Cloning and Characterization of GRB14, a Novel Member of the GRB7 Gene Family

Screening of a human breast epithelial cell cDNA library with the tyrosine-phosphorylated C terminus of the epidermal growth factor receptor identified a novel member of the GRB7 gene family, designated GRB14. In addition to a pleckstrin homology domain-containing central region homologous to the Caenorhabditis elegans protein F10E9.6/mig 10 and a C-terminal Src homology 2 (SH2) domain, a conserved N-terminal motif, P(S/A)IPNPFPEL, can now be included as a hallmark of this family. GRB14 mRNA was expressed at high levels in the liver, kidney, pancreas, testis, ovary, heart, and skeletal muscle. Anti-Grb14 antibodies recognized a protein of approximately 58 kDa in a restricted range of human cell lines. Among those of breast cancer origin, GRB14 expression strongly correlated with estrogen receptor positivity, and differential expression was also observed among human prostate cancer cell lines. A GST-Grb14 SH2 domain fusion protein exhibited strong binding to activated platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors (PDGFRs) in vitro, but association between Grb14 and beta-PDGFRs could not be detected in vivo. In serum-starved cells, Grb14 was phosphorylated on serine residues, which increased with PDGF, but not EGF, treatment. Grb14 is therefore a target for a PDGF-regulated serine kinase, an interaction that does not require PDGFR-Grb14 association.