic properties with the wild-type enzyme from bovine liver microsomes. The His6-carboxylase was irreversibly inactivated by the N-bromoacetyl-FLEEL-125I-Y peptide substrate/affinity label under pseudo-first order conditions. This inactivation could be abolished by coincubation with a high affinity peptide substrate consistent with an active site-directed inactivation. The inactivated His6-carboxylase-Ac-FLEEL-125I-Y, purified under denaturing conditions by Ni-chelation chromatography followed by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was subjected to proteolytic digestions with either Glu-C or Lys-C endoproteinases. The resulting polypeptide fragments were probed with three regiospecific antibodies which recognized epitopes present at the extreme N terminus (residues -23 to -13), at the hydrophobic N-terminal region (residues 86-99), and at the hydrophilic C-terminal region (residues 661-673). The site of attachment to the 125I-affinity label is located within the first 218 amino acid residues of the 758-residue carboxylase. This is the first evidence for the involvement of either the putative membrane-anchoring hydrophobic region (residues 50-314) or possibly the N-terminal hydrophilic region (residues 1-50) in gamma-carboxylation of glutamate-peptide substrates.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Protein-tyrosine-phosphatase SHPTP2 couples platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta to Ras.

Protein-tyrosine-phosphatase SHPTP2 (Syp/PTP-1D/PTP2C) is the homologue of the Drosophila corkscrew (csw) gene product, which transmits positive signals from receptor tyrosine kinases. Likewise, SHPTP2 has been implicated in positive signaling from platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFR). Upon PDGF stimulation, SHPTP2 binds to the PDGFR and becomes tyrosine-phosphorylated. We have identified tyrosine-542 (pY542TNI) as the major in vivo site of SHPTP2 tyrosine phosphorylation. The pY542TNI sequence conforms to the consensus binding site for the SH2 domain of Grb2, which, by association with Sos1, couples some growth factor receptors to Ras. Following PDGF stimulation, Grb2 binds tyrosine-phosphorylated SHPTP2. Moreover, a mutant PDGFR lacking its SHPTP2 binding site displays markedly reduced Grb2 binding. These data indicate that phosphorylation of SHPTP2 couples Grb2 to PDGFR in vivo, providing a mechanism for Ras activation by PDGFR and for positive signaling via SHPTP2 and Csw.

3T3 Cells↗