title: Cross-talk between the proto-oncogenes Met and Ron.
abstract: Scatter Factors control a complex genetic program known as 'invasive growth'. HGF (Scatter factor 1) and MSP (Scatter Factor 2) bind to tyrosine kinase receptors encoded by the proto-oncogenes MET and RON. Using the appropriate 'kinase inactive' mutant receptors, we show that ligand-induced activation of Met results in transphosphorylation of Ron, and vice versa. Transphosphorylation is direct, as it occurs in Met or Ron receptors lacking the docking sites for signal transducers. Phosphate groups are transferred to the tyrosine phosphorylation sites responsible both for kinase up-regulation (Met: Y1234/Y1235 and Ron: Y1238/Y1239) and for generation of signal transducer docking sites (Met: Y1349/Y1356 and Ron Y1353/Y1360). The transphosphorylation specifically takes place for the receptor subfamily, as it is not observed between Met or Ron and ErbB1, ErbB2 or TrkA. Cross-linking experiments show that non-covalent Met-Ron complexes are present on the cell surface, before ligand-induced dimerization. Co-expression of a kinase inactive Ron receptor with naturally-occurring oncogenic Met mutants suppresses the transforming phenotype, suggesting a dominant negative role for the inefficient kinase partner. These data show that, while specific for their ligands, scatter factor receptors cross-talk and cooperate in intracellular signaling.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (IRCC), University of Torino, School of Medicine 10060, Candiolo, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Follenzi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bakovic
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gual
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Stella
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Longati
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Comoglio
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019556:COS Cells; D019281:Dimerization; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D051379:Mice; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; C080835:RON protein; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases