EGFR and FGFR signaling through FRS2 is subject to negative feedback control by ERK1/2

Biol Chem. 2003 Aug;384(8):1215-26. doi: 10.1515/BC.2003.134.

Abstract

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor substrate 2 (FRS2) is a membrane-anchored docking protein that has been shown to play an important role in linking FGF, nerve growth factor (NGF) and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) receptors with the Ras/mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling cascade. Here we provide evidence that FRS2 can also play a role in epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling. Upon EGF stimulation, FRS2 mediates enhanced MAPK activity and undergoes phosphorylation on tyrosine as well as serine/threonine residues. This involves the direct interaction of the FRS2 PTB domain with the EGFR and results in a significantly altered mobility of FRS2 in SDS-PAGE which is also observed in FGF stimulated cells. This migration shift of FRS2 is completely abrogated by U0126, a specific MAPK kinase 1 (MEK1) inhibitor, suggesting that ERK1/2 acts as serine/threonine kinase upstream of FRS2. Indeed, we show that the central portion of FRS2 constitutively associates with ERK1/2, whereas the FRS2 carboxy-terminal region serves as substrate for ERK2 phosphorylation in response to EGF and FGF stimulation. Notably, tyrosine phosphorylation of FRS2 is enhanced when ERK1/2 activation is inhibited after both EGF and FGF stimulation. These results indicate a ligand-stimulated negative regulatory feedback loop in which activated ERK1/2 phosphorylates FRS2 on serine/threonine residues thereby down-regulating its tyrosine phosphorylation. Our findings support a broader role of FRS2 in EGFR-controlled signaling pathways in A-431 cells and provide insight into a molecular mechanism for ligand-stimulated feedback regulation with FRS2 as a central regulatory switch point.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism*
  • Feedback, Physiological
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / metabolism*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
  • Serine / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Threonine / metabolism
  • Tyrosine / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • FRS2 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Threonine
  • Tyrosine
  • Serine
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases