Information on the molecular mechanisms involved in cell growth control is important for understanding the events surrounding normal development and those underlying carcinogenesis. The epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a ligand-stimulated protein-tyrosine kinase that undergoes rapid EGF-induced self-phosphorylation in its extreme carboxy- (C-) terminus. The EGF receptor is homologous to the retroviral transforming protein v-erbB, and it is overexpressed in certain human tumors. Of interest are two general mutations in erbB that increase its oncogenic capacity: an amino-terminal deletion that removes the EGF binding site, and various C-terminal truncations. In this regard, our initial studies have suggested that removal of the C-terminal self-phosphorylation domain decreases high affinity binding, increases tyrosine kinase activity in vivo and disrupts receptor association with the cell cytoskeleton. Moreover, these and other investigations strongly suggest that the receptor C-terminal domain and receptor interaction with the cell cytoskeleton can both exert control over EGF receptor binding and kinase activities. Because EGF receptor kinase activity is essential for proper biological function, the following specific aims are proposed: 1) Examine the mechanisms by which the EGF receptor C-terminus regulates protein-tyrosine kinase activity. These studies will involve an analysis of the substrate specificity, kinetic mechanism and sensitivity to protein activators of both normal and C- terminally mutated EGF receptors. 2) Characterize the role of the EGF receptor C-terminus in promoting cytoskeletal attachment, and ascertain the processes by which cytoskeletal association affects receptor high affinity binding and protein-tyrosine kinase activity. This work will focus on the influence of C-terminal domains and protein kinase C activation on receptor cytoskeletal distribution, and will also asses the effects of cytoskeletal association on receptor high affinity binding, tyrosine kinase activity and substrate specificity. 3) Identify and analyze specific proteins involved in the EGF receptor-cytoskeletal association using direct binding studies, as well as co-immunoprecipitation and crosslinking analyses. These experiences are expected to more rigorously establish the mechanisms by which specific domains, and their interaction with the cellular cytoskeleton, can play a key role in the regulation of EGF receptor function in both normal and abnormal cell growth.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM053271-10
Application #
2685075
Study Section
Cellular Biology and Physiology Subcommittee 1 (CBY)
Project Start
1988-08-01
Project End
2000-10-31
Budget Start
1998-04-01
Budget End
2000-10-31
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
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Wiepz, Gregory J; Edwin, Francis; Patel, Tarun et al. (2006) Methods for determining the proliferation of cells in response to EGFR ligands. Methods Mol Biol 327:179-87
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Kim, Yong-Nyun; Bertics, Paul J (2002) The endocytosis-linked protein dynamin associates with caveolin-1 and is tyrosine phosphorylated in response to the activation of a noninternalizing epidermal growth factor receptor mutant. Endocrinology 143:1726-31
Poppleton, H M; Sun, H; Mullenix, J B et al. (2000) The juxtamembrane region of the epidermal growth factor receptor is required for phosphorylation of Galpha(s). Arch Biochem Biophys 383:309-17
Kim, Y N; Wiepz, G J; Guadarrama, A G et al. (2000) Epidermal growth factor-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of caveolin-1. Enhanced caveolin-1 tyrosine phosphorylation following aberrant epidermal growth factor receptor status. J Biol Chem 275:7481-91

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