Multimers of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-FGF receptor-saccharide complex are formed on long oligomers of heparin.
The minimal signalling unit for tyrosine kinase receptors is two protomers dimerized by one or more ligands. However, it is clear that maximal signalling requires the formation of larger complexes of many receptors at discrete foci on the cell surface. The biological interactions that lead to this are likely to be diverse and have system specific components. In the present study, we demonstrate that, in the FGF (fibroblast growth factor)-FGFR (FGF receptor) system, multimers of the minimal complex composed of two FGF1 and two FGFR2 protomers can form on a single chain of the co-receptor heparin. Using size-exclusion chromatography, we show that two complexes can form on heparin chains as small as 16 saccharide units. We also show by MS that discrete complexes containing exactly two copies of the minimal signalling unit are formed. However, the doublet of complexes appears to be less co-operative than the formation of the 2:2:1 FGF1:FGFR2:heparin complex, suggesting that this mechanism is one of a number of weaker interactions that might be involved in the formation of a focal complex on the cell surface.
Harmer
Nicholas J
NJ
Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK. nic@cryst.bioc.cam.ac.uk
Robinson
Christopher J
CJ
Adam
Lucy E
LE
Ilag
Leopold L
LL
Robinson
Carol V
CV
Gallagher
John T
JT
Blundell
Tom L
TL
D000818:Animals; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006493:Heparin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine; D014461:Ultracentrifugation
D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1; D006493:Heparin; D006497:Heparan Sulfate; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2