Neuregulin-1 only induces trans-phosphorylation between ErbB receptor heterodimer partners

Cell Signal. 2007 Mar;19(3):466-71. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2006.07.020. Epub 2006 Sep 15.

Abstract

ErbB2, ErbB3 and ErbB4 are members of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) sub-family of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs). Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) is a ligand of ErbB3 and ErbB4 receptors. NRG-1-induced ErbB2/ErbB3 or ErbB2/ErbB4 heterodimerization, followed by receptor phosphorylation, plays multiple biological roles. To precisely determine the phosphorylation status of each ErbB receptor in ErbB2/ErbB3 and ErbB2/ErbB4 heterodimers, an immunoprecipitation-recapture of the ErbB receptors was performed to exclude any co-immunoprecipitated heterodimer partners from cells with co-expression of ErbB2/ErbB3, ErbB2/ErbB4, or ErbB2/ErbB4D843N, a kinase-inactive ErbB4 mutant, in which the aspartic acid at 843 (D843) was replaced by an asparagine (N). Here, we provide direct biochemical evidence that ErbB2 was only trans-phosphorylated by ErbB4, but not by ErbB3 or ErbB4D843N. By contrast, ErbB3, ErbB4 and ErbB4D843N were trans-phosphorylated by ErbB2 in the co-transfected cells. Therefore, we conclude that trans-phosphorylation, but not cis-phosphorylation occurred between ErbB2/ErbB3 and ErbB2/ErbB4 heterodimer partners by NRG-1 stimulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dimerization
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Mice
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Neuregulin-1 / pharmacology*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*
  • Receptor, ErbB-3 / genetics
  • Receptor, ErbB-3 / metabolism*
  • Receptor, ErbB-4

Substances

  • Neuregulin-1
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Erbb4 protein, mouse
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Receptor, ErbB-3
  • Receptor, ErbB-4