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The Journal of Neuroscience, September 1, 1998, 18(17):6767-6775

Cell Cycle Phase-Specific Surface Expression of Nerve Growth Factor Receptors TrkA and p75NTR

José Luis Urdiales1, Elena Becker2, Muriel Andrieu1, Annie Thomas1, Jérôme Jullien1, Leo A. van Grunsven1, Sophie Menut1, Gerard I. Evan3, Dionisio Martín-Zanca2, and Brian B. Rudkin1

1 Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Unité Mixte de Recherche 49, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France, 2 Instituto de Microbiología Bioquímica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain, and 3 Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London WC2A 3PX, United Kingdom

    ABSTRACT
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References

Expression of the nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors TrkA and p75NTR was found to vary at the surface of PC12 cells in a cell cycle phase-specific manner. This was evidenced by using flow cytometric and microscopic analysis of cell populations labeled with antibodies to the extracellular domains of both receptors. Differential expression of these receptors also was evidenced by biotinylation of surface proteins and Western analysis, using antibodies specific for the extracellular domains of TrkA and p75NTR. TrkA is expressed most strongly at the cell surface in M and early G1 phases, whereas p75NTR is expressed mainly in late G1, S, and G2 phases. This expression reflects the molecular and cellular responses to NGF in specific phases of the cell cycle; in the G1 phase NGF elicits both the anti-mitogenic effect, i.e., inhibition of the G1 to S transition, and the differentiation response whereas a survival effect is provoked elsewhere in the cell cycle. A model is proposed relating these responses to the surface expression of the two receptors. These observations open the way for novel approaches to the investigation of the mechanism of NGF signal transduction.

Key words: signaling; PC12 cells; TrkA antibodies; p75NTR antibodies; flow cytometry; cell cycle; neurotrophin; receptor

    INTRODUCTION
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is the prototypic member of the neurotrophin family of growth factors. Several cell types of neural crest origin require NGF for survival both in vivo and in vitro (Yankner and Shooter, 1982). Study of the mechanism by which NGF exerts its action is complicated by the presence of two receptors, the neurotrophin receptor p75NTR (Chao, 1994) and the receptor TrkA (Kaplan et al., 1991; Barbacid, 1994). Whereas some reports indicate that both receptors are required to transmit the NGF signal for differentiation (Lee et al., 1992; Battleman et al., 1993), others suggest that TrkA alone may be sufficient for certain actions (Jing et al., 1992) and p75NTR for others, such as the regulation of apoptosis (Rabizadeh et al., 1993; Casaccia-Bonnefil et al., 1996; Frade et al., 1996). PC12 cells, derived from a pheochromocytoma tumor of the rat adrenal medulla (Greene and Tischler, 1976), have become a principal model for the study of the NGF action. In the absence of NGF these cells proliferate and resemble chromaffin cells in their capacity to synthesize, store, and release catecholamines. In response to NGF, these cells stop dividing and extend neurites, differentiating into acetylcholinergic cells similar to those of the sympathetic nervous system.

Rudkin and colleagues (1989) have presented evidence for the cell cycle phase-specifc action of NGF. This neurotrophic factor can have a dual action on PC12 cells. During the G1 phase they respond to NGF by differentiating, whereas in the other phases NGF permits progression through the cell cycle. The anti-proliferative effect of NGF corresponds to an accumulation of cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle resulting from a block of the G1-to-S transition (van Grunsven et al., 1996a,b). NGF signal transduction is cell cycle phase-specific, as exemplified by a strong induction of the proto-oncogene c-fos in G1 phase but by little or no induction in the S or G2 phase (Rudkin et al., 1989). Because signal transduction starts at the receptors, the expression of those for NGF were investigated on PC12 cells in relation to the cell cycle.

Differential expression of the NGF receptor TrkA and the neurotrophin receptor p75NTR has been observed at the extracellular surface of exponentially growing PC12 cells. TrkA is expressed preferentially at the surface in early G1 and M phases of cell cycle and is not detectable in late G1, S, and G2 phases. Biotinylation of cell surface proteins in synchronized cultures has confirmed the differential surface expression of NGF receptors. These observations offer new insight into the mechanism of NGF signal transduction.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS
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Abstract
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References

Antibodies. Three antibodies specific for rat p75NTR were used: two different antibodies directed against the extracellular domain, the monoclonal antibody 192-IgG (1:1000 to 1:2000) (Boehringer Mannheim, France) or the rabbit serum REX (1:2000 to 1:4000) (from Dr. L. Reichardt, University of California, San Francisco, CA), and one rabbit serum containing antibodies directed against the intracellular portion of p75NTR "9993" (from Dr. M. Chao, Skirball Institute, New York, NY). Two different antibodies against the extracellular domain of rat TrkA were used: the RTA antibody (from Dr. L. Reichardt) and the antibody 267 (Ab267), which was produced in rabbits against a synthetic peptide within the extracellular domain of rat TrkA, amino acids 267-285. For affinity purification, either the sera or the IgG preparation was applied to a column prepared by coupling the antigenic peptide to CNBr-activated Sepharose CL-6B. Fractions containing antibody were pooled and concentrated to ~0.5 mg-1 mg/ml. This antibody was used at concentrations of 1:50 to 1:100. The antibody Sc414 was directed against amino acids 777-790 at the C terminus of rat TrkA (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Tebu, France) (1:40). Secondary antibodies for immunolabeling were affinity-purified sheep IgG (Boehringer Mannheim Biochemica, Bagnolet, France) or donkey F(Ab')2 anti-mouse (Jackson ImmunoResearch, West Grove, PA) and goat IgG (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) or donkey F(Ab')2 (Jackson ImmunoResearch) anti-rabbit labeled with FITC or R-Phycoerythrin. These were used at dilutions of 1:100 to 1:200.

Cell culture. PC12 cells were cultured routinely, as previously described (Rudkin et al., 1989). Under these growth conditions the population doubling time was 48-52 hr. The protocol for synchronization of the cultures by serum starvation also was followed as described in Rudkin et al. (1989).

Immunolabeling. Cells were harvested by mechanical agitation in PBS and then used either as live intact cells (no fixation or permeabilization) or fixed for 15 min at room temperature with 1% paraformaldehyde. The cells were treated with blocking buffer [2% bovine serum albumin (BSA; Sigma), 10% fetal calf serum (Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, MD), PBS Ca2+- and Mg2+-free (TechGen International, Paris, France) or DMEM (Life Technologies), and 0.02% sodium azide as preservative] and then exposed to appropriate dilutions of antibody in blocking buffer for 20 min on ice. After three washes in PBS, the cells were exposed to FITC- or Phycoerythrin-labeled second antibody used at dilutions of 1:200 in blocking buffer for 20 min on ice. For intracellular labeling the cells were grown on collagen poly-L-lysine-coated coverslips and fixed for 3 min with methanol (-20°C). Microscopic observation was with an Olympus Vanox AH2 fluorescence microscope (Tokyo, Japan).

Analysis of cell cycle distribution, subsequent to surface labeling with antibodies, was performed by fixing the cells in cold (-20°C) 70% ethanol for 30 min on ice, followed by one wash in PBS and treatment with RNase [Type 1 bovine pancreas (Sigma), 1 mg/ml PBS, and 0.13 mM EGTA] for 10 min at room temperature. Before analysis, propidium iodide (PI) was added to a final concentration of 5 µg/ml. Alternatively, Hoechst 33342 (HO42) was added to cell suspensions at a final concentration of 0.12 µg/ml. Cells were analyzed by flow cytometry as described below.

Flow cytometric analysis. Cells were immunolabeled as described above. Analysis was performed on a FACStar Plus flow cytometer (Becton Dickinson, Paris, France) equipped with a 100 mW argon laser tuned to 488 nm (Ion Laser Technology, Salt Lake City, UT). Emission fluorescence was measured with a DF 530/30 filter for FITC and a DF 575/26 filter for Phycoerythrin. When the fluorochrome Hoechst (HO42) was used, excitation was made with an INNOVA 300 ion laser tuned to multiline UV with HO42 emission fluorescence measured via a DF 424/44 filter. Data acquisition and analysis were performed with Lysis II software on a consort 340 computer (Hewlett Packard, Palo Alto, CA) or with CellQuest software on an Apple Macintosh 650 Quadra computer. In some experiments the cells were analyzed on a FACScan flow cytometer (Becton Dickinson) equipped with an argon ion laser tuned to 488 nm. Emission fluorescence was measured with a DF 530 filter for FITC and a DF 585 filter for PI.

Biotinylation of surface proteins. PC12 cells were synchronized by serum starvation and restimulated by serum addition, as previously described (Rudkin et al., 1989). At selected times the cells were harvested and biotinylated with the ECL protein biotinylation kit (Amersham, Les Ulis, France) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Cells were treated with lysis buffer [containing (in mM) 20 Tris-HCl, pH 8, 137 NaCl, 2 EDTA, 1.1 phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), and 1 sodium vanadate plus 10% glycerol, 1% Nonidet P-40, 0.15 U/ml aprotinin, and 20 µM leupeptin], and equivalent amounts of cells were precipitated with streptavidin-Sepharose (Pierce, Rockford, IL). Affinity precipitation and Western blotting were performed as previously described (van Grunsven et al., 1996a). Filters were analyzed by means of enhanced chemofluorescence (ECF; Amersham) according to the manufacturer's instructions, using a Storm PhosphorImager (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale, CA). The values obtained for TrkA or p75NTR were normalized to the signal obtained in serum-starved cells (considered as one).

    RESULTS
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Abstract
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References

Expression of NGF receptors

Exponentially growing PC12 cells were exposed to antibodies against the NGF receptors TrkA or p75NTR and observed by immunofluorescence under various experimental conditions. When paraformaldehyde-fixed, but nonpermeabilized, cells were exposed to antibodies against the extracellular domain of TrkA (e.g., RTA or Ab267), only a relatively small number of the cells in an exponentially growing population was labeled (routinely 10-30%) (Fig. 1A,B). Similar quantitative results were obtained when nonfixed cells were used, i.e., between 5 and 30% of the cell population was labeled. When several antibodies against specific sequences within the extracellular domain of TrkA were used simultaneously, the fluorescence intensity of the signal increased with no change in the percentage of cells labeled. Microscopic observation, after fixation and permeabilization, indicated that all of the cells expressed TrkA intracellularly in a perinuclear location (Fig. 1E,F). This distribution resembles that of membrane proteins, which are stored intracellularly (e.g., the glucose transporter Glut4) (Rea and James, 1997). When an antibody against the extracellular domain of p75NTR (192-IgG) was used on nonpermeabilized cells, between 70 and 95% of the population was labeled at the cell surface (Fig. 1C,D). Similar results were obtained with REX antibody. In permeabilized cells the labeling was also present at the cell membrane (Fig. 1G,H). This labeling pattern is characteristic of membrane proteins that are addressed constitutively to the plasma membrane (e.g., EGF receptor) (Ekstrand et al., 1995).


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  		Figure 1.   Expression of NGF receptors TrkA and p75NTR. Cell surface localization is shown in A, TrkA (Ab267), and in C, p75NTR (192-IgG). B, D, Light microscopic views of the fields in A and B, respectively. Intracellular localization is shown in E, TrkA (sc414), and in G, p75NTR (REX). F, H, Light microscopic views of the fields in E and G, respectively. Immunolabeling was performed as described in Materials and Methods. Scale bars, 10 µm.

Differential surface expression of TrkA and p75NTR

Figure 2 illustrates the results of a typical double-labeling experiment of nonfixed cells, using an affinity-purified polyclonal antibody (Ab267) against the extracellular portion of TrkA and a monoclonal antibody against the extracellular domain of p75NTR (192-IgG). Approximately 90% of the cells were p75NTR-positive (Fig. 2b), and only 10% were positive for TrkA (Fig. 2c). When both antibodies were used, a population having both TrkA and p75NTR was observed (Fig. 2d). Similar observations were made by using RTA and other antibodies directed against the extracellular domain of TrkA (data not shown). These results suggest that the cell population is heterogeneous with regard to surface expression of NGF receptors. This heterogeneity would appear to be a reflection of the normal physiological state of the cell population. Sorting experiments wherein enrichment in a specific cell population was performed, followed by reculture, indicated that the original receptor distribution can be obtained within three to five population doublings (data not shown).


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  		Figure 2.   Flow cytometric analysis of p75NTR and TrkA expression. Asynchronous cultures were exposed to 192-IgG (mouse monoclonal, b), affinity-purified Ab267 (rabbit polyclonal, c), or both together (d), as described in Figure 1, without fixation. The second antibodies were Phycoerythrin-labeled anti-mouse and FITC-labeled anti-rabbit. The control (a) is an incubation of both secondary antibodies together.

A function of cell cycle phase?

Our previous studies have indicated that the signal transmitted by NGF in PC12 cells is cell cycle phase-specific, e.g., the expression of the proto-oncogene c-fos was induced strongly in the G1 phase of the cell cycle but very weakly or not at all in S or G2 phase (Rudkin et al., 1989). The surface expression of NGF receptors was investigated throughout the cell cycle to evaluate if there is a correlation with the cell cycle phase-specific action of NGF. Figure 3 shows the expression of TrkA and p75NTR during the cell cycle of exponentially growing PC12 cells as evidenced with flow cytometric analysis of asynchronous cultures. Although p75NTR is expressed in essentially all phases of the cell cycle (Fig. 3b), TrkA is expressed mainly at the surface of cells with a 2c DNA content (i.e., G1) (Fig. 3c).


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  		Figure 3.   Cell cycle expression of NGF receptors. Shown are the simultaneous determination of cell cycle phase and the expression of p75NTR (192-IgG, b) and TrkA (Ab267, rabbit polyclonal, c) of exponentially growing PC12 cells. The control (a) is an incubation with a secondary antibody (FITC-labeled anti-rabbit) alone. Similar results were obtained by using FITC-labeled anti-mouse. Cells were labeled with 192-IgG and Ab267 as described in Figure 2 and with propidium iodide as described in Materials and Methods. Similar results were obtained with Hoechst labeling for cell cycle distribution.

With the use of flow cytometry, the quantitation of relative cellular DNA content in combination with measurements of light scattering allows for identification of cells in the G2 phase separately from those in the M phase. In addition, this technique allows for the characterization of cells in early G1 and late G1 phases (Geido et al., 1990). Application of this approach offers a more detailed analysis of the NGF receptor expression throughout the cell cycle. Results obtained from PC12 cultures are shown to illustrate the clarity and precision of this type of analysis. Figure 4A shows the expression of p75NTR and TrkA in early G1, late G1, G2, and M phases of exponentially growing (i.e., asynchronous) PC12 cell cultures. TrkA is expressed most highly in the early G1 phase and at a lower level in the M phase of the cell cycle (Fig. 4Ai-l). Identical results were obtained with rat-1 fibroblasts expressing rat TrkA (data not shown).


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  		Figure 4.   Refined analysis of cell cycle expression of NGF receptors. A, Bivariate contour plots obtained in a triple-labeling experiment after gating cells of different subpopulations and phases of the cell cycle of exponentially growing PC12. Shown are control (a-d), p75NTR expression (e-h), and TrkA expression (i-l) in early G1 (a, e, i), late G1 (b, f, j), G2 (c, g, k), and M phases (d, h, l). The control shown (a) is an incubation of a second antibody (FITC-labeled anti-rabbit) only. Similar results were obtained by using Phycoerythrin-labeled anti-mouse. B, Model of relative expression of NGF receptors at the surface of PC12 cells. Shown is the relative surface expression of p75NTR (dotted line) and TrkA (solid line) during the PC12 cell cycle. Cells were labeled with 192-IgG and Ab267 as described in Figure 2 and with Hoechst as described in Materials and Methods.

In contrast, p75NTR is present to varying extents in all phases (Fig. 4Ae-h), but its expression is higher in late G1 (Fig. 4Af) and in G2 phases (Fig. 4Ag) and lower in early G1 (Fig. 4Ae) and in M phases (Fig. 4Ah). Figure 4B summarizes these results in the form of a model for p75NTR and TrkA surface expression during the PC12 cell cycle. At the beginning of G1 the surface expression of p75NTR is very low, increasing to a maximum level in late G1 phase. This high expression is maintained until the beginning of the M phase, when it drops again to a minimum level. TrkA surface expression appears in M phase, reaching a maximum in early G1, and then decreasing to a minimum level by late G1, remaining so until the next M phase.

Ratio of TrkA to p75NTR during cell cycle

Biotinylation of surface proteins was undertaken to study the expression of NGF receptors during the PC12 cell cycle. Cells were synchronized by serum starvation, as previously described (Rudkin et al., 1989). At the indicated times after restimulation with serum the cells were collected and biotinylated. Biotinylated proteins were precipitated with streptavidin-Sepharose and analyzed by Western blot. Figure 5A shows a Western blot of biotinylated proteins, using the RTA antibody. A marked increase in the amount of TrkA can be observed at the cell surface between 37 and 52 hr after serum restimulation, when cells are in M/early G1 phase. Figure 5B illustrates that the amount of p75NTR at the surface of PC12 cells changes only slightly throughout the cell cycle. No signal was detected when the blots were exposed with an antibody against the cytoskeletal protein tubulin (data not shown).


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  		Figure 5.   Western analysis of NGF receptors expressed at the surface of PC12 cells. PC12 cells were synchronized by serum starvation and restimulated by serum addition, as previously described (Rudkin et al., 1989). A, TrkA surface expression. B, p75NTR surface expression in serum-starved cells exposed to serum. C, Changes in the ratio of TrkA to p75NTR during the cell cycle of PC12 cells synchronized by serum starvation. The broken line above the graph represents the corresponding cell cycle phase, based on cumulative analysis of the cell line over the past 8 years and on observations of histone RNA expression, thymidine or BrdU incorporation, and cell number. RTA and 9993 were used for the detection of TrkA and p75NTR, respectively. Comparable results were obtained in two separate experiments.

To quantitate the changes in the relative surface expression of NGF receptors during the cell cycle, we normalized the signals obtained for each receptor to the signal obtained in serum-starved cultures. Figure 5C shows the variation in the relative amount of TrkA to p75NTR after serum stimulation. A threefold increase in the ratio of TrkA to p75NTR was observed between 37 and 52 hr, i.e., when cells were in M phase or early G1. In contrast, the ratio of TrkA to p75NTR was lower in late G1, S, and G2 phases. These results confirm those obtained by using flow cytometric analysis of exponentially growing populations of cells labeled with antibodies toward the extracellular domain of each receptor, thereby validating this approach.

    DISCUSSION
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References

The results presented herein illustrate that PC12 cells express NGF receptors at their surface in a cell cycle-specific manner. Interpretation of this work is dependent on a clear appreciation of the techniques that were used in making the observations. On the one hand, immunofluorescence resulting from the binding of antibodies to the extracellular domain of the receptor is detected and quantitated with flow cytometric analysis; on the other hand, cytolocalization is confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. The use of flow cytometry also allows for the evaluation of receptor expression as a function of cell cycle phase in exponentially growing populations. Such an approach does not require previous synchronization of the cultures and therefore reflects the natural state of the cells under optimal growth conditions. The validity of this approach is underlined by the fact that numerous controls are performed for each analysis. In a single double-labeling experiment, for example, 12 different combinations of the various antibodies are performed and analyzed. The sensitivity is evaluated by increasing the amount of primary antibody as well as by applying several different antibodies recognizing distinct epitopes within the same protein. Such conditions allow for, respectively, saturation of the available sites and amplification of the fluorescence signal.

A molecular approach, i.e., biotinylation of surface proteins, followed by Western analysis, was performed to confirm or refute the observations made with flow cytometric analysis. To obtain populations of cells enriched in a given cell cycle phase, we first must synchronize cultures and then allow them to proceed through the cell cycle in a synchronous manner. The sensitivity of this protocol, therefore, is dependent on the degree of synchrony. Ideally, close to 100% synchrony would be required to reflect the precise expression of a given protein as a function of cell cycle phase. With PC12 cells the synchronization procedure that was used offers a degree of synchrony of ~70-80% on average. This is sufficiently high to confirm the observation made by flow cytometric analysis, i.e., that there is an increase in the ratio of TrkA to p75NTR at the cell surface in M and early G1 phases. However, the absence of TrkA in a given cell cycle phase cannot be determined by this approach, because there is a residual signal attributable to the unsynchronized cell population. In this regard, flow cytometric analysis of the exponentially growing (asynchronous) cultures is much more precise.

In binding studies performed on exponentially growing PC12 cultures, ~90% of the receptors on a cell are considered to be low affinity, whereas 5-10% are high affinity (Meakin and Shooter, 1991; Weskamp and Reichardt, 1991; Mahadeo et al., 1994). These studies reflect an average picture of the cell culture, because individual cell populations cannot be distinguished by using such techniques. This interpretation is based, therefore, on the assumption that all cells in the population express both types of receptors at their surface. The present results offer a different interpretation. Inasmuch as the TrkA/p75NTR heterodimer is considered as the high-affinity receptor for NGF (Hempstead et al., 1991; Battleman et al., 1993; Barker and Shooter, 1994), the flow cytometric analysis has allowed for the detection of distinct cell populations expressing these proteins at the cell surface. They suggest that there are at least two subpopulations of cells---the majority of which expresses only one type of receptor of low affinity, whereas the remaining cells express the components comprising the high-affinity receptor. These observations are of particular import for the study of receptor complex formation (i.e., homodimers or heterodimers of TrkA and p75NTR) and NGF signal transduction in general, using the PC12 cell model.

It is well established that the presence of TrkA is essential for the triggering of differentiation, the induction of c-fos expression, and the anti-mitogenic effect of NGF (Loeb and Greene, 1993; Kaplan and Stephens, 1994). If this receptor is absent in PC12 cells (or expressed at extremely low levels), these responses are not detectable. The results presented herein clearly are in agreement with these reports and offer another dimension to the understanding of the importance of the role of each receptor in the NGF response. In the light of our previous studies (Rudkin et al., 1989) certain G1-specific responses to NGF (e.g., induction of c-fos) would be a direct result of the surface expression of TrkA in the G1 phase. The surface expression of p75NTR in late G1, S, and G2 phases indicates that the survival/progression response provoked by NGF in exponentially growing cells in the absence of serum is attributable to the presence of this receptor (for discussion, cf. Rudkin et al., 1989). This interpretation is supported by reports suggesting that, depending on the cellular context, p75NTR can stimulate a pro-apoptotic signal in the absence of NGF that is neutralized in its presence (for discussion, cf. Bredesen and Rabizadeh, 1997). Another interpretation would be to assume that TrkA is present at the cell surface during this part of the cell cycle at levels, undetectable by the approaches described herein, that would be too low to stimulate c-fos expression or cell cycle arrest but that would be sufficient to permit survival. In either case, the change in the relative amounts of TrkA to p75NTR clearly would result in differences in signaling in response to NGF throughout the cell cycle, differences that have been evidenced previously (Rudkin et al., 1989).

These studies offer elucidation of the cell cycle phase-specific action of NGF. Figure 6 illustrates a model summarizing the results discussed in this report. In this model the physiological response observed as a function of cell cycle phase initially is attributable to the regulated surface expression of p75NTR and TrkA. That TrkA is expressed at the cell surface in the M and early G1 phases of the cell cycle suggests that cells should commit to differentiate at the very beginning of the cell cycle. The in vivo studies of Waid and McLoon (1995) on the timing of differentiation of ganglion cells in the developing chick retina indicate that these cells start to differentiate very rapidly (within 15 min) after the final mitosis. Although the actual mechanisms are not clear, such observations speak to the importance of the cell being able to respond to a differentiation signal at a specific moment relative to cell division.


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  		Figure 6.   Model illustrating selected physiological responses to NGF as a function of TrkA and p75NTR expression throughout the cell cycle. See Discussion.

Regulation of surface expression of membrane proteins is a means for modulating cellular response to surrounding stimuli. Such considerations are evident from studies of expression of growth factor receptors or adhesion molecules during development and in cellular models in vitro. To our knowledge, this study offers the first description of cell cycle phase-specific surface expression of a growth factor receptor correlating with physiological and molecular responses to the natural ligand, as initially described in Rudkin et al. (1989). Studies of Zanellato et al. (1993) in C6 glioma cells suggest that the cellular distribution of TrkA might vary between a perinuclear and a membrane localization as a function of the growth state. Others have observed the preferential expression of a membrane protein, the neural surface receptor p65/p95, during the S, G2, and M phases of the cell cycle in mouse neural embryonic precursors (Rebai et al., 1997). Clearly these observations speak to the fact that the regulation of surface expression of membrane proteins during the cell cycle may offer the cell another level of refinement in its capacity to respond to the environment.

It is conceivable that other aspects of signaling infrastructure also may vary according to the cell cycle phase. Indeed, NGF treatment of PC12 cells affects the expression and activity of cell cycle regulatory proteins, resulting in the accumulation of cells in the G1 phase (Dobashi et al., 1995; Yan and Ziff, 1995; van Grunsven et al., 1996a,b). The organization of chromatin also varies throughout the cell cycle, as does nuclear transport, thus offering further levels of controlling the growth factor response as a function of cell cycle phase. The observations presented herein leave us with numerous novel lines of study that should contribute to understanding the mechanism of NGF action and perhaps that of other neurotrophic factors and their receptors.

    FOOTNOTES

Received Feb. 17, 1998; revised May 29, 1998; accepted June 8, 1998.

This work was supported by grants from the Association pour la Recherche contre le Cancer (ARC; 1394), the Ligue National Contre le Cancer (LNCC; Axe Oncogénèse et Signalization), the Rhône-Alpes Region, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (Concerted French/Spanish Exchange program PICASSO), and the Spanish Ministry for Science and Education. J.L.U. is a recipient of a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship from the European Union and fellowships from the LNCC, Comités départementales de la Saône et Loire et de l'Ain. E.B. is a recipient of a fellowship from the Spanish Ministry for Science and Education through the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. L.A.v.G. was supported by grants from the AUTODESK DEVELOPMENT, BV, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the LNCC, and the ARC. B.B.R., D.M.Z., and G.I.E. acknowledge funding for a concerted action network within the European Union Biomed 1 Cancer Research program (BMH1-CT94-1471) and a shared-cost network under the Biomed 2 Brain Research program (BMH4-CT96-0010). We thank Dr. M. Chao for generously supplying antibodies against p75NTR, Dr. L. F. Reichardt for generously providing polyclonal antibodies against TrkA and p75NTR, Dr. S. Menard for the MGR-12 monoclonal antibodies against TrkA, Dr. T. Mitsiadis for 192-IgG antibodies against p75NTR and for stimulating discussions, and Dr. G. Guroff for his generous gifts of NGF and PC12 cells. We also thank A. Defours for assistance in the preparation of this manuscript.

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Brian Rudkin at the above address.

Dr. Urdiales's present address: Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain.

Dr. Becker's present address: Skirball Institute for Biomolecular Medicine, New York University Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016.

Dr. Andrieu's present address: CHU Cochin Port-Royal, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, 27 Rue du Faubourg, 75674 Paris, France.

Dr. van Grunsven's present address: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Diseases, LMB Building 36, Room 5A29, 36 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-4152.

Dr. Menut's present address: Institut Jacques Monod, Unité Mixte de Recherche 9922, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 2 Place Jussieu, 75251 Paris Cedex 05, France.

    REFERENCES
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References

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