EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR (EGF) RECEPTOR-T669 PEPTIDE KINASE FROM 3T3-L1 CELLS IS AN EGF-STIMULATED MAP KINASE

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is both an activator and a target of growth factor-stimulated kinases involved in cellular signaling. Threonine-669 (T669) of the EGF receptor is phosphorylated in response to a wide variety of growth-modulating agents. MAP kinase is similarly phosphorylated as well as stimulated by growth activators, including EGF. To determine whether a MAP-type kinase is responsible for T669 kinase activity in EGF-stimulated 3T3-L1 cells, we partially purified and characterized the T669 peptide kinase. The results indicate that a MAP kinase phosphorylates the T669 peptide and raise the possibility that this enzyme may participate in a feedback loop, being activated by the EGF receptor and in turn phosphorylating the receptor.