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Nakahara memorial lecture. Non-receptor type protein-tyrosine kinases closely related to src and yes compose a multigene family.

We have determined the total coding sequence of human c-yes, a non-receptor type protein-tyrosine kinase gene, and found that the c-yes gene closely resembles the c-src gene. Recently, two new genes, syn and lyn, were found to encode proteins closely related to the yes product. In addition, we also determined the partial sequence of fgr. These genes together with lck reported by two American groups have very closely related structures and are thought to compose a closely related group of non-receptor type protein-tyrosine kinases. Partial analysis of the structures of these genes indicated that they have identical splicing junctions at all sites so far examined. On the other hand, the erbB-1/EGF (epidermal growth factor) receptor gene and the erbB-2/neu gene have completely different splicing junctions from those of the above gene group even in the kinase domain, although these genes also have protein kinase activity specific for tyrosine residues and the erbB-1 and -2 genes share splicing sites. These results suggest that the genes of the group of six non-receptor type kinases and those of the erbB-1 and erbB-2 gene group are descendants evolved by duplication of two distinct ancestor genes and are members of two distinct multi-gene families. The genes coding for protein kinases may be members of a super-family including multiple distinct gene families.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Potentiation of human estrogen receptor alpha-mediated gene expression by steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used to reconstruct a human estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha)-mediated transcription activation system. The level of reporter gene activation was dependent on both the position of the estrogen response element (ERE) relative to the translation start site and the number of EREs in the hybrid promoter. A G400V amino acid alteration in the ERalpha polypeptide decreased sensitivity to 17beta-estradiol (E(2)), demonstrating the hormone responsiveness of ERalpha to be qualitatively and quantitatively similar in yeast and mammalian cells. Coexpression of SRC-1a, a potent stimulator of ERalpha function in mammalian cells, potentiated ERalpha-mediated gene expression over fivefold in a E(2)-dependent manner. Deletion of 56 amino acids at the C-terminal end of SRC-1a resulted in a protein with enhanced ability to potentiate ERalpha-mediated gene expression, which mimics the activity of the same truncation in human SRC-1a as well as the SRC-1e isoform that has the 56 C-terminal residues replaced with a different 14 amino acid peptide. The selective estrogen receptor modulator tamoxifen acted as a weak agonist of ERalpha-mediated gene expression and this weak activity was potentiated by SRC-1. Tamoxifen had no effect on E(2)-induced gene activation in either the presence or absence of SRC-1. In contrast to previously reported yeast-based ERalpha-transactivation systems, the system reported here in which SRC-1 functions as a bona fide coactivator should permit a more thorough dissection of the factors involved in ERalpha-mediated transcriptional activation.

Estradiol↗

Impact of SRC homology 2-containing inositol 5'-phosphatase 2 gene polymorphisms detected in a Japanese population on insulin signaling.

Src homology 2-containing 5'-inositol phosphatase 2 (SHIP2) is known to be one of lipid phosphatases converting PI(3,4,5)P3 to PI(3,4)P2 in the negative regulation of insulin signaling with the fundamental impact on the state of insulin resistance. To clarify the possible involvement of SHIP2 in the pathogenesis of human type 2 diabetes, we examined the relation of human SHIP2 gene polymorphisms to type 2 diabetes in a Japanese population. We identified 10 polymorphisms including four missense mutations. Among them, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)3 (L632I) was located in the 5'-phosphatase catalytic region, and SNP5 (N982S) was adjacent to the phosphotyrosine binding domain binding consensus motif in the C terminus. SNP3 was found more frequently in control subjects than in type 2 diabetic patients, suggesting that this mutation might protect from insulin resistance. Transfection study showed that expression of SNP3-SHIP2 inhibited insulin-induced PI(3,4,5)P3 production and Akt2 phosphorylation less potently than expression of wild-type SHIP2 in CHO-IR cells. Insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of SNP5-SHIP2 was decreased compared with that of wild-type SHIP2, resulting in increased Shc/Grb2 association and MAPK activation. These results indicate that the polymorphisms of SHIP2 are implicated, at least in part, in type 2 diabetes, possibly by affecting the metabolic and/or mitogenic insulin signaling in the Japanese population.

Aged↗

Isolation and characterization of a novel mitogenic regulatory gene, 322, which is transcriptionally suppressed in cells transformed by src and ras.

In an attempt to isolate novel regulatory and/or tumor suppressor genes, we identified cDNAs whose abundance is low in NIH 3T3 cells and further decreased following the expression of the activated oncogene, v-src. The transcription of one such gene, 322, is suppressed at least 15-fold in src-, ras-, and fos-transformed cells and 3-fold in myc-transformed cells but is unaffected in raf-, mos-, or neu-transformed cells. Activation of a ts-v-src allele in confluent 3Y1 fibroblasts resulted in an initial increase in 322 mRNA levels after 1 to 2 h followed by a rapid decrease to suppressed levels after 4 to 8 h. Morphological transformation was not detected until 12 h later, indicating that the accumulation of 322 transcripts is regulated by v-src and not as a consequence of transformation. Addition of fetal calf serum to starved subconfluent NIH 3T3 or 3Y1 fibroblasts resulted in a similar biphasic regulation of 322, indicating that 322 transcription is responsive to mitogenic factors. Sequence analysis of a putative full-length 322 cDNA clone (5.4 kb) identified a large open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 148.1-kDa product. In vitro transcription and translation of the 322 cDNA from a T7 promoter resulted in a 207-kDa product whose electrophoretic mobility on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gel was unaffected by digestion with endoglycosidase F. The discrepancy in predicted versus measured molecular weights may result from the high percentage of acidic residues (roughly 20% Glu or Asp) in the 322 ORF product. Comparison of the 322 cDNA ORF with sequences in data banks indicates that this gene is novel. The 322 ORF product contains a potential Cys-1-His-3 Zn finger, at least five nuclear localization signals of the adenovirus E1a motif K(R/K)X(R/K), and alternating acidic and basic domains. Overexpression of the 322 cells resulted in the selection of rapidly growing cells which had lost the transduced 322 cDNA. Thus, 322 represent a novel src- and ras-regulated gene which encodes a potential regulator of mitogenesis and/or tumor suppressor.

3T3 Cells↗

Purification of recombinant pp60v-src protein tyrosine kinase and phosphorylation of peptides with different secondary structure preference.

The expression of the transforming gene product of Rous sarcoma virus (pp60v-src) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has recently been reported (Kornbluth et al., 1987; Brugge et al., 1987). To carry out biochemical and structural studies of this enzyme, a facile purification was developed. The purification was accomplished in four chromatographic steps: Q-Sepharose, Affi-Gel Blue, phosphoagarose, and hydroxylapatite chromatography. The tyrosine kinase was isolated in milligram quantities as two highly active proteolytic fragments (52 and 54 kDa). Three model tyrosine kinase substrates with propensities to adopt helical or omega-loop conformations were synthesized and characterized. The peptides were based on the sites of phosphorylation of pp60v-src, lipocortin I, and lipocortin II. Circular dichroism spectroscopy was used to study the conformation of the helix-forming peptides in 50 mM Tris and in 50% trifluoroethanol/Tris. Peptide 1, which was designed to form an amphiphilic alpha-helix, displayed 24.2% helicity in buffer and 40.2% helicity in 50% TFE/buffer. Similar experiments for peptide 3, the other helix former, showed a lower helicity (8.1% helical and 26.0% helical in buffer and in 50% TFE/buffer, respectively). All three peptides were shown to be substrates for the recombinant tyrosine kinase. Kinetic measurements using high-voltage paper electrophoresis indicated that the helix-forming peptides exhibited low KM values (approximately 450 microM) for the purified src gene product, consistent with the notion that elements of secondary structure may be important in substrate recognition by tyrosine kinases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Palmitoylation of multiple Src-family kinases at a homologous N-terminal motif.

We have recently identified a novel N-terminal cysteine-containing motif which specifies the palmitoylation of several G-protein alpha-subunits [Parenti, Viganó, Newman, Milligan and Magee (1993) Biochem. J. 291, 349-353]. A related motif occurs at the N-terminus of members of the Src family of protein tyrosine kinases except for Src itself and Blk. We have investigated whether the Src, Fyn, Yes and Lck gene products are palmitoylated. Src was not labelled with [3H]palmitate when endogenously expressed in COS cells. In contrast, endogenous Yes immunoprecipitated from COS cells was palmitoylated. Fyn was palmitoylated in insect cells infected with a recombinant baculovirus and the palmitoylation was independent of protein synthesis, suggesting a dynamic turnover of this lipid. Fatty acid analysis indicated that most of the label was incorporated as palmitate. Lck was palmitoylated when expressed by transfection in COS cells. All of these protein tyrosine kinases were also detectably myristoylated in each of the systems tested. Experiments performed with mutants of Lck expressed by transfection in COS cells indicated that cysteines at positions 3 and 5 were both palmitoylation sites and that myristoylation was required for palmitoylation. To confirm that palmitoylation was occurring on cysteines in the N-terminal region of Fyn, site-directed mutagenesis was used to replace the cysteines at positions 3 and 6 with alanine. The resulting protein was not palmitoylated but was still myristoylated when expressed in COS cells. A glycine to alanine mutant at position 2 was also not palmitoylated, showing that myristoylation is a prerequisite for palmitoylation. Our data indicate that Src family members containing the N-terminal cysteine motif are indeed palmitoylated. By analogy with Ras, it is possible that palmitoylation may play an important role in the localization and function of Src family protein tyrosine kinases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

V-src-induced-transcription of the avian clusterin gene.

We have isolated the avian gene T64 corresponding to the mammalian clusterin, on the basis of high accumulation of its template mRNA in cells infected with oncogenic retroviruses. Since the clusterin was shown to have a protective effect against the immune system, its induction by oncogenic viruses is of major biological importance. The unique, short 5 kb-long T64 genomic locus is inactive in normal quail embryo fibroblasts in primary culture whereas it shows a high transcriptional activity after transformation by the Rous sarcoma virus. The 963 bp-long 5' flanking region is sufficient to drive the transcription of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene in a thermodependent manner when a thermosensitive version of pp60v-src is used. Deletion and point mutation analyses of the promoter show that the v-src response requires at least two separate elements: PUR and AP-1, located respectively at positions -167 to -152 and -25 to -19 relative to the single transcription initiation site. In addition, the binding of specific nuclear factors to these responsive elements correlates with the T64 promoter activation.

Animals↗

SRC-1 is involved in the control of the gene expression of myelin protein Po.

Steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1) has a crucial role in many different biological effects mediated by nuclear receptors. However, in spite of its ubiquitous expression, there are no data regarding its possible involvement in nuclear receptor transcriptional activity at the level of the peripheral nervous system. We investigated whether this coactivator might have a role in the control of glycoprotein Po gene expression. This myelin protein is a specific product of Schwann cells, with a fundamental role in the maintenance and functionality of peripheral myelin. Po is known to be stimulated by progesterone and by its 5alpha-reduced metabolite, dihydroprogesterone (DHP), through the corresponding steroid receptor. To determine whether the effect exerted by DHP on Po mRNA levels could be affected by and therefore associated with altered levels of SRC-1, a mouse Schwann cell line was stably transfected to over- or underexpress this coactivator. We found that SRC-1 overexpressing cells are more responsive to Po mRNA induction by DHP, whereas the effect of the steroid is completely lost in SRC-1-deficient cells. Interestingly, SRC-1 levels are also positively correlated with Po gene expression independently of DHP exposure. Finally, DHP treatment increases not only Po but also SRC-1 mRNA levels. Altogether, these data indicate for the first time that in rat Schwann cells, SRC-1 plays a role in the regulation of one of the most typical proteins of peripheral myelin.

20-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone↗

Elevated Src activity promotes cellular invasion and motility in tamoxifen resistant breast cancer cells.

Src kinase plays a central role in growth factor signalling, regulating a diverse array of cellular functions including proliferation, migration and invasion. Recent studies have demonstrated that Src activity is frequently elevated in human tumours and correlates with disease stage. We have previously demonstrated that, upon acquisition of tamoxifen resistance, MCF7 cells display increased epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation and a more aggressive phenotype in vitro. Since tumours exhibiting elevated EGFR signalling may possess elevated levels of Src activity, we wished to investigate the role of Src in our MCF7 model of endocrine resistance. Src kinase activity was significantly elevated in tamoxifen-resistant (TamR) cells in comparison to wild type MCF7 cells. This increase was not due to elevated Src protein or gene expression. Treatment of TamR cells with the novel Src inhibitor, AZD0530, significantly reduced the amount of activated Src detectable in both cell types whilst having no effect on total Src levels. AZD0530 significantly suppressed the motile and invasive nature of TamR cells in vitro, reduced basal levels of activated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin and promoted elongation of focal adhesions. Furthermore, the use of this compound in conjunction with the EGFR inhibitor, gefitinib, was markedly additive towards inhibition of TamR cell motility and invasion. These observations suggest that Src plays a pivotal role in mediating the motile and invasive phenotype observed in endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells. The use of Src inhibitors in conjunction with EGFR inhibitors such as gefitinib may provide an effective method with which to prevent cancer progression and metastasis.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗

The location of v-src in a retrovirus vector determines whether the virus is toxic or transforming.

We prepared infectious stocks of an avian retrovirus, a modified spleen necrosis virus, containing the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene and the avian sarcoma virus v-src gene. Viruses were recovered after cotransfection of chicken cells with DNA of recombinants between cloned spleen necrosis virus thymidine kinase and v-src and with DNA of cloned reticuloendotheliosis virus strain A. When v-src was inserted near the 5'end of the viral genome, only low titers of recombinant virus were recovered. Most of the recovered viruses were smaller than expected and did not transform the morphology of rat or chicken cells. A very small amount of virus of the expected structure was recovered; this virus transformed rat cells and expressed v-src. Cotransfection data indicated that one reason we failed to recover a significant titer of recombinant virus is that efficient expression of v-src is acutely toxic to chicken and dog cells. Insertion of v-src near the 3' end of the viral genome, such that it was expressed at a lower level compared with the 5'-v-src-containing virus, yielded a higher titer of recombinant virus, and this virus was transforming. The differences in the recovery and transforming activity of these viruses indicate that the location of an oncogene in the viral genome is an important factor regulating the level of its expression and whether or not this expression is toxic or transforming to cells.

Animals↗

pp60c-src encoded by the proto-oncogene c-src is a product of sensory neurons.

The advent of recombinant DNA technology has led to the identification in the DNA of normal animal cells of over 30 proto-oncogenes that are homologous to retroviral transforming genes. One of these encodes a protein kinase (pp60c-src) of unknown function, that is preferentially synthesized in brain and neural retina. Here the expression of pp60c-src in the peripheral nervous system was examined in sensory neurons from chick dorsal root ganglia with antisera raised against the transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus (pp60v-src) expressed in Escherichia coli carrying the cloned v-src gene. This antiserum recognizes pp60c-src specifically in normal chicken cells. Western immunoblotting showed that dorsal root ganglia of stage 30 (day 6.5) chick embryos contained elevated levels of pp60c-src. Immunoperoxidase staining of neuron-enriched cultures prepared from chick dorsal root ganglia showed pp60c-src immunoreactivity in cells with neuronal morphology; flat, fibroblastic cells contained no detectable immunoreactivity. Indirect double immunofluorescence with pp60src antibodies and monoclonal antibodies against the 200-kD subunit of neurofilament protein confirmed that the cells expressing pp60c-src were neurons. Ninety-six percent of the neurofilament-positive cells were immunoreactive with pp60src antibodies, and conversely, all pp60c-src-positive cells were immunoreactive with neurofilament antibodies. pp60c-src immunofluorescence appeared to be distributed over the cell body, processes, and growth cones. These results clearly demonstrate that pp60c-src is a product of neurons and is expressed in sensory neurons in culture.

Animals↗

Plasminogen activator gene expression is induced by the src oncogene product and tumor promoters.

Secretion of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) by chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) is increased approximately 50-fold following transformation by Rous sarcoma virus (RSV). Using a cloned and fully sequenced chicken uPA cDNA probe, we have established that this increase in plasminogen activator production can be largely accounted for by an increase in cellular uPA mRNA. CEF contained on average less than 1 molecule of uPA mRNA/cell, whereas RSV-CEF contained 25-60 molecules/cell. The increase in cellular uPA mRNA levels was dependent on the activity of the RSV-encoded transforming protein, protein-tyrosine kinase pp60v-src. Cells infected with an RSV mutant encoding a temperature-sensitive form of the src protein (ts-NY68) contained low uPA mRNA levels when cultured at the nonpermissive temperature and high uPA mRNA levels when maintained at the permissive temperature. Temperature shift studies with tsNY68-CEF demonstrated that changes in pp60v-src activity rapidly altered uPA mRNA levels; the uPA mRNA content of total RNA extracts increased and decreased with half-time kinetics of 3-5 h. Serine/threonine-specific protein kinases also appear to modulate uPA mRNA levels in CEF cultures. Exposure of CEF and RSV-CEF for 24 h to the protein kinase C activating agent phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) increased cellular uPA mRNA levels to 20 and 260 molecules/cell, respectively. These data are consistent with the previously observed synergism between RSV and PMA in increasing plasminogen activator secretion. Nuclear run-on transcription analyses established that both RSV and PMA increase cellular uPA mRNA levels by way of increased uPA gene expression.

Animals↗

Apoptosis mediates the selective toxicity of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) toward oncogene-transformed rat embryo fibroblast cells.

The active component of the folk medicine propolis, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), displays selective toxicity toward cloned rat embryo fibroblast (CREF) cells transformed by a spectrum of diverse acting oncogenes. Identification of the mode of action of CAPE should provide useful information for possible applications of this compound for cancer therapy. The present study uses a series of oncogene transformed, oncogene-reverted and CAPE-resistant oncogene transformed CREF cells to investigate the mechanism underlying the increased sensitivity of transformed cells to CAPE. A direct relationship exists between the cytotoxic effects of CAPE and the induction of DNA fragmentation and apoptosis. DNA degradation into nucleosomal fragments and apoptotic shifts in DNA cell cycle profiles occur in CAPE-treated CREF cells transformed by wild-type 5 adenovirus (Ad5), a mutant Ad5 (H5hr1), the wild-type Ad5 E1A transforming gene, v-src, Ha-ras and the human papilloma virus type 18 transforming genes (HPV-18). In contrast, untransformed CREF cells, human fibroblast expression library-induced morphological revertants of Ad5- and v-src-transformed CREF cells, and Krev-1 expressing revertant Ha-ras-transformed CREF cells are resistant to CAPE-induced toxicity and apoptosis. Similarly, mutant Ad5-transformed CREF cells selected by step-wise growth in increasing concentrations of CAPE are resistant to growth inhibition and apoptosis induced by CAPE. These findings indicate that expression of the transformed phenotype by rodent cells evokes sensitivity to CAPE induced toxicity through apoptosis. The acquisition of CAPE sensitivity in rodent cells is independent of the mode of action of the oncogenic agent. CAPE may prove useful as an antiproliferative agent in cancer cells transformed by mechanistically diverse acting oncogenes.

Animals↗

Transfection and amplification of the chicken c-src proto-oncogene in Rat-1 cells.

The chicken cellular proto-oncogene c-src was cotransfected into normal Rat-1 cells with the mouse dhfr gene. Selection for amplification of dhfr sequences resulted in co-amplification of the chicken c-src gene. Cell clones expressing varying levels of c-src associated kinase activity were isolated, none of these had a transformed morphology. In contrast, expression of v-src in Rat-1 cells resulted in morphological transformation and the ability to grow in soft agar in an anchorage independent way.

Animals↗

Focal complex formation in adult cardiomyocytes is accompanied by the activation of beta3 integrin and c-Src.

In pressure-overloaded myocardium, our recent study demonstrated cytoskeletal assembly of c-Src and other signaling proteins which was partially mimicked in vitro using adult feline cardiomyocytes embedded in three-dimensional (3D) collagen matrix and stimulated with an integrin-binding Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide. In the present study, we improved this model further to activate c-Src and obtain a full assembly of the focal adhesion complex (FAC), and characterized c-Src localization and integrin subtype(s) involved. RGD dose response experiments revealed that c-Src activation occurs subsequent to its cytoskeletal recruitment and is accompanied by p130Cas cytoskeletal binding and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) Tyr925 phosphorylation. When cardiomyocytes expressing hexahistidine-tagged c-Src via adenoviral gene delivery were used for RGD stimulation, the expressed c-Src exhibited relocation: (i) biochemical analysis revealed c-Src movement from the detergent-soluble to the -insoluble cytoskeletal fraction and (ii) confocal microscopic analysis showed c-Src movement from a nuclear/perinuclear to a sarcolemmal region. RGD treatment also caused sarcolemmal co-localization of FAK and vinculin. Characterization of integrin subtypes revealed that beta3, but not beta1, integrin plays a predominant role: (i) expression of cytoplasmic domain of beta1A integrin did not affect the RGD-stimulated FAC formation and (ii) both pressure-overloaded myocardium and RGD-stimulated cardiomyocytes exhibited phosphorylation of beta3 integrin at Tyr773/785 sites but not beta1 integrin at Thr788/789 sites. Together these data indicate that RGD treatment in cardiomyocytes causes beta3 integrin activation and c-Src sarcolemmal localization, that subsequent c-Src activation is accompanied by p130Cas binding and FAK Tyr925 phosphorylation, and that these events might be crucial for growth and remodeling of hypertrophying adult cardiomyocytes.

Adenoviridae↗

A novel signaling molecule, p130, forms stable complexes in vivo with v-Crk and v-Src in a tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent manner.

p47v-crk (v-Crk), a transforming gene product containing Src homology (SH)-2 and -3 domains, induces an elevated level of tyrosine phosphorylation of several cellular proteins. Among these proteins, a 125-135 kDa protein (p130) shows marked phosphorylation at tyrosines and tight association with v-Crk, suggesting a direct signal mediator of v-Crk. Here we report the molecular cloning of rat p130 by immunoaffinity purification. The p130 is a novel SH3-containing signaling molecule with a cluster of multiple putative SH2-binding motifs of v-Crk. Immunochemical analyses revealed that p130 is highly phosphorylated at tyrosines during transformation by p60v-src (v-Src), as well as by v-Crk, forming stable complexes with these oncoproteins. The p130 behaves as an extremely potent substrate of kinase activity included in the complexes and it is a major v-Src-associated substrate of the Src kinase by partial peptidase mapping. Subcellular fractionation demonstrated that the cytoplasmic p130 could move to the membrane upon tyrosine phosphorylation. The p130 (designated Cas for Crk-associated substrate) is a common cellular target of phosphorylation signal via v-Crk and v-Src oncoproteins, and its unique structure indicates the possible role of p130Cas in assembling signals from multiple SH2-containing molecules.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Oncogenic src, raf, and ras stimulate a hypertrophic pattern of gene expression and increase cell size in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes.

In response to hormones and growth factors, cultured neonatal ventricular myocytes increase in profile, exhibit myofibrillogenesis, and re-express genes whose expression is normally restricted to the fetal stage of ventricular development. These include atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), beta-myosin heavy chain (beta-MHC), and skeletal muscle (SkM)-alpha-actin. By using luciferase reporter plasmids, we examined whether oncogenes that activate the extracellular signal-regulated kinase cascade (srcF527, Ha-rasV12, and v-raf) increased expression of "fetal" genes. Transfection of myocytes with srcF527 stimulated expression of ANF, SkM-alpha-actin, and beta-MHC by 62-, 6.7-, and 50-fold, respectively, but did not induce DNA synthesis. Stimulation of ANF expression by srcF527 was greater than by Ha-rasV12, which in turn was greater than by v-raf. General gene expression was also increased but to a lesser extent. The response to srcF527 was inhibited by dominant-negative Ha-rasN17. Myocyte area was increased by srcF527, Ha-rasV12, and v-raf, and although it altered myocyte morphology by causing a pseudopodial appearance, srcF527 did not detectably increase myofibrillogenesis either alone or in combination with Ha-rasV12. A kinase-dead src mutant increased myocyte size to a much lesser extent than srcF527 and also did not inhibit ANF-luciferase expression in response to phenylephrine. We conclude that members of the Src family of tyrosine kinases may be important in mediating the transcriptional changes occurring during cardiac myocyte hypertrophy and that Ras and Raf may be downstream effectors.

Actins↗

Modulation of hepatic acute phase gene expression by epidermal growth factor and Src protein tyrosine kinases in murine and human hepatic cells.

As part of systemic inflammatory reactions, interleukin 6 (IL-6) induces acute phase protein (APP) genes through the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway. Epidermal growth factor (EGF), which contributes to the regenerative process after liver injury and also activates STATs, does not induce but attenuates IL-6-stimulated expression of several APP genes in primary mouse hepatocytes. The APP-modifying action of EGF receptor (EGFR) was characterized in HepG2 cells. Although EGF less effectively engages STAT proteins in these cells, it reduces expression of fibrinogen and haptoglobin, but stimulates production of alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin and induces transcription through the alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin and C-reactive protein promoter. The stimulatory EGFR signal is insensitive to inhibition of JAKs and appears to involve Src kinases and STAT proteins as shown by inhibition through overexpression of C-terminal Src kinase (Csk) and transdominant negative STAT3, respectively. A mediator role of Src is supported by the ability of c-Src and v-Src to activate STATs and induce transcription through APP promoters. Src kinases have been observed in association with the IL-6 receptor; however, inhibition of Src kinases by Csk enhances IL-6-induced transcription. The Csk effect is attributed to prevention of Src kinases from phosphorylating gp130 at the docking site for the signal-moderating protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2. The inhibitory EGFR signal on APP expression correlates with the activation of Erk1 and Erk2. The study shows a dual signaling function for EGFR and suggests that the ratio of receptor-activated STATs and Erks influence the level of stimulated or inhibited expression of individual APPs.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗