EGF triggers neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells that overexpress the EGF receptor

Sarah Traverse, Klaus Seedorf, Hugh Paterson, Chris J. Marshall, Philip Cohen, Axel Ullrich

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    443 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase is the central component of a signal transduction pathway that is activated by growth factors interacting with receptors that have protein tyrosine kinase activity. The stimulation of PC12 phaeochromocytoma cells with nerve growth factor leads to the sustained activation and nuclear translocation of the p42 and p44 isoforms of MAP kinase and induces the differentiation of these chromaffin cells to a sympathetic-neuron-like phenotype. In contrast, stimulation with epidermal growth factor induces a transient activation of p42 and p44 MAP kinases without pronounced nuclear translocation and does not trigger cell differentiation. We have examined whether the differential activation of MAP kinases forms the basis of the differential response of the cells to the two factors. Results By overexpressing either wild-type or mutant receptors for epidermal growth factor in PC12 cells, we found that p42 and p44 MAP kinase activity remains elevated for longer in cells that overexpress receptors than in untransfected cells. Epidermal growth factor promotes both a striking nuclear translocation of p42 MAP kinase and the differentiation of the overexpressing cells. Conclusion Our results strongly suggest that the distinct effects of nerve growth factor and epidermal growth factor on PC12 cell differentiation can be explained by differences in the extent and duration of activation of p42 and p44 MAP kinases in response to the two factors, without invoking a signal transduction pathway specific to nerve growth factor.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)694-701
    Number of pages8
    JournalCurrent Biology
    Volume4
    Issue number8
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Aug 1994

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
    • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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