The role of individual SH2 domains in mediating association of phospholipase C-γ1 with the activated EGF receptor

The two SH2 (Src homology domain 2) domains present in phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma 1) were assayed for their capacities to recognize the five autophosphorylation sites in the epidermal growth factor receptor. Plasmon resonance and immunological techniques were employed to measure interactions between SH2 fusion proteins and phosphotyrosine-containing peptides. The N-SH2 domain recognized peptides in the order of pY1173 > pY992 > pY1068 > pY1148 much greater than pY1086, while the C-SH2 domain recognized peptides in the order of pY992 > pY1068 > pY1148 much greater than pY1086 and pY1173. The major autophosphorylation site, pY1173, was recognized only by the N-SH2 domain. Contributions of the N-SH2 and C-SH2 domains to the association of the intact PLC-gamma 1 molecule with the activated epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor were assessed in vivo. Loss of function mutants of each SH2 domain were produced in a full-length epitope-tagged PLC-gamma 1. After expression of the mutants, cells were treated with EGF and association of exogenous PLC-gamma 1 with EGF receptors was measured. In this context the N-SH2 is the primary contributor to PLC-gamma 1 association with the EGF receptor. The combined results suggest an association mechanism involving the N-SH2 domain and the pY1173 autophosphorylation site as a primary event and the C-SH2 domain and the pY992 autophosphorylation site as a secondary event.