MET amplification leads to gefitinib resistance in lung cancer by activating ERBB3 signaling

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitors gefitinib and erlotinib are effective treatments for lung cancers with EGFR activating mutations, but these tumors invariably develop drug resistance. Here, we describe a gefitinib-sensitive lung cancer cell line that developed resistance to gefitinib as a result of focal amplification of the MET proto-oncogene. inhibition of MET signaling in these cells restored their sensitivity to gefitinib. MET amplification was detected in 4 of 18 (22%) lung cancer specimens that had developed resistance to gefitinib or erlotinib. We find that amplification of MET causes gefitinib resistance by driving ERBB3 (HER3)-dependent activation of PI3K, a pathway thought to be specific to EGFR/ERBB family receptors. Thus, we propose that MET amplification may promote drug resistance in other ERBB-driven cancers as well.     

EGF receptor and erbB-2 tyrosine kinase domains confer cell specificity for mitogenic signaling

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) can efficiently couple with mitogenic signaling pathways when it is transfected into interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent 32D hematopoietic cells. When expression vectors for erbB-2, which is structurally related to EGFR, or its truncated counterpart, delta NerbB-2, were introduced into 32D cells, neither was capable of inducing proliferation. This was despite overexpression and constitutive tyrosine kinase activity of their products at levels associated with potent transformation of fibroblast target cells. Thus, EGFR and erbB-2 couple with distinct mitogenic signaling pathways. The region responsible for the specificity of intracellular signal transduction was localized to a 270-amino acid stretch encompassing their respective tyrosine kinase domains. Thus, tissue- or cell-specific regulation of growth factor receptor signaling can occur at a point after the initial interaction of growth factor with receptor. Such specificity in signal transduction may account for the selection of certain oncogenes in some malignancies.     

Chimeric NGF-EGF receptors define domains responsible for neuronal differentiation

To determine the domains of the low-affinity nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor required for appropriate signal transduction, a series of hybrid receptors were constructed that consisted of the extracellular ligand-binding domain of the human epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) fused to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the human low-affinity NGF receptor (NGFR). Transfection of these chimeric receptors into rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells resulted in appropriate cell surface expression. Biological activity mediated by the EGF-NGF chimeric receptor was assayed by the induction of neurite outgrowth in response to EGF in stably transfected cells. Furthermore, the chimeric receptor mediated nuclear signaling, as evidenced by the specific induction of transin messenger RNA, an NGF-responsive gene. Neurite outgrowth was not observed with chimeric receptors that contained the transmembrane domain from the EGFR, suggesting that the membrane-spanning region and cytoplasmic domain of the low-affinity NGFR are necessary for signal transduction.     

乳腺肿瘤基质金属蛋白酶-13的表达及其临床意义

目的探讨乳腺肿瘤中基质金属蛋白酶（MMP）-13的表达及其与其他生物学指标和临床预后的关系。方法采用组织芯片及免疫组织化学SP法检测183例乳腺癌组织和30例乳腺良性疾病组织中MMP-13、ER、PR、HER2、MMP-2、MMP9、表皮生长因子受体（EGFR）、基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子TIMP-1、TIMP-2的表达并分析相互关系,同时分析MMP-13与肿瘤临床病理分期、淋巴结转移状态、组织学分级、肿瘤大小、年龄、月经状态、病理类型、雌孕激素受体状态以及临床预后等的关系。结果MMP-13的表达与TIMP-1、TIMP-2均呈负相关,与HER2的表达呈正相关,而与ER、PR、MMP-2、MMP-9、EGFR的表达水平不相关。MMP-13的表达与淋巴结转移和高组织学分级相关（均P〈0．01）。MMP-13低表达组10年生存率与高表达组10年生存率差异有统计学意义（98．4％vs68．3％,P〈0．01）。结论MMP-13蛋白与浸润性乳腺癌的侵袭和转移相关,可作为判断预后不良的指标。     

Epidermal-growth-factor-dependent transformation by a human EGF receptor proto-oncogene

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor gene EGFR has been placed in a retrovirus vector to examine the growth properties of cells that experimentally overproduce a full-length EGF receptor. NIH 3T3 cells transfected with the viral DNA or infected with the corresponding rescued retrovirus developed a fully transformed phenotype in vitro that required both functional EGFR expression and the presence of EGF in the growth medium. Cells expressing 4 x 10(5) EGF receptors formed tumors in nude mice, while control cells did not. Therefore, the EGFR retrovirus, which had a titer on NIH 3T3 cells that was greater than 10(7) focus-forming units per milliliter, can efficiently transfer and express this gene, and increased numbers of EGF receptors can contribute to the transformed phenotype.     

Leg patterning driven by proximal-distal interactions and EGFR signaling

wingless and decapentaplegic signaling establishes the proximal-distal axis of Drosophila legs by activating the expression of genes such as Distalless and dachshund in broad proximal-distal domains during early leg development. However, here we show that wingless and decapentaplegic are not required throughout all of proximal-distal development. The tarsus, which has been proposed to be an ancestral structure, is instead defined by the activity of Distalless, dachshund, and a distal gradient of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-Ras signaling. Our results uncover a mechanism for appendage patterning directed by genes expressed in proximal-distal domains and possibly conserved in other arthropods and vertebrates.     

Protein kinase inhibitors: insights into drug design from structure

Protein kinases are targets for treatment of a number of diseases. This review focuses on kinase inhibitors that are in the clinic or in clinical trials and for which structural information is available. Structures have informed drug design and have illuminated the mechanism of inhibition. We review progress with the receptor tyrosine kinases (growth factor receptors EGFR, VEGFR, and FGFR) and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases (Bcr-Abl), where advances have been made with cancer therapeutic agents such as Herceptin and Gleevec. Among the serine-threonine kinases, p38, Rho-kinase, cyclin-dependent kinases, and Chk1 have been targeted with productive results for inflammation and cancer. Structures have provided insights into targeting the inactive or active form of the kinase, for targeting the global constellation of residues at the ATP site or less conserved additional pockets or single residues, and into targeting noncatalytic domains.     

Direct interaction of a ligand for the erbB2 oncogene product with the EGF receptor and p185erbB2

The erbB2 oncogene encodes a 185-kilodalton transmembrane protein whose sequence is similar to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). A 30-kilodalton factor (gp30) secreted from MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells was shown to be a ligand for p185erbB2. An antibody to EGFR abolished the tyrosine phosphorylation induced by EGF and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) but only partially blocked that produced by gp30 in SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells. In two cell lines that overexpress erbB2 but do not expresss EGFR (MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cells and a Chinese hamster ovary cell line that had been transfected with erbB2), phosphorylation of p185erbB2 was induced only by gp30. The gp30 specifically inhibited the growth of cells that overexpressed p185erbB2. An antibody to EGFR had no effect on the inhibition of SK-BR-3 cell colony formation obtained with gp30. Thus, it appeared that gp30 interacted directly with the EGFR and erbB2. Direct binding of gp30 to p185erbB2 was confirmed by binding competition experiments, where gp30 was found to displace the p185erbB2 binding of a specific antibody to p185erbB2. The evidence described here suggests that gp30 is a ligand for p185erbB2.     

毛竹GRF基因家族全基因组鉴定与表达分析

  目的  探究毛竹Phyllostachys edulis GRF基因家族的性质、结构特点以及在不同组织中的表达水平,为进一步研究GRF在毛竹生长发育中的分子作用机制奠定基础。  方法  采用生物信息学方法,对毛竹全基因组和转录组信息进行分析,筛选出13个毛竹GRF基因家族成员,并对GRF基因家族的理化性质、进化、基因结构、保守结构域、启动子、基因家族表达模式及三级结构进行分析。  结果  毛竹GRF基因家族成员按照其在scaffold上分布的位置,分别被命名为PeGRF01~PeGRF13;将含有3个内含子的PeGRF04和PeGRF12归为非ε组,其余为ε组。毛竹各GRF基因家族成员理化性质存在一定的差异,但是其结构域相对保守,均含有14/3/3结构域。毛竹GRF家族启动子区含有大量与光响应、低温响应、激素调控等相关的顺式作用元件。毛竹GRF存在基因复制扩增的现象,与水稻Oryza sativa的共线性关系明显高于拟南芥Arabidopsis thaliana。毛竹GRF在不同组织器官中均有表达,各家族成员的表达量存在差异;在毛竹花和根组织中的表达量略高于叶和鞭,同时家族成员间的表达量也存在一定差异。GRF蛋白质由2个单体构成,每个单体由9个α-螺旋构成,整体结构呈“W”型。  结论  毛竹GRF基因家族具有典型的14/3/3结构域,可能参与根、鞭、叶、花序及笋芽的生长发育过程。图6表1参39     

驯鹿EGFR基因克隆及序列分析

以快速生长期雄性驯鹿(Rangifer tarandus)鹿茸顶端表皮组织为研究材料,提取其顶端表皮组织总RNA,参考GenBank数据库中牛、羊的表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)基因序列设计同源引物;采用RT-PCR技术、分子克隆技术首次成功获得雄性驯鹿茸顶端表皮组织EGFR基因编码区部分cDNA序列,片段大小为910 bp;Blast比对发现驯鹿EGFR基因与牛、羊、马、人、鲸、野猪的同源性分别是97%、96%、88%、86%、92%、89%,同源性均在85%以上,表明驯鹿EGFR基因在进化上比较保守;构建系统进化树发现驯鹿EGFR基因与牛亲缘关系最近,与人的亲缘关系最远;最后通过在线分析软件预测获得EGFR基因序列对应mRNA最小自由能二级结构。     

Guidance of cell migration by EGF receptor signaling during Drosophila oogenesis

Directed cell migration is important for many aspects of normal animal development, but little is known about how cell migrations are guided or the mechanisms by which guidance cues are translated into directed cell movement. Here we present evidence that signaling mediated by the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) guides dorsal migration of border cells during Drosophila oogenesis. The transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha)-like ligand Gurken appears to serve as the guidance cue. To mediate this guidance function, EGFR signals via a pathway that is independent of Raf-MAP kinase and receptor-specific.     

EGFR mutations in lung cancer: correlation with clinical response to gefitinib therapy

Receptor tyrosine kinase genes were sequenced in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and matched normal tissue. Somatic mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene EGFR were found in 15of 58 unselected tumors from Japan and 1 of 61 from the United States. Treatment with the EGFR kinase inhibitor gefitinib (Iressa) causes tumor regression in some patients with NSCLC, more frequently in Japan. EGFR mutations were found in additional lung cancer samples from U.S. patients who responded to gefitinib therapy and in a lung adenocarcinoma cell line that was hypersensitive to growth inhibition by gefitinib, but not in gefitinib-insensitive tumors or cell lines. These results suggest that EGFR mutations may predict sensitivity to gefitinib.     

EGFR activation mediates inhibition of axon regeneration by myelin and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans

Inhibitory molecules associated with myelin and the glial scar limit axon regeneration in the adult central nervous system (CNS), but the underlying signaling mechanisms of regeneration inhibition are not fully understood. Here, we show that suppressing the kinase function of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) blocks the activities of both myelin inhibitors and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in inhibiting neurite outgrowth. In addition, regeneration inhibitors trigger the phosphorylation of EGFR in a calcium-dependent manner. Local administration of EGFR inhibitors promotes significant regeneration of injured optic nerve fibers, pointing to a promising therapeutic avenue for enhancing axon regeneration after CNS injury.     

表皮生长因子受体在妊娠滋养细胞疾病的表达及其意义

目的：研究表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)在妊娠滋养细胞疾病的表达及其临床意义。方法：采用免疫组化方法，检测石蜡包埋的l05例妊娠滋养细胞疾病和20例正常早孕绒毛组织EGFR蛋白表达水平。结果：EGFR蛋白在妊娠滋养细胞疾病和正常早孕绒毛中均有不同程度的表达，在合体滋养层中，妊娠滋养细胞疾病和正常早孕绒毛组织均强烈表达EGFR蛋白，它们之间的表达差异无显著性。在细胞滋养层，正常早孕绒毛EGFR蛋白表达显著高于葡萄胎(P＜0．01)，葡萄胎EGFR蛋白表达显著高于侵蚀性葡萄胎和绒癌(P＜0．01)，EGFR蛋白表达在侵蚀性葡萄胎和绒癌之间差异无显著性(P＞0．05)。EGFR蛋白表达水平与滋养细胞肿瘤临床指标无关。结论：EGFR表达降低反映了在妊娠滋养细胞疾病发生发展过程中EGFR起重要作用。     

小麦IQM基因家族鉴定及非生物胁迫下表达分析

IQM基因是钙调素结合蛋白家族中的重要分支,在植物生长发育和应激反应中发挥重要作用。本研究利用生物信息学方法在小麦全基因组中鉴定出23个IQM基因家族成员,对其染色体位置、理化性质、系统进化关系、基因结构、蛋白保守结构域、启动子顺式作用元件和基因表达特性等进行了系统分析。结果表明,TaIQM基因家族成员随机分布在小麦18条染色体上,亚细胞定位结果显示所有基因均位于细胞核中,系统进化分析将其分为3个亚类,同一亚类间基因结构、蛋白保守结构域相似度较高,推测其功能相似;顺式作用元件分析表明,TaIQM基因家族成员启动子中含有多种与逆境胁迫及生长发育相关顺式作用元件;转录组数据分析显示,TaIQM基因家族成员在不同时期的根、茎、叶、穗和籽粒中表达量存在显著性差异;qRT-PCR分析显示,在小麦苗期地上部和地下部,TaIQM基因响应干旱、低温、高温、NaCl、ABA等多种胁迫,显示上调或下调表达。初步推断这些基因可能通过Ca²⁺信号通路参与非生物胁迫调控,研究结果为全面解析TaIQM基因结构与生物学功能、非生物胁迫响应分子机制提供依据。     

Purification and complementary DNA cloning of a receptor for basic fibroblast growth factor

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) participates in many processes including early developmental events, angiogenesis, wound healing, and maintenance of neuronal cell viability. A 130-kilodalton protein was isolated on the basis of its ability to specifically bind to bFGF. A complementary DNA clone was isolated with an oligonucleotide probe corresponding to determined amino acid sequences of tryptic peptide fragments of the purified protein. The putative bFGF receptor encoded by this complementary DNA is a transmembrane protein that contains three extracellular immunoglobulin-like domains, an unusual acidic region, and an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain. These domains are arranged in a pattern that is different from that of any growth factor receptor described.     

玉米大斑病菌Homeobox转录因子家族全基因组鉴定及其表达规律分析

【目的】从全基因组水平上鉴定玉米大斑病菌(Setosphaeria turcica)Homeobox转录因子家族及其分布,阐明该家族的序列及进化特征,分析该家族基因在病菌不同生长发育时期的表达规律。【方法】利用生物信息学手段搜索玉米大斑病菌全基因组数据库,鉴定Homeobox转录因子家族;采用MEGA 5.0软件进行系统进化树分析;利用在线工具GSDS(gene structure display server)(http://gsds1.cbi.pku.edu.cn/index.php)绘制基因结构图;利用Clustal X 1.83软件分析Homeobox保守结构域(HOX保守结构域)的氨基酸序列特征;利用SOPMA(https://npsa-prabi.ibcp.fr/cgi-bin/npsa_automat.plpage=npsa_sopma.html)对Homeobox蛋白的二级结构进行在线预测;利用实时荧光定量PCR(q RT-PCR)技术分析Homeobox转录因子家族在病菌不同发育时期的表达模式。【结果】在玉米大斑病菌中鉴定了8个Homeobox转录因子家族成员(St HTF1-8),根据基因结构及系统进化特征将其分为4类;亚细胞定位预测分析表明,这8个蛋白全部定位在细胞核中;该家族成员均含有HOX保守结构域,其二级结构具有特征性的"螺旋-转角-螺旋"(helix-turn-helix)结构;利用q RT-PCR技术对该家族成员在菌丝、分生孢子形成、芽管形成、附着胞及侵入丝形成等5个时期的表达规律分析,发现不同基因在病菌不同发育时期具有不同的表达水平,其中St HTF1在菌丝发育、分生孢子及附着胞形成等3个时期的表达水平相对较高,St HTF3、St HTF4在分生孢子形成时期表达水平最高,St HTF6在芽管形成时期的表达水平最高,St HTF2、St HTF5、St HTF7和St HTF8在附着胞形成时期的表达水平均较高。【结论】玉米大斑病菌包括Homeobox转录因子家族包含8个成员,在进化上分为4大类,全部成员均分布在细胞核内,其编码蛋白质均含有保守的HOX结构域及"螺旋-转角-螺旋"空间结构;该基因家族成员在病菌不同发育时期呈现不同的表达规律。     

近红外量子点表皮生长因子单克隆抗体荧光探针对金黄地鼠颊黏膜癌变过程的动态可视化荧光成像研究

目的 利用近红外量子点表皮生长因子单克隆抗体荧光探针对由9,10-二甲基1,2苯并蒽（9,10-dimethylen-1,2-benzanthracene,DMBA）诱导建立的金黄地鼠颊黏膜癌变过程进行动态可视化荧光成像研究。方法 （1）用0.5%DMBA丙酮液诱导建立金黄地鼠颊黏膜癌变各期模型;（2）将水溶性近红外荧光量子点（QD800）表面功能性的修饰藕连表皮生长因子受体单克隆抗体（EGFR mAb）后,形成具有靶向功能性的QD800-EGFR mAb荧光探针;（3）将QD800-EGFR mAb经金黄地鼠各期癌变模型尾静脉注射入血液循环系统以靶向适配原理显示其颊黏膜动态癌变过程荧光图像。结果 （1）QD800-EGFR mAb能够通过血液循环系统与金黄地鼠颊黏膜癌变细胞上的EGFR特异性的靶向适配并荧光显影;（2）QD800-EGFR mAb显示的荧光图像随着金黄地鼠颊黏膜癌变程度的加深而增强,且能准确地显示癌灶的形状及浸润深度。结论 QD800-EGFR mAb通过与口腔癌不同癌变阶段癌细胞表面的EGFR靶向性适配结合来显示个体化荧光图像,可能对以后临床研究口腔癌的发生发展及转移规律发挥巨大的影响。     

The LDL receptor gene: a mosaic of exons shared with different proteins

The multifunctional nature of coated pit receptors predicts that these proteins will contain multiple domains. To establish the genetic basis for these domains (LDL) receptor. This gene is more than 45 kilobases in length and contains 18 exons, most of which correlate with functional domains previously defined at the protein level. Thirteen of the 18 exons encode protein sequences that are homologous to sequences in other proteins: five of these exons encode a sequence similar to one in the C9 component of complement; three exons encode a sequence similar to a repeat sequence in the precursor for epidermal growth factor (EGF) and in three proteins of the blood clotting system (factor IX, factor X, and protein C); and five other exons encode nonrepeated sequences that are shared only with the EGF precursor. The LDL receptor appears to be a mosaic protein built up of exons shared with different proteins, and it therefore belongs to several supergene families.