Dissociation of cellular transformation from platelet-derived growth factor independence

Purification and characterization of a heavy-metal-modulated nuclear protein from SV40-transformed cells

Sodium arsenite was found to stimulate an SV40-transformed BALB/c cell line (SVT2) to synthesize a 31-kDa protein within 2.5 h. This SVT2 protein was purified to homogeneity. It is a nuclear protein which appears to be associated with membranes because it is not extractable from nuclear membrane preparations by 2 M salt. It is highly hydrophobic, eluting from a reverse-phase HPLC column at a similar acetonitrile concentration as a previously described 31-kDa BALB/c-3T3 cell nuclear protein. However, digestion of highly purified BALB/c-3T3 and SVT2 cell proteins with V8 protease revealed nonidentical fragmentation patterns. Moreover, amino acid analysis of the two proteins was also dissimilar, indicating different primary structures. Thus, these two nuclear membrane associated proteins appear to be distinct species.

Analysis of cell variants showing differential susceptibilities to radiation- or chemical-induced neoplastic transformation: differences in their responses to growth factors

The induction of DNA synthesis in quiescent, density-arrested Balb/c 3T3 cells is known to be controlled by the sequential action of at least two functionally distinct sets of growth factors, so-called "competence factors" and "progression factors." Here we examined this induction pathway in Balb/c 3T3 A31-I variants, which showed differential susceptibilities to radiation- and chemical-induced neoplastic transformation despite their similar susceptibilities to radiation- or chemical-induced cell killing and mutagenesis. DNA synthesis was acquired only with the exposure to progression factors in a highly susceptible cell variant (A31-1-13) whereas both competence factors and progression factors were required for a less susceptible cell variant (A31-I-1). The competent state constitutively produced by an autologous mechanism in the highly transformation-susceptible A31-I-13 cells suggests the existence of an endogenous promoter that acts for the expression of the transformed phenotype in an autocrine fashion when the cells have been initiated by radiation or chemical carcinogens. The growth factor requirements acting as a determining factor for susceptibilities to transformation are discussed.

Characterization of a novel anti-peptide antibody that recognizes a specific conformation of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor

Two site-specific anti-peptide antibodies (AbP1 and AbP2) were raised against the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor. These two sites correspond to amino acid residues 977 through 988 (peptide 1) and 932 through 947 (peptide 2) of the murine PDGF receptor. Both antibodies recognized human and murine PDGF receptors in immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting analyses. None of the antibodies was directed to phosphotyrosine. One of the antibodies (AbP2) showed unusual antigen recognition specificity. This antibody specifically recognized the tyrosine-phosphorylated PDGF receptor and not the unphosphorylated native receptor, suggesting that recognition by this antibody requires a specific conformation that is induced by PDGF-stimulated autophosphorylation.

Characterization of a novel anti-peptide antibody that recognizes a specific conformation of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor

Two site-specific anti-peptide antibodies (AbP1 and AbP2) were raised against the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor. These two sites correspond to amino acid residues 977 through 988 (peptide 1) and 932 through 947 (peptide 2) of the murine PDGF receptor. Both antibodies recognized human and murine PDGF receptors in immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting analyses. None of the antibodies was directed to phosphotyrosine. One of the antibodies (AbP2) showed unusual antigen recognition specificity. This antibody specifically recognized the tyrosine-phosphorylated PDGF receptor and not the unphosphorylated native receptor, suggesting that recognition by this antibody requires a specific conformation that is induced by PDGF-stimulated autophosphorylation.

PDGF induces c-myc mRNA expression in MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells but does not stimulate cell replication

The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) modulated growth response of the MG-63 human osteosarcoma cell line, which neither expresses c-sis mRNA nor secretes a PDGF analogue, was characterized. Scatchard analysis demonstrated that the MG-63 cells have 23,000 receptors per cell with a Kd of 5 X 10(-11) M. The receptor became phosphorylated, in a PDGF concentration-dependent manner, when 32P-orthophosphate-labeled cells were treated with PDGF for 3 h at 4 degrees C. The phosphorylated receptor was identified by autoradiography and gel electrophoresis after isolation of the 32P-labeled receptor using a solid-phase monoclonal antibody directed against phosphotyrosine. Binding of the receptor to the antibody was inhibited by 5 mM phenyl phosphate, further suggesting that PDGF stimulated tyrosine-specific receptor autophosphorylation. In addition, treatment of MG-63 cells with PDGF for 3 h at 37 degrees C induced a 7.5-fold increase in c-myc mRNA accumulation as analyzed on Northern gels. However, MG-63 cells grew equally well in either serum-(which contains PDGF) or plasma-(which does not) supplemented medium. Furthermore, PDGF did not stimulate DNA synthesis in growth arrested MG-63 cells, nor did it potentiate DNA synthesis modulated by somatomedin C. Thus MG-63 cells are a naturally occurring cell variant in which PDGF stimulates c-myc expression but does not modulate mitogenesis.

Purified human platelet-derived growth factor receptor has ligand-stimulated tyrosine kinase activity

The platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGF-R), a 180-kDa single-chain polypeptide, was purified from membranes of the human osteogenic sarcoma cell line MG-63. Purification was achieved by treatment of membranes with PDGF and ATP, followed by solubilization with nonionic detergent and successive chromatography on solid-phase anti-phosphotyrosine monoclonal antibody and DEAE-cellulose. The PDGF-R, which was estimated to be 50-80% pure by NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of 32P-labeled preparations, was free of contaminating epidermal growth factor receptor and had no detectable phosphatase activity. It specifically bound 125I-labeled PDGF, a reaction quantified by binding of the ligand-PDGF-R complex to the anti-phosphotyrosine antibody. The purified receptor displayed PDGF-stimulatable tyrosine kinase activity, assayed by autophosphorylation of PDGF-R at tyrosine residues and by phosphorylation of angiotensin II. The Km for ATP in the autophosphorylation reaction was 7.5 microM. Addition of PDGF did not change the Km but increased the Vmax 1.7-fold.