Enterophilin-1, a new partner of sorting nexin 1, decreases cell surface epidermal growth factor receptor

J Biol Chem. 2003 Jun 6;278(23):21155-61. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M211008200. Epub 2003 Mar 25.

Abstract

We previously described enterophilin-1 (Ent-1), a new intestinal protein bearing an extended leucine zipper and a B30.2 domain. Ent-1 expression is associated with growth arrest and enterocyte differentiation. To investigate the importance of Ent-1 in the differentiation, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screening. We identified sorting nexin 1 (SNX1) as a novel partner of Ent-1 and confirmed the specificity of interaction by co-immunoprecipitation experiments in mammalian cells. SNX1 is associated with endosomal membranes and triggers the endosome-to-lysosome pathway of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). We observe by immunofluorescence microscopy that Ent-1 and SNX1 are co-localized on vesicular and tubulovesicular structures, which are different from early endosome antigen 1-containing endosomes. By gel filtration chromatography, we show that Ent-1 and SNX1 co-eluted in macromolecular complexes containing part of EGFR. Furthermore, overexpressed Ent-1 decreases cell surface EGFR. Ent-1 and SNX1 co-overexpression strongly extends EGFR diminution, indicating a synergetic effect of both proteins on cell surface EGFR removal. Interestingly, the increase of endogenous Ent-1 expression correlates with the decrease of EGFR during spontaneous differentiation of Caco-2 cells. We thus propose a role of Ent-1 in the trafficking of EGFR to down-regulate intestinal mitogenic signals, highlighting the mechanisms of cell growth arrest associated with enterocytic differentiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Endocytosis / physiology*
  • Endosomes / metabolism
  • Enterocytes / cytology
  • Enterocytes / metabolism
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism*
  • Gene Library
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Kidney / cytology
  • Lysosomes / metabolism
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Transport / physiology
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins
  • enterophilin-1
  • ErbB Receptors