Ewa M. Rakowicz-Szulczynska

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and monoclonal antibody to cell surface EGF receptor bind to the same chromatin receptor

Cellular uptake, nuclear translocation, and chromatin binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the protein domain of the EGF surface receptor (MAb 425) and against the carbohydrate Y determinant on the EGF receptor (MAb Br 15-6A) were analyzed in cell lines that express surface EGF receptor. Both EGF and MAb 425 were translocated to the nucleus and bound in nondegraded form to the chromatin of all cells tested. MAb Br 15-6A was taken up only by SW 948 colorectal carcinoma cells which express EGF receptor whereas neither EGF nor MAb 425 was taken up by SW 707 colorectal carcinoma cells which do not express EGF receptor. MAb 425 immunoprecipitated a 230- to 250-kDa chromatin protein, which appears to be the EGF chromatin receptor. EGF was localized in a single EcoRI DNA fragment suggesting that the chromatin binding was highly specific. Binding of EGF to primarily DNase II-sensitive chromatin regions protected these regions from nuclease action. The role of growth factor binding to chromatin in neoplastic transformation is discussed.

Identification of NGF receptor in chromatin of melanoma cells using monoclonal antibody to cell surface NGF receptor.

A 230 KDa species of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) receptor was immunoprecipitated from EcoRI-digested chromatin of melanoma cells using a monoclonal antibody to the 75 KDa cell surface NGF receptor. The chromatin NGF receptor was shown to exist tightly bound to DNase II-sensitive sequences which, upon growth factor binding, became resistant to DNase II digestion.

Antagonistic effect of PDGF and NGF on transcription of ribosomal DNA and tumor cell proliferation

The molecular mechanism by which NGF and PDGF affect growth of tumor cells was tested in human melanoma WM 266-4 and colorectal carcinoma SW 707 cell lines. We present evidence that NGF translocated to the nucleus and bound to the chromatin of SW 707 cells, which express the cell surface and the chromatin receptor for NGF, inhibits ribosomal RNA synthesis which in consequence leads to inhibition of cell proliferation. In WM 266-4 cells, which do not express NGF receptor, NGF does not affect cell proliferation. In contrast, PDGF translocated to the nucleus of both SW 707 and WM 266-4 cells activates ribosomal RNA synthesis. We report here that NGF abolishes PDGF-activated ribosomal RNA synthesis and PDGF-stimulated growth of tumor cells.

Nuclear uptake of monoclonal antibody to a surface glycoprotein and its effect on transcription

Nuclear transport and chromatin binding of monoclonal antibody (MAb) ME491, directed against a cell surface glycoprotein, was tested in intact cells and in a cell-free system. After a 24-h incubation with 125I-MAb ME491, the chromatin of melanoma cells and of colorectal carcinoma cells contained approximately 10 and 20%, respectively, of the antibody in nondegraded form. 125I-MAb ME491 was bound to a 55-kDa chromatin protein and localized in two HincII-digested chromatin fragments. Taken up by the nucleus, MAb ME491 inhibited transcription of ribosomal RNA genes by 70%. Nuclear uptake of 125I-MAb ME491 was increased up to ninefold when cells were preincubated with puromycin or actinomycin D. Nuclear uptake of MAb ME491 in a cell-free system was inhibited by ME491 antigen newly synthesized in the cytoplasm. Binding of 125I-MAb ME491 to the newly synthesized ME491 antigen caused precipitation of polysome-bound ME491 mRNA. The effect of MAb ME491 on transcription is discussed.

Rapid and sensitive method to detect expression of growth factor receptors

A sensitive method to analyze growth factor receptor expression is described that is based on precipitation of the receptor by the growth factor. The precipitate that forms after incubation of pure, membrane-free cytoplasm with the growth factor contains both the receptor and the corresponding mRNA. With this method, nerve growth factor (NGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors were detected in several tumor cell lines thought previously to be receptor-negative. This method is more sensitive than existing cell surface approaches, permitting the detection of growth factor receptor synthesis even in the absence of detectable cell surface expression. The method is comparable in sensitivity to Northern blot hybridization but does not require DNA probes.

Expression of A-type PDGF receptor in cytoplasm of tumor cell lines synthesizing PDGF☆

Two tumor cell lines, WM 266-4 melanoma and SW 707 colorectal carcinoma, both of which synthesize platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) but do not express cell surface PDGF receptor, were tested for the presence of intracytoplasmic PDGF receptor. Using a novel method of intracytoplasmic (newly synthesized), receptor precipitation by the growth factor, we identified a 125,000 molecular weight protein crosslinked with 125I-labeled PDGF in a 140,000 molecular weight complex. In vitro translation of the corresponding mRNA revealed a 125,000 molecular weight product which presumably represents the A-type PDGF receptor. Exogenous PDGF was found to activate synthesis of RNA and cell proliferation.

Gamma-Interferon-Induced Nerve Growth Factor Receptors in Colorectal Carcinoma Cell Lines

Gamma-interferon (gamma IFN) was found to induce expression of the 150,000 M(r) cell surface and the 35,000 M(r) chromatin receptors for nerve growth factor (NGF) in the SW1116 colorectal carcinoma cell line that does not express NGF receptors. In the SW707 colorectal carcinoma cell line that expresses a low level of NGF receptors, gamma IFN stimulated expression of the cell surface and the nuclear receptors. Induction of NGF receptors in SW1116 cells resulted in internalization and nuclear translocation of 125I-NGF. When NGF bound to the chromatin, ribosomal RNA synthesis was inhibited. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of [35S]methionine-labeled chromatin proteins indicated significant changes in chromatin protein composition in cells treated and not-treated with gamma IFN. gamma IFN effectively stimulated the expression of NGF receptors in two colorectal carcinoma cell lines, but inhibited the expression in melanoma and breast carcinoma cells. It is suggested that gamma IFN, by modulating the expression of NGF receptors may affect the NGF-dependent growth of some tumor cell lines.