Differential activation of the Ras/extracellular-signal-regulated protein kinase pathway is responsible for the biological consequences induced by the Axl receptor tyrosine kinase.
To understand the mechanism of Axl signaling, we have initiated studies to delineate downstream components in interleukin-3-dependent 32D cells by using a chimeric receptor containing the recombinant epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor extracellular and transmembrane domains and the Axl kinase domain (EAK [for EGF receptor-Axl kinase]). We have previously shown that upon exogenous EGF stimulation, 32D-EAK cells are capable of proliferation in the absence of interleukin-3. With this system, we determined that EAK-induced cell survival and mitogenesis are dependent upon the Ras/extracellular-signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) cascade. Although the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase pathway is activated upon EAK signaling, it appears to be dispensable for the biological actions of the Axl kinase. Furthermore, we demonstrated that different threshold levels of Ras/ERK activation are needed to induce a block to apoptosis or proliferation in 32D cells. Recently, we have identified an Axl ligand, GAS6. Surprisingly, GAS6-stimulated 32D-Axl cells exhibited no blockage to apoptosis or mitogenic response which is correlated with the absence of Ras/ERK activation. Taken together, these data suggest that different extracellular domains dramatically alter the intracellular response of the Axl kinase. Furthermore, our data suggest that the GAS6-Axl interaction does not induce mitogenesis and that its exact role remains to be determined.
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 27599-7295, USA.
Y W
YW
Fridell
Y
Y
Jin
L A
LA
Quilliam
A
A
Burchert
P
P
McCloskey
G
G
Spizz
B
B
Varnum
C
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Der
E T
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Liu
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D033942:Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051380:GRB2 Adaptor Protein; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051379:Mice; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055765:Shc Signaling Adaptor Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000071425:Src Homology 2 Domain-Containing, Transforming Protein 1; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000094963:Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase; D000099255:Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D033942:Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D017931:DNA Primers; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D051380:GRB2 Adaptor Protein; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); D011506:Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D055765:Shc Signaling Adaptor Proteins; D000071425:Src Homology 2 Domain-Containing, Transforming Protein 1; D018631:ras Proteins; D000094963:Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase; D000099255:Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6; C495949:Grb2 protein, mouse; C528034:Shc1 protein, mouse; C000722290:AXL receptor tyrosine kinase, mouse