How the cell converts graded signals into threshold-activated responses is a question of great biological relevance. Here, we uncover a nonlinear modality of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-activated signal transduction, by demonstrating that the ubiquitination of the EGFR at the PM is threshold controlled. The ubiquitination threshold is mechanistically determined by the cooperative recruitment of the E3 ligase Cbl, in complex with Grb2, to the EGFR. This, in turn, is dependent on the simultaneous presence of two phosphotyrosines, pY1045 and either one of pY1068 or pY1086, on the same EGFR moiety. The dose–response curve of EGFR ubiquitination correlate precisely with the non-clathrin endocytosis (NCE) mode of EGFR internalization. Finally, EGFR-NCE mechanistically depends on EGFR ubiquitination, as the two events can be simultaneously re-engineered on a phosphorylation/ubiquitination-incompetent EGFR backbone. Since NCE controls the degradation of the EGFR, our findings have implications for how the cell responds to increasing levels of EGFR signalling, by varying the balance of receptor signalling and degradation/attenuation.

Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody that is effective in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Cetuximab blocks epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-ligand interaction and inhibits downstream RAS-ERK activation. However, only some activating mutations in RAS affect cetuximab efficacy, and it is not clear what else mediates treatment success. Here we hypothesized that cetuximab induces immunogenic cell death (ICD) that activates a potent antitumor response. We found that cetuximab, in combination with chemotherapy, fostered ICD in CRC cells, which we measured via the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response and an increase in phagocytosis by dendritic cells. ICD induction depended on the mutational status of the EGFR signaling pathway and on the inhibition of the splicing of X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1), an unfolded protein response (UPR) mediator. We confirmed the enhanced immunogenicity elicited by cetuximab in a mouse model of human EGFR-expressing CRC. Overall, we demonstrate a new, immune-related mechanism of action of cetuximab that may help to tailor personalized medicine.

The integration of endocytic routes is critical to regulate receptor signaling. A non-clathrin endocytic pathway (NCE) of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is activated at high ligand concentrations and targets receptors to degradation, attenuating signaling. Here we performed an unbiased molecular characterization of EGFR-NCE. We identified NCE-specific regulators, including the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident protein reticulon-3 (RTN3), and a specific cargo, CD147. RTN3 was critical for EGFR/CD147-NCE, promoting the creation of plasma membrane (PM)-ER contact sites that were required for the formation/maturation of NCE invaginations. Ca 2+ release at these sites, triggered by IP3-dependent activation of ER Ca 2+ channels, was needed for the completion of EGFR internalization. Thus, we identified a mechanism of EGFR endocytosis that relies on ER-PM contact sites and local Ca 2+ signaling. This manuscript has been accepted for publication in Science and it is under embargo until the publication date. This version has not undergone final editing. Please refer to the complete version of record at http://www.sciencemag.org/. The manuscript may not be reproduced or used in any manner that does not fall within the fair use provisions of the Copyright Act without the prior, written permission of AAAS.Correspondence

Summary Adaptor protein 2 (AP2) is a major constituent of clathrin-coated pits (CCPs). Whether it is essential for all forms of clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) in mammalian cells is an open issue. Here, we demonstrate, by live TIRF microscopy, the existence of a subclass of relatively short-lived CCPs lacking AP2 under physiological, unperturbed conditions. This subclass is retained in AP2-knockout cells and is able to support the internalization of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) but not of transferrin receptor (TfR). The AP2-independent internalization mechanism relies on the endocytic adaptors eps15, eps15L1, and epsin1. The absence of AP2 impairs the recycling of the EGFR to the cell surface, thereby augmenting its degradation. Accordingly, under conditions of AP2 ablation, we detected dampening of EGFR-dependent AKT signaling and cell migration, arguing that distinct classes of CCPs could provide specialized functions in regulating EGFR recycling and signaling.

Ubiquitination of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) that occurs when Cbl and Grb2 bind to three phosphotyrosine residues (pY1045, pY1068 and pY1086) on the receptor displays a sharp threshold effect as a function of EGF concentration. Here we use a simple modelling approach together with experiments to show that the establishment of the threshold requires both the multiplicity of binding sites and cooperative binding of Cbl and Grb2 to the EGFR. While the threshold is remarkably robust, a more sophisticated model predicted that it could be modulated as a function of EGFR levels on the cell surface. We confirmed experimentally that the system has evolved to perform optimally at physiological levels of EGFR. As a consequence, this system displays an intrinsic weakness that causes—at the supraphysiological levels of receptor and/or ligand associated with cancer—uncoupling of the mechanisms leading to signalling through phosphorylation and attenuation through ubiquitination.

IGF system contributes significantly to many human malignancies. Targeting IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) has been reported to be active against several tumors, but particular efficacy was observed only against a minority of Ewing's sarcoma patients. Identification of mechanisms of acquired resistance to anti-IGF-IR agents is mandatory to individualize their use in clinics and optimize cure costs. In this study, we compared gene expression profiles of cells made resistant with three different anti-IGF-IR drugs (human antibodies AVE1642, Figitumumab, or tyrosine kinase inhibitor NVP-AEW541) to highlight common and distinctive mechanisms of resistance. Among common mechanisms, we identified two molecular signatures that distinguish sensitive from resistant cells. Annotation analysis indicated some common altered pathways, such as insulin signaling, MAPK pathway, endocytosis, and modulation of some members of the interferon-induced transmembrane protein family. Among distinctive pathways/processes, resistance to human antibodies involves mainly genes regulating neural differentiation and angiogenesis, whereas resistance to NVP-AEW541 is mainly associated with alterations in genes concerning inflammation and antigen presentation. Evaluation of the common altered pathways indicated that resistant cells seem to maintain intact the IGF-IR internalization/degradation route of sensitive cells but constantly down-regulated its expression. In resistant cells, the loss of proliferative stimulus, normally sustained by IGF-I/IGF-IR autocrine loop in Ewing's sarcoma cells, is compensated by transcriptional up-regulation of IGF-II and insulin receptor-A; this signaling seems to favor the MAPK pathway over the v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 pathway. Overall, complexity of IGF system requires analytical evaluation of its components to select those patients that may really benefit from this targeted therapy and support the idea of cotargeting IGF-IR and insulin receptor-A to increase the efficacy.

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The post-translational regulation of transferrin receptor (TfR1) is largely unknown. We investigated whether iron availability affects TfR1 endocytic cycle and protein stability in HepG2 hepatoma cells exposed to ferric ammonium citrate (FAC). NH4Cl and bafilomycin A1, but not the proteasomal inhibitor MG132, prevented the FAC-mediated decrease in TfR1 protein levels, thus indicating lysosomal involvement. Knock-down experiments showed that TfR1 lysosomal degradation is independent of: 1) endocytosis mediated by the clathrin adaptor AP2; 2) Tf, which was suggested to facilitate TfR1 internalization; 3) H-Ferritin and 4) MARCH8, previously implicated in TfR1 degradation. Notably, FAC decreased the number of TfR1 molecules at the cell surface and increased the Tf endocytic rate. Colocalization experiments confirmed that, upon FAC treatment, TfR1 was endocytosed in an AP2- and Tf-independent pathway and trafficked to the lysosome for degradation. This unconventional endocytic regulatory mechanism aimed at reducing surface TfR1 may represent an additional post-translational control to prevent iron overload. Our results show that iron is a key regulator of the trafficking of TfR1, which has been widely used to study endocytosis often not considering its function in iron homeostasis.