<p>Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a potent mitogen and chemoattractant for mesenchymal cells and exert its effect by binding to two structurally related receptor tyrosine kinases, denoted α- and β-receptors. PDGF binding induces dimerization of its receptors, both homo-and heterodimerization, leading to their autophosphorylation on tyrosine residues and binding of downstream signaling molecules. This thesis describes autophosphorylation and binding of signal transduction molecules to homo- and heterodimeric PDGF receptor complexes.</p><p> Heterodimeric PDGF receptor complexes have been found to mediate a stronger mitogenic response than homodimeric receptor complexes. It was found that Tyr771 in the PDGF β-receptor was significantly less phosphorylated in the heterodimeric β-receptor compared to the homodimeric receptor, and this correlated with reduced binding of GTPase activating protein (GAP) for Ras and decreased activation of the Ras/Mitogen activated protein kinase pathway. </p><p> The mechanism behind the lowered phosphorylation of Tyr771 in the heterodimeric PDGF β-receptor was investigated. It was found that the SH2 domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 was responsible, at least in part, for the dephosphorylation of Tyr771 in the heterodimeric β-receptor. </p><p> PDGF-induced autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues in the receptors has been proposed to occur <i>in trans </i>between the receptor molecules in the dimers. We demonstrated by phosphopeptide mapping that all major autophosphorylation sites can be phosphorylated <i>in trans, </i>both in the PDGF α- and β-receptors. Analyses of the abilities of heterodimeric receptor complexes of one kinase-active and one kinase-inactive receptor to mediate mitogenicity, chemotaxis and activation of mitogen activated protein kinase revealed that the signaling capacities were retained. This illustrates a functional co-operation between the two receptor molecules in the dimer, where one receptor provides a functional kinase and the other acts as a substrate and provides docking sites for downstream signaling molecules.</p><p> Elucidating the mechanisms behind the unique signaling properties of the heterodimeric PDGF receptor complex, two heterodimer-specific autophosphorylation sites, Tyr692 and Tyr970, were identified and found to interact with the low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMW-PTP). Mutation of Tyr692 or Tyr970 to phenylalanine residues did not affect PDGF-induced mitogenicity, but the Tyr692 to phenylalanine mutation reduced the chemotactic response mediated by the heterodimeric PDGF receptor complex. A mechanism for the lowered chemotactic response was found to involve an increased RasGAP binding and a decreased SHP-2 binding to the heterodimeric β-receptor.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA/oai:DiVA.org:uu-1067 |
| Date | January 2000 |
| Creators | Ekman, Simon |
| Publisher | Uppsala University, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala : Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary, text |
| Relation | Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Medicine, 0282-7476 ; 947 |
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