Transforming Protein Pp60src Research Articles

Cytoskeletal association of pp60 src: The transforming protein of the rous sarcoma virus

Immunoferritin labelling methods have been employed to examine the distribution of the Rous Sarcoma virus (RSV)-transforming protein pp60 src in the detergent-resistant cytoskeleton of transformed cells. pp60 src was found to be localized on actin microfilaments present in adhesion plaques, at adherens junctions between cells and also in microfilament bundles. This localization is consistent with the hypothesis that some of the morphological effects of transformation result from the interaction in situ of pp60 src with microfilament-bound target proteins.

Development and characterization of antisera specific for amino- and carboxy-terminal regions of pp60src

Antisera to the Rous sarcoma virus transforming protein pp60src were produced in rabbits immunized with p60src purified from recombinant Escherichia coli. Immunization with isolated V8 proteolytic fragments of p60src resulted in antisera specific for the amino- and carboxy-terminal domains. The reactions of these antisera with pp60v-src and the normal cell protein p60c-src were characterized.

Antibodies to two defined regions of the transforming protein pp60src interact specifically with the epidermal growth factor receptor kinase system.

Antibodies generated against two synthetic peptides corresponding to two defined regions on the transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus, pp60src, interact specifically with the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptor kinase. An antibody directed against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the major phosphorylation site of pp60src interacts specifically with EGF receptor and immunoprecipitates a functional EGF-receptor kinase. The second antibody, which binds close to a region on the src molecule that is required for its kinase activity, also binds to EGF-receptor kinase and prevents the autophosphorylation of the receptor molecules. Neither antibody binds to intact cells, but they do recognize various forms of the solubilized receptor. It is concluded that at least two cytoplasmic domains of the EGF receptor are antigenically and presumably also structurally related to specific domains on pp60src.

Monoclonal antibodies specific for the avian sarcoma virus transforming protein pp60 src

Monoclonal antibodies to avian sarcoma/leukosis virus-coded transforming, structural, and polymerase proteins have been developed. In this first communication, a monoclonal antibody to pp60 src will be characterized. The antibody can bind to pp60 src in radioimmunoassays, precipitates this antigen in protein kinase tests, and demonstrates in immunofluorescence investigations that pp60 src has different intracellular localizations depending on whether RSV-transformed avian or mammalian cells are studied.

Antibodies against synthetic peptides as a tool for functional analysis of the transforming protein pp60 src

To study the function of pp60 src, the transforming protein encoded for by Rous sarcoma virus, we have raised antibodies against synthetic oligopeptides corresponding to the primary structure of pp60 src. All eight investigated peptides were immunogenic in rabbits, and four induced pp60 src-specific antibodies. We screened tumor-bearing rabbit (TBR) sera for antibodies against the peptides; this revealed that five out of six of the peptides, chosen according to a high hydrophilicity plot, were related to epitopes of native pp60 src, in contrast to two peptides of low hydrophilicity, which contained a cleavage site for protease. Antibodies against three of the peptides appeared to react with the kinase-active site of pp60 src, as these antibodies were phosphorylated in their heavy chain upon immune precipitation. Antibodies against two of the peptides, in contrast to the others, did not precipitate pp60 src when this molecule was complexed with two cellular proteins, pp50 and ppg0. This observation allows speculation about the location of the pp60 src site involved in the formation of this complex.

Cyclic AMP treatment of Rous sarcoma virus-transformed Chinese hamster ovary cells increases phosphorylation of pp60src and increases pp60src kinase activity.

Treatment of growing Rous sarcoma virus-transformed Chinese hamster ovary cells with the cyclic AMP analog 8-bromo-cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (8-bromo-cyclic AMP) stimulates the incorporation of 32Pi into the viral transforming protein pp60src. Based on one-dimensional and two-dimensional peptide analysis and phosphoamino acid analysis, the increase is on a single phosphoserine residue at the NH2 terminus of the protein. The phosphate incorporation increases during the first 4 h of treatment. The pp60src kinase activity in extracts of cells treated with 8-bromo-cyclic AMP was stimulated about 2- to 3-fold. This stimulation of kinase activity increased during the first 3 h of treatment with 1 mM 8-bromo-cAMP and the activity was increased in both the soluble and particulate fraction of the cells. These results suggest that cyclic AMP can modulate the activity of pp60src in transformed cells.

A cellular protein phosphorylated by the avian sarcoma virus transforming gene product is associated with ribonucleoprotein particles.

In chick embryo fibroblasts transformed by Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) the tyrosine phosphorylation of a cellular protein of 34,000 daltons mol. wt. (34 kd) is greatly enhanced; this was shown to be catalyzed by the phosphotransferase activity of RSV transforming protein pp60src. We report here that in cytoplasmic extracts of both normal and transformed cells, in the presence of magnesium ions, the majority of the 34-kd protein is associated with large structures and that a fraction of 34 kd appears to be associated with ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs). In addition, upon u.v. light cross-linking of RNA to protein in normal or transformed cells, an anti-34 kd serum immunoprecipitates RNA fragments of apparent low sequence complexity as detected by T1 fingerprint analysis. Our results indicate that the 34-kd protein may play a role in the cell at the level of RNPs.

Isolation and partial characterization of a monoclonal antibody to the Rous sarcoma virus transforming protein pp60src.

Transformation of cells by Rous sarcoma virus is mediated by the product of the viral src gene, pp60src. A hybridoma cell line producing an immunoglobulin G3 antibody to pp60src was isolated after lymph node cells from immune mice were fused with mouse myeloma cells (P3-NS1-1). Mice were immunized with p60src purified from Escherichia coli cells expressing the src gene product. The monoclonal antibody immunoprecipitated pp60src from Rous sarcoma virus-transformed cells and recognized an antigenic determinant located in the amino-terminal third of the pp60src protein.

Half-life of the Rous sarcoma virus transforming protein pp60src and its associated kinase activity.

The half-life of metabolically labeled pp60src of the Prague A strain of Rous sarcoma virus and of several transformation-defective, temperature-sensitive mutants was investigated by pulse-labeling infected cells with [35S]methionine, chasing for different times, and immunoprecipitating pp60src with tumor-bearing rabbit serum. These experiments showed that pp60src has a short half-life of approximately 60 min under normal physiological conditions and that the mutant pp60src proteins have similar half-lives to the wild type, irrespective of whether the cells are kept at the nonpermissive (42 degrees C) or permissive (35 degrees C) temperature. The half-life of the pp60src -associated kinase activity was determined by monitoring its decay by the immunoglobulin G heavy chain assay after the cells had been treated with several inhibitors of protein synthesis. In these experiments the kinase half-life was much longer than expected from the half-life of pp60src. The apparent contradiction between the half-lives of the kinase activity and the [35S]methionine-labeled pp60src protein could be resolved by the observation that treatment of cells with inhibitors of protein synthesis stabilized pp60src, resulting in a greatly extended half-life. Inhibitors of protein synthesis also extended the half-life of the gag precursor polypeptide, Pr76, suggesting that a host factor(s) may be required for the efficient intracellular processing of this polypeptide to the gag proteins.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of a 50K cellular polypeptide associated with the Rous sarcoma virus transforming protein pp60src.

We have examined the phosphorylation of a 50,000-dalton cellular polypeptide associated with the Rous sarcoma virus (FSV) transforming protein pp60-src. It has been shown that pp60src forms a complex with two cellular polypeptides, an 89,000-dalton heat-shock protein (89K) and a 50,000-dalton phosphoprotein (50K). The pp60src-associated protein kinase activity phosphorylates at tyrosine residues, and the 50K polypeptide present in the complex contains phosphotyrosine and phosphoserine. These observations suggest that the 50K polypeptide may be a substrate for the protein kinase activity of pp60src. To examine this possibility, we isolated the 50K polypeptide by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis from lysates of uninfected or virally infected cells. Tryptic phosphopeptide analysis indicated that the 50K polypeptide isolated by this method was the same polypeptide as that complexed to pp60src. In uninfected cells or cells infected by a transformation-defective mutant, the 50K polypeptide contained phosphoserine but little or no phosphotyrosine. In cells infected by Schmidt-Ruppin or Prague RSV, there was a 40- to 50-fold increase in the quantity of phosphotyrosine in the 50K protein. Thus, the phosphorylation of the 50K polypeptide at tyrosine is dependent on the presence of pp60src. However, the 50K polypeptide isolated from cells infected by temperature-sensitive mutants of RSV was found to be phosphorylated at tyrosine at both permissive and nonpermissive temperatures; this behavior is different from that of other substrates or putative substrates of the pp60src kinase activity. It is possible that the 50K polypeptide is a high-affinity substrate of pp60src.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of a 50K cellular polypeptide associated with the Rous sarcoma virus transforming protein pp60src.

We have examined the phosphorylation of a 50,000-dalton cellular polypeptide associated with the Rous sarcoma virus (FSV) transforming protein pp60-src. It has been shown that pp60src forms a complex with two cellular polypeptides, an 89,000-dalton heat-shock protein (89K) and a 50,000-dalton phosphoprotein (50K). The pp60src-associated protein kinase activity phosphorylates at tyrosine residues, and the 50K polypeptide present in the complex contains phosphotyrosine and phosphoserine. These observations suggest that the 50K polypeptide may be a substrate for the protein kinase activity of pp60src. To examine this possibility, we isolated the 50K polypeptide by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis from lysates of uninfected or virally infected cells. Tryptic phosphopeptide analysis indicated that the 50K polypeptide isolated by this method was the same polypeptide as that complexed to pp60src. In uninfected cells or cells infected by a transformation-defective mutant, the 50K polypeptide contained phosphoserine but little or no phosphotyrosine. In cells infected by Schmidt-Ruppin or Prague RSV, there was a 40- to 50-fold increase in the quantity of phosphotyrosine in the 50K protein. Thus, the phosphorylation of the 50K polypeptide at tyrosine is dependent on the presence of pp60src. However, the 50K polypeptide isolated from cells infected by temperature-sensitive mutants of RSV was found to be phosphorylated at tyrosine at both permissive and nonpermissive temperatures; this behavior is different from that of other substrates or putative substrates of the pp60src kinase activity. It is possible that the 50K polypeptide is a high-affinity substrate of pp60src.

A ts T mutant of Schmidt Ruppin strain of Rous sarcoma virus restricted at 39.5 degrees C for the morphological transformation and the tumorigenicity of chicken embryo fibroblasts.

In order to investigate a possible correlation between in vitro transformation and tumorigenicity in ovo, a new temperature-sensitive class T mutant of Rous Sarcoma Virus was isolated with a lower (39 degrees 5C) restrictive temperature for morphological transformation. This lower restrictive temperature was compatible with the survival of chicken and duck eggs for the tumorigenicity studies. In chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) infected by this new mutant, PA 17, and cultured at 39 degrees 5C, increase of hexose uptake, plasminogen activator production and anchorage-independent growth were only partially restricted, requiring incubation at 41 degrees 5C for a complete shut-off. Tumorigenicity in chicken and duck eggs inoculated with CEF infected and transformed by PA 17 was restricted at 39 degrees 5C, correlating well with the restriction of morphological transformation at this temperature. The kinase activity of the transforming protein pp60src in lysates of PA 17 infected cells cultured at permissive or restrictive temperatures was labile in RIPA buffer, as in the case of some previously examined ts T mutants. In the non-ionic detergent NP40 buffer, the kinase activity of PA17 infected cell lysates was better conserved and showed a moderate temperature dependence. These results suggest that, in spite of the correlations between the transformed cell phenotype in vitro and cell tumorigenicity in ovo, it is difficult to establish a quantitative relationship.

Demonstration of avian sarcoma virus-coded pp60src in vivo and the anti-pp60src immune response in chickens.

The avian sarcoma virus (ASV)-coded transforming protein pp60src was originally detected in vitro in ASV-transformed avian and mammalian cells in experiments involving mammalian antisera to ASV-induced tumors. It is demonstrated here that pp60src is also expressed in vivo in ASV tumors of chickens. Furthermore, the existence of the endogenous pp60src in all chicken cells does not impair the immune response to exogenous pp60src in the chicken. Whereas chicken antibodies can bind to pp60src, they do not serve as substrates for the protein kinase activity of this transforming protein.

Biological properties of "partial" transformation mutants of Rous sarcoma virus and characterization of their pp60src kinase.

We have isolated mutants of Rous sarcoma virus from an unmutagenized stock of the Schmidt-Ruppin strain of Rous sarcoma virus. These mutants induce only a "partial" transformation, and the transformation properties induced show unusual properties or combinations. Cells infected with mutant CU2 have a unique "blebby" morphology, have lost surface fibronectin, form very small colonies in soft agar, and are nearly normal with respect to adhesiveness and hexose transport. Cells infected with mutant tsCU11 have a nearly normal morphology, but grow well in soft agar. Cells infected with mutant CU12 have a fusiform morphology, intermediate levels of hexose transport and fibronectin, and form very large colonies in soft agar. Because the appearance of the different parameters of transformation is dissociated in these mutant-infected cells, these data are interpreted as supporting a model in which the transforming protein pp60src interacts with more than one primary target in generating the transformed phenotype. All of the mutants display levels of pp60src kinase activity less than that of the wild type. In the case of mutant CU12, the lower kinase activity is in part a consequence of a lower steady-state amount of pp60src inside the cell.

A normal cell protein similar in structure and function to the avian sarcoma virus transforming gene product.

This report extends our previous studies concerning the identification and characterization of a protein from normal cells that is closely related to the avian sarcoma virus (ASV) transforming gene product pp60src. This normal cellular protein, which we have found in both avian and mammalian cells and have tentatively designated pp60sarc, was detected by immunoprecipitation of radiolabeled cell extracts with serum derived from both mice and rabbits bearing ASV-induced tumors. The normal cell pp60sarc is a 60,000-dalton phosphoprotein that is structurally similar, but not identical, to viral pp60src. The phosphorylation patterns of the normal cell and viral proteins are also similar: both contain two major phosphorylated residues, a phosphoserine located on the NH2-terminal 60% of the polypeptide and a phosphothreonine present on the COOH-terminal 40% of the molecule. In addition, the normal cell pp60sarc from both chicken and mammalian cells appears to have an associated protein kinase activity analogous to that previously described for the viral pp60src. The possible roles played by the normal cell protein pp60sarc and the ASV transforming protein pp60src in normal cellular growth and neoplastic disease, respectively, are discussed.