The Rak/Frk tyrosine kinase associates with and internalizes the epidermal growth factor receptor

Oncogene. 2014 Jan 16;33(3):326-35. doi: 10.1038/onc.2012.589. Epub 2013 Jan 14.

Abstract

Src is the founding member of a diverse family of intracellular tyrosine kinases, and Src has a key role in promoting cancer growth, in part, through its association with receptor tyrosine kinases. However, some Src-related proteins have widely divergent physiological roles, and these proteins include the Rak/Frk tyrosine kinase (Frk stands for Fyn-related kinase), which inhibits cancer cell growth and suppresses tumorigenesis. Rak/Frk phosphorylates and stabilizes the Pten tumor suppressor, protecting it from degradation, and Rak/Frk associates with the retinoblastoma (Rb) tumor suppressor. However, the role of Rak/Frk in receptor-mediated signaling is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Rak/Frk associates with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), increasing in activity and EGFR binding after EGF stimulation, when it decreases the pool of EGFR present at the plasma membrane. EGFR-Rak binding is direct, requires the SH2 and SH3 domains of Rak/Frk for efficient complex formation and is not dependent on the Grb2 adaptor protein. EGFR mutations are associated with increased EGFR activity and tumorigenicity, and we found that Rak/Frk associates preferentially with an EGFR exon 19 mutant, EGFRΔ747-749/A750P, compared with wild-type EGFR. Furthermore, Rak/Frk inhibited mutant EGFR phosphorylation at an activating site and dramatically decreased the levels of EGFRΔ747-749/A750P from the plasma membrane. Taken together, the results suggest that Rak/Frk inhibits EGFR signaling in cancer cells and has elevated activity against EGFR exon 19 mutants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Endocytosis / drug effects
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / pharmacology
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism*
  • Exons / genetics
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • src Homology Domains / genetics

Substances

  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • FRK protein, human