The development and neoplastic progression of human astrocytic tumors appears to result through an accumulation of genetic alterations occurring in a relatively defined order. One such alteration is amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene. This episomal amplification occurs in 40-50% of glioblastomas, which also normally express endogenous receptors. Moreover, a significant fraction of amplified genes are rearranged to speifically eliminate a DNA fragment containing exons 2-7 of the gene, resulting in an in-frame deletion of 801 bp of the coding sequence of the extracellular domain. Here we used retroviral transfer of such a mutant receptor (de 2-7 EGFR) into glioblastoma cells expressing normal endogenous receptors to test whether the mutant receptor was able to augment their growth and malignancy. Western blotting analysis showed that these cells expressed endogenous EGFR of 170 kDa as well as the exogenous de 2-7 EGFR of 140-155 kDa. Although holoEGFRs were phosphorylated on tyrosine residues only after exposure of the cells to liand, de 2-7 EGFRs were constitutively phosphorylated. In tissue culture neither addition ofEGF nor expression of the mutant EGFR affected the rate of cell growth. However, when cells expressing mutant EGFR were implanted into nude mice subcutaneously or intracerebrally, tumorigenic capacity was greatly enhanced. These results suggest that a tumor-specific alteration of the EGFR plays a significant role in tumor progression perhaps by influencing interactions oftumor cells with their microenvironment in ways not easily assayed in vitro.

Summary We show that the secreted antigen, IbpA, of the respiratory pathogen Histophilus somni induces cytotoxicity in mammalian cells via its Fic domains. Fic domains are defined by a core HPFxxGNGR motif and are conserved from bacteria to humans. We demonstrate that the Fic domains of IbpA catalyze a unique reversible adenylylation event that uses ATP to add an adenosine monophosphate (AMP) moiety to a conserved tyrosine residue in the switch I region of Rho GTPases. This modification requires the conserved histidine of the Fic core motif and renders Rho GTPases inactive. We further demonstrate that the only human protein containing a Fic domain, HYPE (Huntingtin yeast-interacting protein E), also adenylylates Rho GTPases in vitro. Thus, Fic domain containing proteins are a new class of enzymes that mediate bacterial pathogenesis as well as a previously unrecognized eukaryotic post-translational modification that may regulate key signaling events.

Many bacterial pathogens use the type III secretion system to inject "effector" proteins into host cells. Here, we report the identification of a 24 member effector protein family found in pathogens including Salmonella, Shigella, and enteropathogenic E. coli. Members of this family subvert host cell function by mimicking the signaling properties of Ras-like GTPases. The effector IpgB2 stimulates cellular responses analogous to GTP-active RhoA, whereas IpgB1 and Map function as the active forms of Rac1 and Cdc42, respectively. These effectors do not bind guanine nucleotides or have sequences corresponding the conserved GTPase domain, suggesting that they are functional but not structural mimics. However, several of these effectors harbor intracellular targeting sequences that contribute to their signaling specificities. The activities of IpgB2, IpgB1, and Map are dependent on an invariant WxxxE motif found in numerous effectors leading to the speculation that they all function by a similar molecular mechanism.

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is a transmembrane glycoprotein of relative molecular mass 170,000 with intrinsic ligand-dependent protein tyrosine kinase activity. Binding of EGF to its receptor activates a number of immediate biochemical processes, such as alterations of intracellular free calcium, pH, and increased transcription of several responsive genes, which usually culminate many hours later in DNA replication and cell division. Abolishing the tyrosine kinase activity of three related oncogenes, v-src, v-mos, and v-fps, eliminates their capacity to transform cell. Several reports have suggested that specific aspects of EGF receptor function are independent of the intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity; however, these studies used an antibody against EGF receptor which failed to activate phosphorylation of exogenous substrates and an insertional mutation in the EGF receptor tyrosine kinase domain which had not been shown to abolish protein kinase activity in cells. Because many transmembrane receptors interact with intrinsic membrane proteins to activate second messenger systems, it is important to resolve experimentally whether mechanisms, in addition to activation of the intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity, mediate some EGF actions. From functional analyses of an EGF receptor containing a single amino-acid mutation at a site required for phosphate transfer from ATP, we conclude that the tyrosine kinase activity of the EGF receptor is essential for the diverse biochemical effects of EGF, including rapid alterations in intracellular calcium, activation of gene transcription, receptor down-regulation and the ultimate stimulatory effects on cell proliferation.

Identification of a mutant epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor that does not undergo downregulation has provided a genetic probe to investigate the role of internalization in ligand-induced mitogenesis. Contact-inhibited cells expressing this internalization-defective receptor exhibited a normal mitogenic response at significantly lower ligand concentrations than did cells expressing wild-type receptors. A transformed phenotype and anchorage-independent growth were observed at ligand concentrations that failed to elicit these responses in cells expressing wild-type receptors. These findings imply that activation of the protein tyrosine kinase activity at the cell membrane is sufficient for the growth-enhancing effects of EGF. Thus, downregulation can serve as an attenuation mechanism, without which transformation ensues.

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Background: Adenylylation/AMPylation by Fic proteins alters cellular signaling. HYPE, the sole human Fic protein, is an adenylyltransferase. Results: BiP is identified as a substrate for HYPE. HYPE adenylylates BiP and is required for UPR induction. Conclusion: HYPE regulates ER homeostasis. Significance: Adenylylation/AMPylation is a new mode of UPR regulation. This is the first demonstration of a physiological role for human HYPE.

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