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Biomedical subjects

H Hanafusa

Publications and source records attributed to H Hanafusa.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

v-Crk-induced cell transformation: changes in focal adhesion composition and signaling.

v-Crk is an oncogene product in which a viral Gag sequence is fused to a cellular Crk sequence. It contains one SH2 and one SH3 domain. To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying v-Crk-induced cell transformation, we studied the subcellular localization and molecular interactions of v-Crk in v-Crk-transformed NIH-3T3 cells. Our results show that v-Crk specifically localizes to focal adhesions where it induces protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Subcellular fractionation studies indicated that a significant amount of v-Crk is present in the cytoskeletal cell fraction, a fraction that includes focal adhesions. Tyrosine phosphorylated proteins, including p130CAS, were also predominantly found in the cytoskeletal fraction. We show that v-Crk induces a translocation of p130CAS to the cytoskeleton, which is accompanied by hyperphosphorylation of this protein. Mutational analyses showed that functional v-Crk SH2 domain is required for the localization of v-Crk in focal adhesions. Functional v-Crk SH2 and SH3 domains were both found to be required for the observed increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion proteins and for the translocation and hyperphosphorylation of p130CAS. v-Crk immunoprecipitation studies revealed that cytoskeleton-associated v-Crk interacts with both p130CAS and an unidentified tyrosine kinase. These findings suggest that formation of a focal adhesion-located complex consisting of v-Crk, a tyrosine kinase and p130CAS, which may lead to the hyperphosphorylation of p130CAS. These specific and localized signaling events may represent initial steps in the process of v-Crk-induced cell transformation.

3T3 Cells↗

Evidence for a transcriptional activation function of BRCA1 C-terminal region.

Mutations in BRCA1 account for 45% of families with high incidence of breast cancer and for 80-90% of families with both breast and ovarian cancer. BRCA1 protein includes an amino-terminal zinc finger motif as well as an excess of negatively charged amino acids near the C terminus. In addition, BRCA1 contains two nuclear localization signals and localizes to the nucleus of normal cells. While these features suggest a role in transcriptional regulation, no function has been assigned to BRCA1. Here, we show that the C-terminal region, comprising exons 16-24 (aa 1560-1863) of BRCA1 fused to GAL4 DNA binding domain can activate transcription both in yeast and mammalian cells. Furthermore, we define the region comprising exons 21-24 (aa 1760-1863) as the minimal transactivation domain. Any one of four germ-line mutations in the C-terminal region found in patients with breast or ovarian cancer (Ala-1708-->Glu, Gln-1756 C+, Met-1775-->Arg, Tyr-1853 ->Stop), had markedly impaired transcription activity. Together these data underscore the notion that one of the functions of BRCA1 may be the regulation of transcription.

Animals↗

Identification of the product of growth arrest-specific gene 6 as a common ligand for Axl, Sky, and Mer receptor tyrosine kinases.

Axl, Sky, and Mer, members of an Axl/Sky receptor tyrosine kinase subfamily, are typified by the cell adhesion molecule-related extracellular domain. The product of growth arrest-specific gene 6 (Gas6), structurally homologous to the anticoagulant protein S, was recently identified as the ligand for Axl and Sky, but the ligand for Mer remained unknown. We have now obtained evidence that Gas6 can also function as a ligand for Mer. Co-precipitation analysis, using soluble receptors of Axl, Sky, and Mer (Axl-Fc, Sky-Fc, and Mer-Fc) composed of the extracellular domain of receptors fused to the Fc domain of immunoglobulin G1, clearly showed that Gas6, but not protein S, specifically bound to Axl-Fc, Sky-Fc, and Mer-Fc fusion proteins. Quantitative kinetic analyses using a BIAcore biosensor instrument revealed dissociation constants (Kd) of the binding of rat Gas6 to Axl-Fc, Sky-Fc, and Mer-Fc are 0.4, 2.7, and 29 nM, respectively. We also found that Gas6 stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of Axl, Sky, and Mer receptors ectopically expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that Gas6 is a common ligand for Axl, Sky, and Mer, all known members of an Axl/Sky receptor subfamily.

Animals↗

Mutations of E2F-4 trinucleotide repeats in colorectal cancer with microsatellite instability.

Genetic instability at microsatellites in some colorectal cancer (CRC) have been linked to the defects of human mismatch repair genes, but the targets of these defective genes have been largely unknown. We screened CRC specimens for alteration of E2F-4 gene by analyzing both cDNA and genomic sequences along with replication error (RER+) phenotype. Two out of 20 sporadic CRC patients showed RER+ phenotype. We found tumor-specific copy number alteration in 13 consecutive trinucleotide (CAG) repeats within the coding exon of E2F-4 exclusively in these 2 specimens. Thus, E2F-4 may be a clue of the target gene of defective repair genes in CRC with genetic instability in addition to the TGF-beta type II receptor gene.

Base Sequence↗

Proline-rich sequences mediate the interaction of the Arg protein tyrosine kinase with Crk.

Arg is a ubiquitously expressed member of the Abelson family of nonreceptor protein-tyrosine kinases. Defining the Arg sequences that mediate its interaction with other proteins is essential to elucidating its role in cellular signaling. In this report we demonstrate that Arg associates with c-Crk, an adaptor protein composed of an SH2 domain and two SH3 domains, and examine the molecular mechanism of the interaction. In vitro experiments revealed that three proline-rich sequences with distinct specificities for SH3 domains are located in the Arg C-terminal domain, just C-terminal to the kinase domain, and that two of these sequences bind to the Crk N-terminal SH3 domain. These two sequences conform to the PxLPxK/R motif that has been observed in other proteins that bind the Crk N-terminal SH3 domain. The interaction of Arg with c-Crk in living cells was confirmed by the detection of coimmunoprecipitation in coinfected Sf9 cells. In addition, increased phosphorylation of c-Crk was observed in cotransfected COS cells, indicating that Crk is an Arg substrate. The site of c-Crk phosphorylation by Arg was identified as tyrosine 221, a residue whose modification has been shown to result in an intramolecular SH2 interaction and a folded conformation. These experiments extend the known Arg protein interacting motifs to include SH3 binding sites and suggest that Arg may function as an effector as well as a regulator of Crk activity.

Animals↗

Unique signal transduction of Eyk: constitutive stimulation of the JAK-STAT pathway by an oncogenic receptor-type tyrosine kinase.

The proto-oncogene c-eyk, the cellular counterpart of a transforming oncogene, v-eyk, encodes a receptor protein tyrosine kinase with a distinctive extracellular region. We now demonstrate that c-Eyk can be constitutively activated through dimerization, and that the active Eyk displays a unique signaling pattern. When the kinase domain of c-Eyk was fused to the extracellular and transmembrane domains of CD8, the resulting chimera showed elevated kinase activity and caused cellular transformation. We found that the activated Eyk kinases, both v- and c-Eyk, constitutively stimulate the JAK-STAT pathway, while exerting little effect on other signaling routes such as the Ras-MAP kinase and the JNK pathways. The activated Eyk kinases specifically stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT1, STAT3 and JAK1. These downstream molecules also co-immunoprecipitate with the constitutively dimerized form of Eyk. The Eyk kinase activity is required for STAT1 stimulation. We found that the activation of STAT1 but not STAT3 correlates well with cellular transformation. In constitutively stimulating the JAK-STAT pathway, particularly STAT1, Eyk is unique in its downstream signaling and may be dependent on this pathway for cellular transformation.

Animals↗

Delay in serum stimulation of Erk activity caused by oncogenic transformation.

Mitogenic growth factor stimulation activates several signal transduction pathways, including the well-characterized Ras-Erk pathway, resulting in transient activation of Erk1 and Erk2. Oncogenic transformation, however, causes constitutive activation of growth signalling pathways, resulting in an accelerated rate of cell division. We investigated the effects of transformation on serum and growth factor stimulation of Erk1 and Erk2, and show that stimulation of these MAP kinases, as well as the Erk activator Mek, is delayed in oncogene transformed cells. Possible mechanisms of this delay are explored. In addition, our data indicate that prolonged mitogenic stimulation does not necessarily result in constitutive activation of Erk1 and Erk2.

Animals↗

Detection of a physical and functional interaction between Csk and Lck which involves the SH2 domain of Csk and is mediated by autophosphorylation of Lck on tyrosine 394.

The COOH-terminal Src kinase (Csk) is responsible for the phosphorylation of the conserved, negative regulatory, carboxyl-terminal tyrosine of most of the Src family protein tyrosine kinases. Up to now, no stable binding of Csk to Src kinases has been detected. We therefore decided to analyze this interaction using two systems which allow detection of transient interaction. We produced and purified recombinant proteins in the glutathione S-transferase prokaryotic expression system. First, using real-time biospecific interaction analysis (BIAcore(TM)), we detected in vitro a specific interaction between Csk and one of its substrates Lck, a lymphocyte-specific member of the Src family. This interaction requires the autophosphorylation of Lck on tyrosine 394 (the phosphorylation of which is correlated with an increase of the kinase activity) and involves a functional Csk SH2 domain. Second, using the yeast two-hybrid system, we confirmed in vivo the physical interaction between Csk and Lck. Furthermore, in vitro we showed that autophosphorylation of Lck on tyrosine 394 enhances the phosphorylation of Lck by Csk on the negative regulatory site, tyrosine 505, suggesting that activated Lck serves preferentially as substrate for Csk. These findings might explain the mechanism(s) by which Csk interacts with most of Src kinases to down-regulate their kinase activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The 9E3/CEF4 cytokine: kinetics of secretion, processing by plasmin, and interaction with extracellular matrix.

The chicken gene, 9E3/CEF4, is a small inducible cytokine highly homologous to human IL-8 and gro alpha. It is overexpressed during wound healing and in the tissues around tumours induced by Rous sarcoma virus. More is known about the expression of 9E3 in vivo than any other of the small cytokines, yet little is known about its biochemical characteristics and functions. Here we report on some of the biochemical properties of the 9E3 gene product, the kinetics of protein secretion, the post-secretory processing of the protein, and on its association with ECM molecules. The protein: (1) is synthesized and secreted in < 10 min; (2) is not glycosylated and does not bind heparin with high affinity; (3) is secreted as a 9 kDa form and is processed to a 6-7 kDa form by plasmin, an enzyme released at wound sites and produced in association with tumours; (4) the small form binds to interstitial collagen, laminin and to a lesser extent to proteoglycan, and does not bind to collagen IV or fibronectin. This is the most rapidly secreted protein yet described in eukaryotic cells and is the first of the small inducible cytokines to be found to associate with ECM molecules other than glycosaminoglycans. Our results suggest that, given the appropriate stimulus, the level of the 9E3 cytokine could be elevated very rapidly, resulting in similarly rapid biological responses. The different modes of availability of the two forms of the molecule suggest that the two isoforms may play different roles in vivo.

Animals↗

Characterization of chicken protein tyrosine phosphatase alpha and its expression in the central nervous system.

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are important in cell proliferation, differentiation and functioning of the central nervous system. We have identified a cDNA clone encoding a new transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase from a chicken brain cDNA library. The predicted amino acid sequence contains two phosphatase tandem repeats in the intracellular domain and multiple glycosylation sites in the extracellular domain. Since its intracellular domain shares 94% identity with human PTP alpha, we call it chicken PTP alpha (ChPTP alpha). Antibodies specific to ChPTP alpha recognize two major protein bands at 130 and 85 kDa in immunoblot and immunoprecipitation. ChPTP alpha transcript and protein are found in many tissues, but they are particularly abundant in brain. To gain insight into the function of PTP alpha s, we investigated the cell-type specific localization of ChPTP alpha in cerebellum by in situ hybridization and immunostaining. Throughout development, the level of ChPTP alpha remains similar from embryonic day 7 to post-hatching day 14, but the abundance and distribution of cells expressing this protein vary systematically through this period. During development, ChPTP alpha appears in pre-migratory and migrating granule cells, and in Bergmann glia and their radial processes. By 2-weeks after hatching, ChPTP alpha disappears from all cells of the cerebellum except Bergmann glia. Our data, which show for the first time the temporal and spacial distribution of a PTP alpha, suggest that these transmembrane phosphatases are important in the differentiation and function of Bergmann glia and in the migration of granule cells, and thereby play a role in development of the cerebellum.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

SH2 and SH3-containing adaptor proteins: redundant or independent mediators of intracellular signal transduction.

Molecules which contain Src Homology 2 (SH2) and SH3 domains provide one of the principal ways by which signals are transduced in cells using protein-protein interactions between proline-rich motifs and SH3 domains and induced interactions between phosphotyrosine residues and SH2 domains. The simplest of SH2/SH3-containing proteins are the Crk, Grb2 and Nck adaptor proteins which contain SH2 and SH3 domains but no intrinsic catalytic activity. Whereas Grb2 connects activated receptor tyrosine kinases with Sos and activates p21ras, recent evidence suggests that this may not be the major mechanism by which Crk and Nck signal to downstream effectors. Identification of novel binding partners for Crk, Grb2 and Nck indicate that these adaptor proteins control distinct aspects of tyrosine kinase signalling.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Transcriptional down regulation of the nov proto-oncogene in fibroblasts transformed by p60v-src.

We have sought to identify genes whose expression is altered as a consequence of transformation by p60v-src. Using the mRNA differential display method, we have identified the nov proto-oncogene as one gene that is down regulated in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) transformed by p60v-src. nov transcripts were also found to be present at only very low levels in proliferating CEFs in comparison with quiescent CEFs. Serum stimulation of quiescent CEFs also resulted in a decline in the steady-state level of nov transcripts. Taken together, these findings suggest that the nov gene is expressed only in quiescent fibroblasts and that its down regulation may contribute to cellular transformation by the v-src oncogene. Down regulation of the nov gene appears to occur at both the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Results obtained from experiments with a protein kinase inhibitor suggest that protein kinase C may be a key downstream effector in mediating the down regulation of nov transcripts in response to activation of p60src or serum stimulation. In addition, we found that transcription of an unknown gene is required for the decline in the steady-state level of nov transcripts in response to serum stimulation.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Csk enhances insulin-stimulated dephosphorylation of focal adhesion proteins.

Insulin has pleiotropic effects on the regulation of cell physiology through binding to its receptor. The wide variety of tyrosine phosphorylation motifs of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), a substrate for the activated insulin receptor tyrosine kinase, may account for the multiple functions of insulin. Recent studies have shown that activation of the insulin receptor leads to the regulation of focal adhesion proteins, such as a dephosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (pp125FAK). We show here that C-terminal Src kinase (Csk), which phosphorylates C-terminal tyrosine residues of Src family protein tyrosine kinases and suppresses their kinase activities, is involved in this insulin-stimulated dephosphorylation of focal adhesion proteins. We demonstrated that the overexpression of Csk enhanced and prolonged the insulin-induced dephosphorylation of pp125FAK. Another focal adhesion protein, paxillin, was also dephosphorylated upon insulin stimulation, and a kinase-negative mutant of Csk was able to inhibit the insulin-induced dephosphorylation of pp125FAK and paxillin. Although we have shown that the Csk Src homology 2 domain can bind to several tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, including pp125FAK and paxillin, a majority of protein which bound to Csk was IRS-1 when cells were stimulated by insulin. Our data also indicated that tyrosine phosphorylation levels of IRS-1 appear to be paralleled by the dephosphorylation of the focal adhesion proteins. We therefore propose that the kinase activity of Csk, through the insulin-induced complex formation of Csk with IRS-1, is involved in insulin's regulation of the phosphorylation levels of the focal adhesion proteins, possibly through inactivation of the kinase activity of c-Src family kinases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A role for Ras in v-Crk transformation.

The v-crk oncogene, identified as the transforming gene of the CT10 avian sarcoma virus, encodes an adaptor protein capable of transforming chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs). Because the Src homology 3 domain of v-Crk is capable of binding the Ras family guanine nucleotide exchange factors Sos and C3G, the contribution of cellular Ras to signaling by v-Crk was evaluated. NIH-3T3 cell lines stably expressing the v-crk oncogene exhibited a transformed phenotype similar to that of CT10-infected CEFs. Treatment of these cells with a farnesylation inhibitor, as well as coexpression of dominant negative Ras, caused morphological reversion of the v-Crk NIH-3T3 cells. Dominant negative Ras expression also inhibited colony formation in soft agar without affecting tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins. Although elevation of basal Erk activity could be demonstrated in v-Crk-transformed CEFs, no significant elevation of basal Erk activity was observed in the v-Crk-transformed NIH-3T3 cells. This suggests that v-Crk requires Ras function for transformation of NIH-3T3 cells and may utilize a Ras effector other than Erk to maintain the transformed phenotype.

3T3 Cells↗

Possible v-Crk-induced transformation through activation of Src kinases.

p47gag-crk (v-Crk) encoded by avian sarcoma virus CT10, causes an elevation of tyrosine phosphorylation of several cellular proteins. The lack of a protein-tyrosine kinase domain in v-Crk suggests its co-operation with cellular protein-tyrosine kinase activity. We have shown that suppression of a certain fraction of c-Src activity by Csk may require the binding of Csk to tyrosine-phosphorylated paxillin. In this study, we detected co-immunoprecipitation of tyrosine-phosphorylated paxillin with v-Crk in CT10-transformed chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF), and demonstrated that v-Crk binding to paxillin can inhibit Csk binding to paxillin. A phosphotyrosine peptide, which can inhibit v-Crk binding to paxillin, did not inhibit Csk binding to paxillin, suggesting that v-Crk and Csk bind to different tyrosine-phosphorylated sites in paxillin. We also found that the kinase activity of the endogenous c-Src in CEF is elevated severalfold after CT10-transformation. We therefore suggest that the competitive binding of overexpressed v-Crk affects an efficient interaction of Csk with tyrosine-phosphorylated paxillin in CT10-transformed CEF. This would result in a failure in the suppression of the kinase activities of a population of c-Src and other Src family protein-tyrosine kinases as well, and these kinases may then contribute to the phosphorylation of cellular proteins in CT10-transformed CEF.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

v-Crk modulation of growth factor-induced PC12 cell differentiation involves the Src homology 2 domain of v-Crk and sustained activation of the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) elicit contrasting actions on PC12 pheochromocytoma cells; NGF causes neuronal differentiation, and EGF induces proliferation. However, ectopic expression of the Src homology 2 (SH2) and SH3-containing oncogenic adaptor protein v-Crk in PC12 cells results in EGF-inducible neuronal differentiation (Hempstead, B. L., Birge, R. B., Fajardo, J. E., Glassman, R., Mahadeo, D., Kraemer, R., and Hanafusa, H. (1994) Mol. Cell. Biol. 14, 1964-1971). Here we show that v-Crk complexes with both the tyrosine-phosphorylated EGF receptor and the Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor SOS in PC12 cells and is involved in an pathway analogous to that of Grb2. Expression of v-Crk results in an enhanced and sustained activation of Ras and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase following EGF or NGF stimulation, implying that v-Crk can couple divergent tyrosine kinase pathways to Ras. To investigate the causal relationship between EGF receptor binding, MAP kinase activation, and neurite outgrowth, we stably expressed two v-Crk SH2 point mutants, v-Crk(R273N) and v-Crk(H294R) in PC12 cells. Mutations within the SH2 domain of v-Crk block binding of v-Crk to the tyrosine phosphorylated EGF receptor, compromise v-Crk's ability to cause EGF-dependent neurite outgrowth, and act in a dominant negative manner for NGF-induced neurite outgrowth. However, the kinetics of MAP kinase activation in EGF- or NGF-treated v-Crk-(R273N)PC12 cells was comparable with that in v-CrkPC12 cells. These data are consistent with a model in which v-Crk regulates the strength of a tyrosine kinase signal leading to prolonged activation of Ras and MAP kinase. However, the experiments with the SH2 mutants suggest that sustained activation, by itself, may not be sufficient to switch the fate of v-CrkPC12 cells from proliferation toward differentiation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Suppression of v-Src transformation in primary rat embryo fibroblasts.

To understand the mechanism for resistance of primary cultures of rat embryo fibroblasts (REFs) to oncogene-induced transformation, we studied the transforming ability of a recombinant retrovirus, ZSV, containing v-src and neo genes in REFs and in the rat cell line F2408. The susceptibility of REFs to p60v-src transformation was markedly reduced when compared with that of F2408 cells, despite high levels of expression of functional p60v-src tyrosine kinase in the two systems. In hybrid cells obtained by somatic cell fusion between F2408 cells transformed by v-src and uninfected REFs, the transformed phenotype was suppressed despite persistent expression of p60v-src tyrosine kinase. On the other hand, hybrid cells between v-src transformed F2408 cells and uninfected F2408 cells retained the transformed phenotypes. These results indicate that primary cells possess an intracellular function(s) that cause suppression of the transformed phenotype induced by the v-src gene. In ZSV-infected REFs, tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins, including p125 focal adhesion kinase, p70 paxillin and p130 was similar to that in the ZSV-infected F2408 cells, indicating that tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins is not sufficient for the expression of transformed phenotype. On the other hand, cellular fibronectin and one of integrin receptors were downregulated in the ZSV-transformed F2408 cells but not in ZSV-infected REFs, suggesting that fibronectin and/or its receptor might play a role in suppressing v-src transformation in primary rat cells.

Animals↗