Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
8
pubmed:dateCreated
1990-10-1
pubmed:abstractText
TGF alpha is one member of a family of soluble growth factors that are derived from integral-membrane precursors. The mature form of TGF alpha is released from its transmembrane precursor (proTGF alpha) by a protease that, in many tumor cells, is inefficient or limiting. We have previously established that, in the absence of processing, membrane-anchored proTGF alpha is biologically active and can interact with the EGF receptor on adjacent cells, thereby inducing the receptor's intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. We further showed that this interaction leads to immediate downstream signal transduction as evidenced by Ca2+ mobilization. To extend these observations, and to investigate its transforming potential, we infected normal rat kidney (NRK) cells with retroviral expression vectors that encode mutated forms of proTGF alpha containing amino acid substitutions at the proteolytic cleavage sites. NRK cells harboring these mutant constructs do not secrete mature growth factor, but do express biologically active proTGF alpha on the cell surface as shown by their ability to induce the autophosphorylation of EGF receptor on neighboring A431 cells in co-culture. Expression of the mutant proTGF alpha molecules promoted the anchorage-independent growth of NRK cells in soft agar, and caused them to be tumorigenic when injected into nude mice. These results demonstrate that an interaction between EGF receptor and the integral membrane precursor to TGF alpha can provide a mitogenic stimulus that leads to transformation. They further suggest that the accumulation of proTGF alpha on the surface of some transformed cells has physiological relevance.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
0950-9232
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
5
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1213-21
pubmed:dateRevised
2009-11-19
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1990
pubmed:articleTitle
Expression of the TGF alpha integral membrane precursor induces transformation of NRK cells.
pubmed:affiliation
Lineberger Cancer Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7295.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.