title: Activity of the epidermal-growth-factor receptor and phospholipase C-gamma 1 in heat-stressed fibroblasts and A-431 cells.
abstract: A variety of changes in the functions of specific plasma-membrane components have been reported in cells exposed to a heat shock. In this study, we examined the consequences of heat stress on epidermal-growth-factor (EGF)-induced receptor autophosphorylation and receptor-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma 1), a cellular substrate. Although the tyrosine kinase activity of the EGF receptor is rapidly inactivated at 45 degrees C in vitro [Carpenter, King & Cohen (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 4884-4891], EGF stimulates autophosphorylation of its receptor in both A-431 cells and human fibroblasts after a prolonged heat shock. Phosphoamino acid analysis of the receptor reveals an EGF-induced increase in phosphotyrosine and phosphoserine at 46 degrees C. EGF also stimulates the phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma 1 and induces the formation of inositol phosphates under heat-shock conditions. 125I-EGF binding and internalization in A-431 cells is not decreased during incubations at 46 degrees C for up to 90 min. EGF-induced dimerization of EGF receptors on the cell surface is preserved during heat shock. Though EGF-receptor-mediated endocytosis is not inhibited by elevated temperature, the degradation of internalized 125I-EGF is dramatically decreased. These results indicate that, aside from ligand degradation, the EGF-mediated pathway of signal transduction through phospholipase C-gamma 1 remains remarkably intact during conditions of extreme cellular stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-0146.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carpenter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004705:Endocytosis; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000201:enzymology*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors; D010738:Type C Phospholipases