title: Activated mutants of SHP-2 preferentially induce elongation of Xenopus animal caps.
abstract: In Xenopus ectodermal explants (animal caps), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) evokes two major events: induction of ventrolateral mesodermal tissues and elongation. The Xenopus FGF receptor (XFGFR) and certain downstream components of the XFGFR signal transduction pathway (e.g., members of the Ras/Raf/MEK/mitogen-activated protein kinase [MAPK] cascade) are required for both of these processes. Likewise, activated versions of these signaling components induce mesoderm and promote animal cap elongation. Previously, using a dominant negative mutant approach, we showed that the protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 is necessary for FGF-induced MAPK activation, mesoderm induction, and elongation of animal caps. Taking advantage of recent structural information, we now have generated novel, activated mutants of SHP-2. Here, we show that expression of these mutants induces animal cap elongation to an extent comparable to that evoked by FGF. Surprisingly, however, activated mutant-induced elongation can occur without mesodermal cytodifferentiation and is accompanied by minimal activation of the MAPK pathway and mesodermal marker expression. Our results implicate SHP-2 in a pathway(s) directing cell movements in vivo and identify potential downstream components of this pathway. Our activated mutants also may be useful for determining the specific functions of SHP-2 in other signaling systems.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Biology Program, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pluskey
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Shoelson
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Neel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004475:Ectoderm; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009154:Mutation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D054592:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11; D053824:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 6; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D054593:SH2 Domain-Containing Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics*; D018909:src Homology Domains / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D054592:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11; D053824:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 6; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; D054593:SH2 Domain-Containing Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases