epidermal-growth-factor and methylamine

EGF suppresses proteolysis via class 1 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in renal tubular cells. EGF also increases the abundance of glycolytic enzymes (e.g., glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [GAPDH]) and transcription factors (e.g., pax2) that are degraded by the lysosomal pathway of chaperone-mediated autophagy. To determine if EGF regulates chaperone-mediated autophagy through PI3K signaling, this study examined the effect of inhibiting PI3K and its downstream mediators Akt and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Inhibition of PI3K with LY294002 prevented EGF-induced increases in GAPDH and pax2 abundance in NRK-52E renal tubular cells. Similar results were seen with an adenovirus encoding a dominant negative Akt (DN Akt). Expression of a constitutively active Akt increased GAPDH and pax2 abundance. An mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, did not prevent EGF-induced increases in these proteins. Neither DN Akt nor rapamycin alone had an effect on total cell protein degradation, but both partially reversed EGF-induced suppression of proteolysis. DN Akt no longer affected proteolysis after treatment with a lysosomal inhibitor, methylamine. In contrast, methylamine or the inhibitor of macroautophagy, 3-methyladenine, did not prevent rapamycin from partially reversing the effect of EGF on proteolysis. Notably, rapamycin did not increase autophagasomes detected by monodansylcadaverine staining. Blocking the proteasomal pathway with either MG132 or lactacystin prevented rapamycin from partially reversing the effect of EGF on proteolysis. It is concluded that EGF regulates pax2 and GAPDH abundance and proteolysis through a PI3K/Akt-sensitive pathway that does not involve mTOR. Rapamycin has a novel effect of regulating proteasomal proteolysis in cells that are stimulated with EGF.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adenine; Animals; Autophagy; Cell Line; Chromones; Epidermal Growth Factor; Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases; Kidney Tubules; Leupeptins; Lysosomes; Methylamines; Morpholines; PAX2 Transcription Factor; Peptide Hydrolases; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Kinases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Rats; Signal Transduction; Sirolimus; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

We have examined the binding of 125I-labeled human and mouse epidermal growth factors (EGF) to human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M). In the presence of human neutrophil elastase, both mouse and human EGF bound to alpha 2M, whereas little binding was found to native alpha 2M. Binding was found to be predominantly covalent and mostly nonreducible by dithiothreitol. Greatly reduced binding was found when methylamine rather than proteinase was used to convert native alpha 2M to fast-form alpha 2M. Pretreatment of native alpha 2M with either proteinase or methylamine greatly reduced binding of EGF. Titration of human 125I-EGF into native alpha 2M, in the presence of 2 equiv of proteinase, gave a gradual increase in EGF binding as a function of EGF concentration. Between 0.8 and 1.0 equiv of hEGF were bound per alpha 2M tetramer when 30 equiv of EGF were used. Reductive methylation of the alpha-amino group of mouse EGF eliminated most of the non-disulfide-mediated covalent binding. The pH dependence of binding of both mouse and human EGF to alpha 2M was examined and showed more EGF bound at pH 6 than at pH 9. The reduction in binding with increasing pH was mostly for the covalent nonreducible component. These results suggest that EGF can react with the reactive thiol ester of proteinase-activated alpha 2M by nucleophilic attack of the alpha-amino group and to a lesser extent by sulfide-disulfide exchange with the free SH of the cleaved thiol ester. The pH dependence is thought to result from competition with hydroxide for thiol ester cleavage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: alpha-Macroglobulins; Animals; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Epidermal Growth Factor; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Iodine Radioisotopes; Methylamines; Methylation; Mice; Oxidation-Reduction; Pancreatic Elastase; Protein Binding

To investigate the functional significance of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor phosphorylation, experimental systems were explored in which receptor phosphorylation on tyrosine and serine/threonine could be differentially stimulated. Exposure of A431 cells to 20 nM EGF at 37 degrees C results in phosphorylation of serine, threonine, and tyrosine sites on the receptor. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) 225 binds to the EGF receptor with affinity comparable to EGF and competes with the binding of EGF. Exposure of A431 cells to 20 nM EGF in the presence of 300 nM anti-EGF receptor mAb 225 (15-fold excess) selectively activated serine and threonine phosphorylation of the receptor, but not tyrosine phosphorylation. This observation indicates that EGF-mediated receptor phosphorylation on tyrosine and on serine/threonine residues is dissociable. The intracellular fate of the EGF receptor was examined under conditions that produce different phosphorylation states of receptor amino acids. Exposure of A431 cells to EGF decreased the half-life (T1/2) of the receptor from 17.8 h to 5.6 h, with activation of tyrosine, serine, and threonine phosphorylation. Incubation with mAb 225 augmented the degradation rate (T1/2 = 8.5 h) without activation of receptor phosphorylation. Concurrent exposure to EGF (20 nM) and mAb 225 (300 nM) resulted in comparable enhanced degradation (T1/2 = 9.5 h), with increased phosphorylation only on serine and threonine residues. These results suggest that serine/threonine phosphorylation is irrelevant to the augmentation of receptor degradation. Methylamine, an inhibitor of lysosomal function that did not affect phosphorylation of the EGF receptor, completely protected EGF receptors from rapid degradation induced by EGF, but it only slightly altered the rate of EGF receptor degradation elicited by mAb 225 or by EGF plus 15-fold excess mAb 225. In contrast, mAb 455, which binds to the receptor but does not inhibit EGF binding and EGF-induced activation of phosphorylation on tyrosine, serine, and threonine residues, did not influence EGF-induced rapid, methylamine sensitive degradation of EGF receptor. The results suggest that when EGF receptors are internalized under conditions that do not activate the receptor tyrosine kinase, they are sorted into a nonlysosomal pathway that differs from the methylamine-sensitive lysosomal pathway traversed following activation by EGF. The data indicate the possibility of a function for tyrosine kinase activati

Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal; Cell Line; Enzyme Activation; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Half-Life; Methylamines; Phosphorylation; Phosphoserine; Phosphothreonine; Phosphotyrosine; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Serine; Threonine; Tyrosine

NIH-3T3 cells expressing the human epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor were used in experiments to determine the fate of the EGF receptor in cells continuously exposed to EGF. EGF receptor was immunoprecipitated from cells labeled for 12 h with [35S] methionine in the absence or presence of 10 nM EGF. As expected, a single Mr = 170,000 polypeptide representing the mature EGF receptor was immune-precipitated from control cells. Surprisingly, immune precipitates from EGF-treated cells contained a prominent Mr = 125,000 receptor species, in addition to the Mr = 170,000 mature receptor. The Mr = 125,000 species was shown to be derived from the Mr = 170,000 form by pulse-chase experiments, in which the Mr = 170,000 receptor chased into the Mr = 125,000 form when EGF was included during the chase and by partial proteolysis. Both proteins became extensively phosphorylated on tyrosine residues in immune precipitate kinase assays. Treatment of immune precipitates with endoglycosidase F changed the apparent molecular weight of the Mr = 170,000 receptor to Mr = 130,000 and of the Mr = 125,000 form to Mr = 105,000, indicating that the appearance of the Mr = 125,000 protein was probably due to proteolysis. Antibody against the carboxyl terminus of the mature EGF receptor recognized the Mr = 125,000 protein, whereas antibody against the amino terminus did not. Incubation of cells with leupeptin prior to and during EGF addition inhibited processing to the Mr = 125,000 species. Methylamine and low temperature also inhibited the EGF-induced processing to the Mr = 125,000 form. These data suggest a possible role for proteolysis of the EGF receptor in receptor function.

Topics: Animals; Cells, Cultured; Down-Regulation; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Humans; Kinetics; Leupeptins; Methylamines; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Molecular Weight; Thermodynamics

Epidermal growth factor (EGF), at concentrations ranging from 0.83 to 4.98 nM, markedly inhibited the proliferation of RL95-2 cells that were seeded at low plating densities (4.7 X 10(3) cells/cm2). Under the same incubation conditions, 16.6 pM EGF enhanced cell proliferation. At high plating densities (2.5 X 10(4) cells/cm2) 0.83 nM EGF also stimulated cell proliferation. Both the inhibitory and stimulatory effects of EGF were mimicked by transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha). However, the inhibitory action of TGF-alpha was always greater that of EGF. Binding studies with 125I-labeled TGF-alpha indicated that maximal cell surface binding of TGF-alpha occurred at 15 min, whereas maximal internalization occurred at 45 min. Both cell surface and internalized radioactivity declined sharply thereafter. Analysis of radioactivity released into the incubation medium during pulse-chase experiments indicated that RL95-2 cells extensively degraded both TGF-alpha and EGF. The lysosomotropic compound methylamine arrested the generation of low-molecular-weight degradation products of EGF, but not of TGF-alpha. In contrast to EGF and TGF-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) inhibited the proliferation of RL95-2 cells that were seeded at either low or high plating densities. Further, transforming growth factor-beta induced the appearance of large cuboidal cells that were readily distinguished from cells treated with either EGF or TGF-alpha. These findings point to complex regulatory actions of growth factors on the proliferation of RL95-2 cells and suggest that the processing of TGF-alpha following EGF receptor activation is distinct from the processing of EGF.

Topics: Cell Division; Cell Line; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Female; Humans; Methylamines; Peptides; Transforming Growth Factors; Uterine Neoplasms

Upon internalization, epidermal growth factor (EGF) is proteolytically processed from its COOH terminus as it traverses intracellular vesicles and lysosomes. This report describes experiments which were conducted to determine whether lysosomotropic amines such as methylamine, which are known to inhibit degradation of EGF, are able to significantly inhibit the COOH-terminal processing of EGF, and whether disruption of EGF processing would negatively affect EGF-stimulated events such as DNA synthesis and induction of specific mRNA species. The results of these experiments indicated that, whereas methylamine treatment had no effect on EGF binding or internalization, vesicular translocation from endocytic vesicles to lysosomes was halted and processing of EGF was severely inhibited. The stimulation of DNA synthesis beginning 12 h after EGF exposure was also markedly inhibited by methylamine treatment. However, addition of methylamine alone produced a non-specific inhibition of DNA synthesis. The ability of EGF to induce specific transcription of the rat transin gene within 6 h of treatment was also not inhibited by methylamine treatment, but was actually increased in the presence of methylamine. These results suggest that at least some early transcriptionally regulated events induced by EGF do not require vesicular processing of EGF (or its receptor) and that the signal transduced by the binding of EGF to its receptor occurs in, or proximal to, the endocytic vesicles.

Topics: Animals; Cell Division; Cell Line; DNA Replication; Endocytosis; Endopeptidases; Epidermal Growth Factor; Fibroblasts; Genes; Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; Methylamines; Transcription, Genetic

This paper describes studies on the migratory behavior of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor kinase using antibodies that are specific for either the kinase domain or the extracellular domain of the receptor. Antiserum was raised to a 42,000-D subfragment of EGF receptor, which was shown earlier to carry the kinase catalytic site but not the EGF-binding site. Another antiserum was raised to the pure intact 170,000-D EGF receptor. The specificities of these antibodies were established by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting experiments. The domain specificity was examined by indirect immunofluorescent staining of fixed cells. The anti-42-kD peptide antibody could bind specifically to EGF receptors of both human and murine origin and was found to be directed to the cytoplasmic part of the molecule. It did not bind to EGF receptor-negative cells, which contained other types of tyrosine kinases. The antibodies raised against the intact receptor recognized only EGF receptor-specific epitopes and were directed to the extracellular part of the molecule. The anti-receptor antibodies described above were used to visualize the cyclic locomotory behavior of EGF receptor kinase under various conditions of EGF stimulation and withdrawal. The receptor was examined in fixed and permeabilized cells by indirect immunofluorescent staining. The results demonstrate the following: (a) the receptor kinase domain migrates to the perinuclear region upon challenge with EGF; (b) both extracellular and cytoplasmic domains of the receptor are involved in migration as a unit; (c) withdrawal of EGF results in rapid recycling of the perinuclear receptors to the plasma membrane; (d) this return to the cell surface is inhibited by methylamine, chloroquine, and monensin; and (e) neither the internal migration nor the recycling process is blocked by inhibitors of protein biosynthesis.

Topics: Animals; Antibody Specificity; Cell Compartmentation; Cell Nucleus; Cycloheximide; Epidermal Growth Factor; Epitopes; ErbB Receptors; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Intracellular Membranes; Membrane Proteins; Methylamines; Mice; Molecular Weight; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Receptors, Cell Surface

The peptide somatostatin (SRIF) is secreted by delta cells of the endocrine pancreas and inhibits the secretion of insulin from pancreatic beta cells. We have previously shown that [125I-Tyr11]SRIF binds to specific, high affinity receptors on RINm5F insulinoma cells and that these receptors mediate the action of SRIF to inhibit insulin release. In the present study we investigated the processing of receptor-bound [125I-Tyr11]SRIF in this clonal cell line. Surface-bound and internalized peptides were distinguished by the ability of an acid/salt solution (0.2 M acetic acid, 0.5 M NaCl, pH 2.5) to dissociate only exposed ligand-receptor complexes. Surprisingly, greater than 80% of saturably bound [125I-Tyr11]SRIF was removed by this acid wash independent of the time or temperature of the binding incubation. In contrast, the processing of receptor-bound [125I]EGF (epidermal growth factor) in RINm5F cells was markedly temperature-dependent. Although over 90% of saturably bound [125I]EGF was dissociated by acid after a 4 degrees C binding incubation, less than 10% was removed by acid treatment after 37 degrees C binding. The radioactivity released upon dissociation of receptor-bound [125I-Tyr11]SRIF was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography and shown to consist of a mixture of intact peptide (40%) and [125I]tyrosine (60%). However, neither the rate of [125I-Tyr11]SRIF dissociation nor its degradation were affected by NH4Cl, methylamine, or leupeptin at concentrations which inhibited the lysosomal degradation of [125I] EGF. Of 11 other protease inhibitors tested, only the metalloendoprotease inhibitor, phosphoramidon, substantially reduced the degradation of receptor-bound [125I-Tyr11]SRIF. These data indicate that, unlike [125I] EGF, receptor-bound [125I-Tyr11]SRIF is not rapidly internalized by RINm5F cells and is degraded by a nonlysosomal process which may involve a metalloendoprotease.

Topics: Adenoma, Islet Cell; Ammonium Chloride; Animals; Cells, Cultured; Deoxyglucose; Epidermal Growth Factor; Glycopeptides; Insulinoma; Iodine Radioisotopes; Lysosomes; Methylamines; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Protease Inhibitors; Rats; Receptors, Cell Surface; Receptors, Somatostatin; Somatostatin; Temperature

When normal human fibroblasts are brought to a steady state with 125I-labeled epidermal growth factor (125I-EGF), greater than 90% of the radioactivity is intracellular. We investigated this material to determine whether the 125I-EGF is intact or degraded. Our results show that 125I-EGF is rapidly processed after internalization and can be resolved into four peaks by native gel electrophoresis. These different forms were isolated and tested for their ability to bind to cell-surface EGF receptors. The first processed form was fully capable of binding to EGF receptors, but the second processed form could not. The third form was a collection of small degradation products. We calculated that at steady state about 60% of internalized "125I-EGF" was in a form still able to bind to EGF receptors. We then investigated the ability of different reported inhibitors of EGF "degradation" to block the processing of EGF. Although inhibitors of cathepsin B (leupeptin, antipain, N alpha-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone, and chymostatin) were able to inhibit the release of monoiodotyrosine from treated cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, they had little effect on the processing step that apparently inactivates 125I-EGF. In contrast, agents that raised intravesicular pH, such as methylamine and monensin, inhibited the initial steps in EGF processing as well as the later steps. Low temperatures inhibited the transfer of 125I-EGF to the lysosomes and inhibited the conversion of EGF to a nonbindable form, but had little effect on the initial processing. We conclude that the intracellular processing of EGF is a multistep process that is initiated prior to lysosomal fusion, involves cathepsin B activity, and requires an acidic pH. In addition, many of the protease inhibitors that have been utilized to investigate the role of EGF degradation in mitogenesis do not block the conversion of EGF to a form that is apparently unable to interact with its receptor.

Topics: Animals; Cathepsin B; Cathepsins; Cell Line; Cold Temperature; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Fibroblasts; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Leupeptins; Methylamines; Mice; Models, Biological; Monensin; Receptors, Cell Surface

Cultured fibroblasts were treated with the carboxylic ionophore monensin to study the effect on 125I-epidermal growth factor binding, internalization, and mitogenic response. Monensin enhanced the accumulation of the ligand by both preventing its degradation in lysosomes and causing a redistribution of receptors from the plasma membrane to an intracellular compartment. Monensin also prevented the mitogenic activity of EGF. This ionophore, like alkylamines, raises the pH of endosomes and lysosomes. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that exposure of EGF-receptor complexes to an acid environment is part of the pathway that leads to a mitogenic response.

Topics: Cell Division; Cell Line; DNA Replication; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Fibroblasts; Furans; Humans; Iodine Radioisotopes; Kinetics; Methylamines; Mitogens; Monensin; Receptors, Cell Surface

A conjugate of Pseudomonas exotoxin and epidermal growth factor (PE-EGF) inhibits proteins synthesis in KB cells, and this inhibition is increased by adenovirus. Protein synthesis inhibition is dependent on the amount of adenovirus and PE-EGF used and the time of incubation of cells with these agents. With 1 microgram of adenovirus and 0.5 micrograms of PE-EGF per ml, protein synthesis is inhibited about 80% in a 60-min experiment. Under these conditions neither adenovirus nor PE-EGF alone has any effect. In the presence of several weak bases or monensin, the enhancement of toxicity was substantially inhibited; half-maximal inhibition was achieved with 40 microM chloroquine, 10 mM ammonium chloride, 5 mM methylamine, 0.1 mM N-hexylamine and 1 microM monensin. At the concentrations employed, none of the inhibitors affected the amount of virus taken up or bound to the cell surface, and chloroquine had no effect on the amount of EGF taken up in 60 min. Chloroquine did not prevent the toxicity of the PE-EGF (5 micrograms/ml) alone. Because these compounds are known to elevate the pH in receptosomes, it seems likely that the acidification of the receptosome either enhances the lysis of the membrane by adenovirus or enhances some other step in the release of PE-EGF.

Topics: Adenoviruses, Human; Amines; Ammonium Chloride; Carcinoma; Cell Line; Chloroquine; Drug Synergism; Epidermal Growth Factor; Exotoxins; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Methylamines; Monensin; Mouth Neoplasms; Protein Biosynthesis; Pseudomonas; Receptors, Virus

The activation of DNA synthesis induced by growth factor from the cytosol of AH-130 tumor cells (AH-130GF) was inhibited by alkylamines (methylamine, ethylamine, and dansylcadaverine), which inhibit the intracellular processing of hormone-receptor complexes. Calmodulin inhibitors (trifluoperazine and W-7) also inhibited the mitogenic action of AH-130GF, suggesting that the Ca-calmodulin system and proteolytic processing in lysosomes are necessary for stimulation of DNA synthesis by AH-130GF after its binding to the cell surface. Membrane phosphorylation induced by AH-130GF or epidermal growth factor (EGF) was investigated by using rat liver plasma membranes and 3T3 cell membranes in vitro. EGF increased the phosphorylation of two protein components with molecular weights of 160K and 130K in rat plasma membranes, but AH-130GF increased the phosphorylation of only the 130K protein. No specific phosphorylation induced by AH-130GF was detected in 3T3 cell membranes, but EGF induced phosphorylation of the 160K receptor protein.

Topics: Animals; Cadaverine; DNA Replication; Epidermal Growth Factor; Ethylamines; Fibroblasts; Growth Substances; Liver; Membrane Proteins; Methylamines; Mice; Neoplasms, Experimental; Phosphorylation; Rats; Sulfonamides; Trifluoperazine

It has been shown that endocytic vesicles in BALB/c 3T3 cells have a pH of 5.0 (Tycko and Maxfield, Cell, 28:643-651). In this paper, a method for measuring the effect of various agents, including weak bases and ionophores, on the pH of endocytic vesicles is presented. The method is based on the increase in fluorescein fluorescence with 490-nm excitation as the pH is raised above 5.0. Intensities of cells were measured using a microscope spectrofluorometer after internalization of fluorescein-labeled alpha 2-macroglobulin by receptor-mediated endocytosis. The increase in endocytic vesicle pH was determined from the increase in fluorescence after addition of various concentrations of the test agents. The following agents increased endocytic vesicle pH above 6.0 at the indicated concentrations: monensin (6 microM), FCCP (10 microM), chloroquine (140 microM), ammonia (5 mM), methylamine (10 mM). The ability of many of these agents to raise endocytic vesicle pH may account for many of their effects on receptor-mediated endocytosis. Dansylcadaverine caused no effect on vesicle pH at 1 mM. The observed increases in vesicle pH were rapid (1-2 min) and could be reversed by removal of the perturbant. This reversibility indicates that the vesicles themselves contain a mechanism for acidification. The increase in vesicle pH due to these treatments can be observed visually using an SIT video camera. Using this method, it is shown that endocytic vesicles become acidic at very early times (i.e., within 5-7 min of continuous uptake at 37 degrees C).

Topics: alpha-Macroglobulins; Ammonia; Animals; Carbonyl Cyanide p-Trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone; Cell Line; Chloroquine; Endocytosis; Epidermal Growth Factor; Fibroblasts; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Ionophores; Methylamines; Mice; Monensin; Organoids

We previously postulated that the structural gene for epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is located on human chromosome 7 (1,2). In this study, EGF receptor and certain postreceptor functions were further analyzed in a unique cell hybrid line, C2B5, that retains only one human chromosome of an X;7 translocation besides a nearly complete mouse parental genome. Kinetics and Scatchard analysis of [125I]EGF binding to the C2B5 hybrid cells indicated that they carry a single class of EGF receptors with a dissociation constant of 4 x 10(-10) M. The receptors expressed in the hybrids are proven to be immunologically of human nature. The human EGF receptors now embedded in essentially mouse plasma membrane are subject to "down regulation" mediated by the ligand EGF. Analysis of the cell-bound EGF indicated that internalization and processing take place in the human-mouse cell hybrids. The degradation of EGF appears to be through a lysosomal pathway since it was substantially delayed or inhibited by lysosomotropic agents.

Topics: Animals; Cell Line; Chloroquine; Chromosomes, Human, 6-12 and X; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Female; Humans; Hybrid Cells; Karyotyping; Kinetics; Methylamines; Mice; Receptors, Cell Surface; Translocation, Genetic; X Chromosome

Topics: DNA Replication; Epidermal Growth Factor; Fibroblasts; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Methylamines; Mitogens

The intracellular fate of endocytosed 125I-epidermal growth factor was examined in Rat-1 fibroblasts. Cells were pulse-labeled for 5 min in 125I-EGF and chased for 3 hr with an excess of unlabeled EGF. At various times after application of the cold chase, cells were harvested and processed for isopycnic gradient centrifugation on Percoll gradients. Within the period of the 125I-EGF pulse, about 50% of the 125I activity appeared in an organelle containing peak in the gradients. By 20 min after application of the cold chase, 125I activity in the organelle peak began to decrease, and the decrease continued over the next few hours. The 125I activity which exited from its organelle-associated location appeared to be present in the cytosol and was apparently not confined within organelles. Lysosomotropic amines inhibited the egress of 125I activity from the organelle compartment. The 125I activity from both organelle and nonorganelle compartments reacted as completely as authentic 125I-EGF with anti-EGF antibodies and was similar in size to authentic 125I-EGF. Little or no intracellular low molecular weight 125I-containing compounds were detected, although they accumulated in the culture medium. Analytical isoelectric focusing revealed that the organelle-bound form of endocytosed 125I-EGF was more acidic than authentic 125I-EGF and, upon exiting from the organelle compartment, was processed to an even more acidic form. It was the second macromolecular form of processed 125I-EGF that was ultimately degraded to low molecular weight compounds which were then externalized from the cells.

Topics: Animals; Cell Compartmentation; Cells, Cultured; Centrifugation, Isopycnic; Endocytosis; Epidermal Growth Factor; Isoelectric Point; Lysosomes; Methylamines; Molecular Weight; Rats; Receptors, Mitogen

Epidermal growth factor is internalized into cells and concomitantly induces a massive clearance of up to 90% of its total surface receptors. The hormone-receptor complex is delivered to lysosomes and degraded or inactivated. Lysosomotropic alkylamines block the degradation but not the binding or internalization of ligand-receptor complexes and thus their presence results in a marked potentiation of intracellular accumulation of epidermal growth factor. We have used these alkylamines as pharmacological tools to trap internalized 125I-labeled epidermal growth factor and now report that the residual population of epidermal growth factor receptors remaining on human fibroblasts after completion of the receptor clearance process is not only accessible for ligand binding but also directs the continued internalization and degradation of this growth factor over prolonged periods of time. We also show that down regulation of epidermal growth factor receptors does not result in desensitization of cells to the mitogenic response.

Topics: Cell Compartmentation; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Fibroblasts; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Lysosomes; Methylamines; Pinocytosis; Receptors, Cell Surface

Topics: Cell Membrane; Cycloheximide; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Membrane Proteins; Methylamines; Peptides; Pinocytosis; Receptors, Cell Surface