Tyrosine-protein kinase that acts as cell-surface receptor for fibroblast growth factors and plays a role in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and migration, and in regulation of lipid metabolism, bile acid biosynthesis, glucose uptake, vitamin D metabolism and phosphate homeostasis. Required for normal down-regulation of the expression of CYP7A1, the rate-limiting enzyme in bile acid synthesis, in response to FGF19. Phosphorylates PLCG1 and FRS2. Ligand binding leads to the activation of several signaling cascades. Activation of PLCG1 leads to the production of the cellular signaling molecules diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Phosphorylation of FRS2 triggers recruitment of GRB2, GAB1, PIK3R1 and SOS1, and mediates activation of RAS, MAPK1/ERK2, MAPK3/ERK1 and the MAP kinase signaling pathway, as well as of the AKT1 signaling pathway. Promotes SRC-dependent phosphorylation of the matrix protease MMP14 and its lysosomal degradation. FGFR4 signaling is down-regulated by receptor internalization and degradation; MMP14 promotes internalization and degradation of FGFR4. Mutations that lead to constitutive kinase activation or impair normal FGFR4 inactivation lead to aberrant signaling.
De novo bile acid synthesis in the liver needs to be tightly regulated in order to maintain optimal bile flow and prevent cholestasis. In the liver, fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) regulates bile acid synthesis by down-regulating messenger RNA levels of cytochrome P450 7A1 (CYP7A1). FGF19 acts through fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), and beta-Klotho has recently been recognized as a modulator of FGFR4 activity. However, its precise mechanism of action has not been thoroughly described. We show here that beta-Klotho is an endoplasmic reticulum-resident protein that affects the cellular abundance of different FGFR4 glycoforms. beta-Klotho binds and directs the core glycoform of FGFR4 to the proteasome, and it allows only a terminal glycoform to reach the plasma membrane. Only the terminal FGFR4 glycoform is phosphorylated upon FGF19 treatment of HepG2 cells, and this shows that only fully glycosylated FGFR4 is active in CYP7A1 down-regulation. Conclusion: beta-Klotho enhances FGF19 signaling by binding the inactive, core-glycosylated FGFR4 and preventing it from reaching the surface. These results indicate that beta-Klotho is an indirect regulator of FGFR4, whereas glycosylation is the master switch for FGF19 activity and regulation of bile acid synthesis.
Loss of expression of neural cell-adhesion molecule (N-CAM) is implicated in the progression of tumour metastasis. Here we show that N-CAM modulates neurite outgrowth and matrix adhesion of beta-cells from pancreatic tumours by assembling a fibroblast-growth-factor receptor-4 (FGFR-4) signalling complex, which consists of N-cadherin, FGFR-4, phospholipase C gamma (PLC-gamma), the adaptor protein FRS2, pp60(c-src), cortactin and growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43). Dominant-negative FGFR-4, inhibitors of FGFR signalling and anti-beta(1)-integrin antibodies repress matrix adhesion induced by N-CAM. FGF ligands can replace N-CAM in promoting matrix adhesion but not neurite outgrowth. The results indicate that N-CAM stimulates beta1-integrin-mediated cell-matrix adhesion by activating FGFR signalling. This is a potential mechanism for preventing the dissemination of metastatic tumour cells.
J. Biol. Chem. 271, 15292-15297 (1996)[PubMed:8663044]
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are essential molecules for mammalian development. The nine known FGF ligands and the four signaling FGF receptors (and their alternatively spliced variants) are expressed in specific spatial and temporal patterns. The activity of this signaling pathway is regulated by ligand binding specificity, heparan sulfate proteoglycans, and the differential signaling capacity of individual FGF receptors. To determine potentially relevant ligand-receptor pairs we have engineered mitogenically responsive cell lines expressing the major splice variants of all the known FGF receptors. We have assayed the mitogenic activity of the nine known FGF ligands on these cell lines. These studies demonstrate that FGF 1 is the only FGF that can activate all FGF receptor splice variants. Using FGF 1 as an internal standard we have determined the relative activity of all the other members of the FGF family. These data should serve as a biochemical foundation for determining developmental, physiological, and pathophysiological processes that involve FGF signaling pathways.
Aberrant expression and polymorphism of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) has been linked to tumor progression and anticancer drug resistance. We describe here a novel mechanism of tumor progression by matrix degradation involving epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in response to membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP, MMP-14) induction at the edge of tumors expressing the FGFR4-R388 risk variant. Both FGFR4 and MT1-MMP were upregulated in tissue biopsies from several human cancer types including breast adenocarcinomas, where they were partially coexpressed at the tumor/stroma border and tumor invasion front. The strongest overall coexpression was found in prostate carcinoma. Studies with cultured prostate carcinoma cell lines showed that the FGFR4-R388 variant, which has previously been associated with poor cancer prognosis, increased MT1-MMP-dependent collagen invasion. In this experimental model, knockdown of FGFR4-R388 or MT1-MMP by RNA interference blocked tumor cell invasion and growth in collagen. This was coupled with impaired phosphorylation of FGFR substrate 2 and Src, upregulation of E-cadherin, and suppression of cadherin-11 and N-cadherin. These in vitro results were substantiated by reduced MT1-MMP content and in vivo growth of prostate carcinoma cells after the FGFR4-R388 gene silencing. In contrast, knockdown of the alternative FGFR4-G388 allele enhanced MT1-MMP and invasive tumor cell growth in vivo and within three-dimensional collagen. These results will help to explain the reported association of the FGFR4-R388 variant with the progression and poor prognosis of certain types of tumors.
J. Biol. Chem. 268, 5388-5394 (1993)[PubMed:7680645]
A cDNA predicted to encode a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor with sequence features characteristic of known fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors was isolated from an expression library constructed from the human mammary epithelial cell line B5/589. This cDNA, designated cl44, encodes a product of 803 amino acid residues and was readily distinguishable from known FGF receptors. During the course of our studies, Partanen et al. (Partanen, J., Makela, T. P., Eerola, E., Korhonen, J., Hirvonen, H., Claesson, W. L., and Alitalo, K. (1991) EMBO J. 10, 1347-1354) isolated a new FGF receptor, designated FGFR4, from the human leukemia cell line, K562. Its amino acid sequence is identical to that of cl44 with the exception of 1 residue. The 5'-untranslated sequences of the two cDNAs diverged far upstream of the initiation codon. A myoblast line, L6E9, which lacks FGF receptors, was utilized to express high levels of FGFR4. We found, in contrast to Partenen et al., who reported only binding of acidic FGF, that FGFR4 bound both acidic and basic FGF with dissociation constants of 10-15 and 120 pM, respectively. No detectable binding of keratinocyte growth factor was observed. In studies aimed to determine whether FGF receptors contribute to the development of human tumors, we screened RNAs prepared from cell lines derived from a variety of solid tumors. High levels of the cl44 transcript were detected in 8 of 14 and 6 of 9 human mammary and kidney carcinomas, respectively, but only infrequently in other types of tumors. In contrast, FGFR1 was found to be frequently expressed in kidney, but not in breast tumor cells, suggesting a possible role for FGFR4 in human mammary cancer.
J. Biol. Chem. 269, 18320-18326 (1994)[PubMed:7518429]
We have studied the signal transduction pathways of fibroblast growth factor receptor-4 (FGFR-4) and FGFR-1, which showed virtually identical acidic fibroblast growth factor binding profiles as well as tyrosine autophosphorylation upon activation in transfected L6 rat myoblasts and NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts. A prominently tyrosyl-phosphorylated doublet of polypeptides of 85 kDa coprecipitated with activated FGFR-4 from both cell lines studied, but these polypeptides were not detected upon immunoprecipitation of activated FGFR-1. Furthermore, FGFR-4 induced only a weak tyrosyl phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma and no detectable tyrosyl phosphorylation of the SHC adaptor proteins in contrast to FGFR-1. No phosphorylation of Ras GTPase-activating protein, p64 Syp/PTP1D tyrosine phosphatase, or association of the GRB2 adaptor protein SH2 domain with these receptors was detected. Unlike FGFR-1, FGFR-4 induced only a barely detectable phosphorylation of the cellular serine/threonine kinase Raf-1 and a weaker tyrosyl phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases than FGFR-1. Despite these differences, stimulation of both receptors resulted in increased DNA synthesis.
Tumor cells use membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) for invasion and metastasis. However, the signaling mechanisms that underlie MT1-MMP regulation in cancer have remained unclear. Using a systematic gain-of-function kinome screen for MT1-MMP activity, we have here identified kinases that significantly enhance MT1-MMP activity in tumor cells. In particular, we discovered an MT1-MMP/FGF receptor-4 (FGFR4) membrane complex that either stimulates or suppresses MT1-MMP and FGFR4 activities, depending on a tumor progression-associated polymorphism in FGFR4. The FGFR4-R388 allele, linked to poor cancer prognosis, increased collagen invasion by decreasing lysosomal MT1-MMP degradation. FGFR4-R388 induced MT1-MMP phosphorylation and endosomal stabilization, and surprisingly, the increased MT1-MMP in return enhanced FGFR4-R388 autophosphorylation. A phosphorylation-defective MT1-MMP was stabilized on the cell surface, where it induced simultaneous FGFR4-R388 internalization and dissociation of cell-cell junctions. In contrast, the alternative FGFR4-G388 variant down-regulated MT1-MMP, and the overexpression of MT1-MMP and particularly its phosphorylation-defective mutant vice versa induced FGFR4-G388 degradation. These results provide a mechanistic basis for FGFR4-R388 function in cancer invasion.
FGF19 and FGF21, unique members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family, are hormones that regulate glucose, lipid, and energy homeostasis. Increased hepatocyte proliferation and liver tumor formation have also been observed in FGF19 transgenic mice. Here, we report that, in contrast to FGF19, FGF21 does not induce hepatocyte proliferation in vivo. To identify the mechanism for FGF19-induced hepatocyte proliferation, we explored similarities and differences in receptor specificity between FGF19 and FGF21. We find that although both are able to activate FGF receptors (FGFRs) 1c, 2c, and 3c, only FGF19 activates FGFR4, the predominant receptor in the liver. Using a C-terminal truncation mutant of FGF19 and a series of FGF19/FGF21 chimeric molecules, we determined that amino acids residues 38-42 of FGF19 are sufficient to confer both FGFR4 activation and increased hepatocyte proliferation in vivo to FGF21. These data suggest that activation of FGFR4 is the mechanism whereby FGF19 can increase hepatocyte proliferation and induce hepatocellular carcinoma formation.
STAT transcription factors signal from the plasma membrane to the nucleus in response to growth factors and cytokines, but little is known about activation of STAT1 from intracellular sites. Here we show that transient transfection of COS cells with fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) led to ligand-independent phosphorylation of the receptors, including intracellular immature forms. FGF-independent activation of STAT1 was demonstrated at the Golgi apparatus where it was colocalized with FGFRs. Both FGFR1 and FGFR2 induced strong phosphorylation of STAT1 causing redistribution of the Golgi apparatus, while FGFR3 and FGFR4 induced less phosphorylation of STAT1 and little or no redistribution of the Golgi apparatus. Upon expression of a cytosolic mutant of FGFR4 lacking the transmembrane as well as the extracellular region (CytR4), STAT1 was phosphorylated and transferred to the nucleus. The results indicate that immature forms of FGFRs form incomplete signaling complexes on Golgi membranes trapping phospho-STAT1 on this organelle.
The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19 subfamily of ligands, FGF19, FGF21, and FGF23, function as hormones that regulate bile acid, fatty acid, glucose, and phosphate metabolism in target organs through activating FGF receptors (FGFR1-4). We demonstrated that Klotho and betaKlotho, homologous single-pass transmembrane proteins that bind to FGFRs, are required for metabolic activity of FGF23 and FGF21, respectively. Here we show that, like FGF21, FGF19 also requires betaKlotho. Both FGF19 and FGF21 can signal through FGFR1-3 bound by betaKlotho and increase glucose uptake in adipocytes expressing FGFR1. Additionally, both FGF19 and FGF21 bind to the betaKlotho-FGFR4 complex; however, only FGF19 signals efficiently through FGFR4. Accordingly, FGF19, but not FGF21, activates FGF signaling in hepatocytes that primarily express FGFR4 and reduces transcription of CYP7A1 that encodes the rate-limiting enzyme for bile acid synthesis. We conclude that the expression of betaKlotho, in combination with particular FGFR isoforms, determines the tissue-specific metabolic activities of FGF19 and FGF21.
Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR-4) is expressed at significant levels in almost all human prostate cancers, and expression of its ligands is ubiquitous. A common polymorphism of FGFR-4 in which arginine (Arg(388)) replaces glycine (Gly(388)) at amino acid 388 is associated with progression in human prostate cancer. We show that the FGFR-4 Arg(388) polymorphism, which is present in most prostate cancer patients, results in increased receptor stability and sustained receptor activation. In patients bearing the FGFR-4 Gly(388) variant, expression of Huntingtin-interacting protein 1 (HIP1), which occurs in more than half of human prostate cancers, also results in FGFR-4 stabilization. This is associated with enhanced proliferation and anchorage-independent growth in vitro. Our findings indicate that increased receptor stability and sustained FGFR-4 signaling occur in most human prostate cancers due to either the presence of a common genetic polymorphism or the expression of a protein that stabilizes FGFR-4. Both of these alterations are associated with clinical progression in patients with prostate cancer. Thus, FGFR-4 signaling and receptor turnover are important potential therapeutic targets in prostate cancer.
Endocytosis and targeting of growth factor receptors for lysosomal degradation have been associated with ubiquitination of the intracellular part of the receptors. To elucidate the role of receptor ubiquitination in internalization and sorting of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), we constructed several mutants of FGFR1 in which lysines, potential ubiquitination sites, were substituted for arginines. Substitution of all lysine residues in the intracellular part of FGFR1 resulted in inactivation of the tyrosine kinase domain of the receptor. However, several multilysine FGFR1 mutants, where up to 26 of 29 lysines in the intracellular part of the receptor were mutated, retained tyrosine kinase activity. The active multilysine mutants were poorly ubiquitinated, but internalized normally, indicating that ubiquitination of the receptor is not required for endocytosis. In contrast, degradation of the multilysine mutants was dramatically reduced as the mutants were inefficiently transported to lysosomes but rather sorted to recycling endosomes. The altered sorting resulted in sustained signaling. The duration of FGFR1 signaling seems to be tightly regulated by receptor ubiquitination and subsequent sorting to the lysosomes for degradation.
In mammals, fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are encoded by 22 genes. FGFs bind and activate alternatively spliced forms of four tyrosine kinase FGF receptors (FGFRs 1-4). The spatial and temporal expression patterns of FGFs and FGFRs and the ability of specific ligand-receptor pairs to actively signal are important factors regulating FGF activity in a variety of biological processes. FGF signaling activity is regulated by the binding specificity of ligands and receptors and is modulated by extrinsic cofactors such as heparan sulfate proteoglycans. In previous studies, we have engineered BaF3 cell lines to express the seven principal FGFRs and used these cell lines to determine the receptor binding specificity of FGFs 1-9 by using relative mitogenic activity as the readout. Here we have extended these semiquantitative studies to assess the receptor binding specificity of the remaining FGFs 10-23. This study completes the mitogenesis-based comparison of receptor specificity of the entire FGF family under standard conditions and should help in interpreting and predicting in vivo biological activity.
Secreted from intestine, human fibroblast growth factor 19 (hFGF19) is an endocrine metabolic regulator that controls bile acid synthesis in the liver. Earlier studies have suggested that hFGF19 at 10-100 nM levels signals through FGF receptor 4 (FGFR4) in the presence of a co-receptor, betaKlotho, but its activity and receptor specificity at physiological concentrations (picomolar levels) remain unclear. Here we report that hFGF19 at picomolar levels require sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAGs), such as heparan sulfate, heparin, and chondroitin sulfates, for its signaling via human FGFR4 in the presence of human betaKlotho. Importantly, sGAGs isolated from liver are highly active in enhancing the picomolar hFGF19 signaling. At nanomolar levels, in contrast, hFGF19 activates all types of human FGFRs, i.e. FGFR1c, FGFR2c, FGFR3c, and FGFR4 in the co-presence of betaKlotho and heparin and activates FGFR4 even in the absence of betaKlotho. These results show that sGAGs play crucial roles in specific and sensitive hFGF19 signaling via FGF receptors and suggest that hepatic sGAGs are involved in the highly potent and specific signaling of picomolar hFGF19 through FGFR4 and betaKlotho. The results further suggest that hFGF19 at pathological concentrations may evoke aberrant signaling through various FGF receptors.
We have identified a novel fibroblast growth factor, FGF-19, the most distant member of the FGF family described to date. FGF-19 is a high affinity, heparin dependent ligand for FGFR4 and is the first member of the FGF family to show exclusive binding to FGFR4. Human FGF-19 maps to chromosome 11 q13.1, a region associated with an osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome of skeletal and retinal defects. FGF-19 message is expressed in several tissues including fetal cartilage, skin, and retina, as well as adult gall bladder and is overexpressed in a colon adenocarcinoma cell line.
Endocytosis and targeting of growth factor receptors for lysosomal degradation have been associated with ubiquitination of the intracellular part of the receptors. To elucidate the role of receptor ubiquitination in internalization and sorting of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), we constructed several mutants of FGFR1 in which lysines, potential ubiquitination sites, were substituted for arginines. Substitution of all lysine residues in the intracellular part of FGFR1 resulted in inactivation of the tyrosine kinase domain of the receptor. However, several multilysine FGFR1 mutants, where up to 26 of 29 lysines in the intracellular part of the receptor were mutated, retained tyrosine kinase activity. The active multilysine mutants were poorly ubiquitinated, but internalized normally, indicating that ubiquitination of the receptor is not required for endocytosis. In contrast, degradation of the multilysine mutants was dramatically reduced as the mutants were inefficiently transported to lysosomes but rather sorted to recycling endosomes. The altered sorting resulted in sustained signaling. The duration of FGFR1 signaling seems to be tightly regulated by receptor ubiquitination and subsequent sorting to the lysosomes for degradation.
J. Biol. Chem. 271, 15292-15297 (1996)[PubMed:8663044]
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are essential molecules for mammalian development. The nine known FGF ligands and the four signaling FGF receptors (and their alternatively spliced variants) are expressed in specific spatial and temporal patterns. The activity of this signaling pathway is regulated by ligand binding specificity, heparan sulfate proteoglycans, and the differential signaling capacity of individual FGF receptors. To determine potentially relevant ligand-receptor pairs we have engineered mitogenically responsive cell lines expressing the major splice variants of all the known FGF receptors. We have assayed the mitogenic activity of the nine known FGF ligands on these cell lines. These studies demonstrate that FGF 1 is the only FGF that can activate all FGF receptor splice variants. Using FGF 1 as an internal standard we have determined the relative activity of all the other members of the FGF family. These data should serve as a biochemical foundation for determining developmental, physiological, and pathophysiological processes that involve FGF signaling pathways.
J. Biol. Chem. 271, 15292-15297 (1996)[PubMed:8663044]
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are essential molecules for mammalian development. The nine known FGF ligands and the four signaling FGF receptors (and their alternatively spliced variants) are expressed in specific spatial and temporal patterns. The activity of this signaling pathway is regulated by ligand binding specificity, heparan sulfate proteoglycans, and the differential signaling capacity of individual FGF receptors. To determine potentially relevant ligand-receptor pairs we have engineered mitogenically responsive cell lines expressing the major splice variants of all the known FGF receptors. We have assayed the mitogenic activity of the nine known FGF ligands on these cell lines. These studies demonstrate that FGF 1 is the only FGF that can activate all FGF receptor splice variants. Using FGF 1 as an internal standard we have determined the relative activity of all the other members of the FGF family. These data should serve as a biochemical foundation for determining developmental, physiological, and pathophysiological processes that involve FGF signaling pathways.
We have identified a novel fibroblast growth factor, FGF-19, the most distant member of the FGF family described to date. FGF-19 is a high affinity, heparin dependent ligand for FGFR4 and is the first member of the FGF family to show exclusive binding to FGFR4. Human FGF-19 maps to chromosome 11 q13.1, a region associated with an osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome of skeletal and retinal defects. FGF-19 message is expressed in several tissues including fetal cartilage, skin, and retina, as well as adult gall bladder and is overexpressed in a colon adenocarcinoma cell line.
Endocytosis and targeting of growth factor receptors for lysosomal degradation have been associated with ubiquitination of the intracellular part of the receptors. To elucidate the role of receptor ubiquitination in internalization and sorting of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), we constructed several mutants of FGFR1 in which lysines, potential ubiquitination sites, were substituted for arginines. Substitution of all lysine residues in the intracellular part of FGFR1 resulted in inactivation of the tyrosine kinase domain of the receptor. However, several multilysine FGFR1 mutants, where up to 26 of 29 lysines in the intracellular part of the receptor were mutated, retained tyrosine kinase activity. The active multilysine mutants were poorly ubiquitinated, but internalized normally, indicating that ubiquitination of the receptor is not required for endocytosis. In contrast, degradation of the multilysine mutants was dramatically reduced as the mutants were inefficiently transported to lysosomes but rather sorted to recycling endosomes. The altered sorting resulted in sustained signaling. The duration of FGFR1 signaling seems to be tightly regulated by receptor ubiquitination and subsequent sorting to the lysosomes for degradation.
Secreted from intestine, human fibroblast growth factor 19 (hFGF19) is an endocrine metabolic regulator that controls bile acid synthesis in the liver. Earlier studies have suggested that hFGF19 at 10-100 nM levels signals through FGF receptor 4 (FGFR4) in the presence of a co-receptor, betaKlotho, but its activity and receptor specificity at physiological concentrations (picomolar levels) remain unclear. Here we report that hFGF19 at picomolar levels require sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAGs), such as heparan sulfate, heparin, and chondroitin sulfates, for its signaling via human FGFR4 in the presence of human betaKlotho. Importantly, sGAGs isolated from liver are highly active in enhancing the picomolar hFGF19 signaling. At nanomolar levels, in contrast, hFGF19 activates all types of human FGFRs, i.e. FGFR1c, FGFR2c, FGFR3c, and FGFR4 in the co-presence of betaKlotho and heparin and activates FGFR4 even in the absence of betaKlotho. These results show that sGAGs play crucial roles in specific and sensitive hFGF19 signaling via FGF receptors and suggest that hepatic sGAGs are involved in the highly potent and specific signaling of picomolar hFGF19 through FGFR4 and betaKlotho. The results further suggest that hFGF19 at pathological concentrations may evoke aberrant signaling through various FGF receptors.
Interacting selectively and non-covalently with heparin, any member of a group of glycosaminoglycans found mainly as an intracellular component of mast cells and which consist predominantly of alternating alpha-(1->4)-linked D-galactose and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine-6-sulfate residues.
Endocytosis and targeting of growth factor receptors for lysosomal degradation have been associated with ubiquitination of the intracellular part of the receptors. To elucidate the role of receptor ubiquitination in internalization and sorting of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), we constructed several mutants of FGFR1 in which lysines, potential ubiquitination sites, were substituted for arginines. Substitution of all lysine residues in the intracellular part of FGFR1 resulted in inactivation of the tyrosine kinase domain of the receptor. However, several multilysine FGFR1 mutants, where up to 26 of 29 lysines in the intracellular part of the receptor were mutated, retained tyrosine kinase activity. The active multilysine mutants were poorly ubiquitinated, but internalized normally, indicating that ubiquitination of the receptor is not required for endocytosis. In contrast, degradation of the multilysine mutants was dramatically reduced as the mutants were inefficiently transported to lysosomes but rather sorted to recycling endosomes. The altered sorting resulted in sustained signaling. The duration of FGFR1 signaling seems to be tightly regulated by receptor ubiquitination and subsequent sorting to the lysosomes for degradation.
The progression of a secondary alveolar septum over time, from its formation to the mature structure. A secondary alveolar septum is a specialized epithelium that subdivides the initial saccule.
Aberrant expression and polymorphism of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) has been linked to tumor progression and anticancer drug resistance. We describe here a novel mechanism of tumor progression by matrix degradation involving epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in response to membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP, MMP-14) induction at the edge of tumors expressing the FGFR4-R388 risk variant. Both FGFR4 and MT1-MMP were upregulated in tissue biopsies from several human cancer types including breast adenocarcinomas, where they were partially coexpressed at the tumor/stroma border and tumor invasion front. The strongest overall coexpression was found in prostate carcinoma. Studies with cultured prostate carcinoma cell lines showed that the FGFR4-R388 variant, which has previously been associated with poor cancer prognosis, increased MT1-MMP-dependent collagen invasion. In this experimental model, knockdown of FGFR4-R388 or MT1-MMP by RNA interference blocked tumor cell invasion and growth in collagen. This was coupled with impaired phosphorylation of FGFR substrate 2 and Src, upregulation of E-cadherin, and suppression of cadherin-11 and N-cadherin. These in vitro results were substantiated by reduced MT1-MMP content and in vivo growth of prostate carcinoma cells after the FGFR4-R388 gene silencing. In contrast, knockdown of the alternative FGFR4-G388 allele enhanced MT1-MMP and invasive tumor cell growth in vivo and within three-dimensional collagen. These results will help to explain the reported association of the FGFR4-R388 variant with the progression and poor prognosis of certain types of tumors.
J. Biol. Chem. 271, 15292-15297 (1996)[PubMed:8663044]
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are essential molecules for mammalian development. The nine known FGF ligands and the four signaling FGF receptors (and their alternatively spliced variants) are expressed in specific spatial and temporal patterns. The activity of this signaling pathway is regulated by ligand binding specificity, heparan sulfate proteoglycans, and the differential signaling capacity of individual FGF receptors. To determine potentially relevant ligand-receptor pairs we have engineered mitogenically responsive cell lines expressing the major splice variants of all the known FGF receptors. We have assayed the mitogenic activity of the nine known FGF ligands on these cell lines. These studies demonstrate that FGF 1 is the only FGF that can activate all FGF receptor splice variants. Using FGF 1 as an internal standard we have determined the relative activity of all the other members of the FGF family. These data should serve as a biochemical foundation for determining developmental, physiological, and pathophysiological processes that involve FGF signaling pathways.
We have identified a novel fibroblast growth factor, FGF-19, the most distant member of the FGF family described to date. FGF-19 is a high affinity, heparin dependent ligand for FGFR4 and is the first member of the FGF family to show exclusive binding to FGFR4. Human FGF-19 maps to chromosome 11 q13.1, a region associated with an osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome of skeletal and retinal defects. FGF-19 message is expressed in several tissues including fetal cartilage, skin, and retina, as well as adult gall bladder and is overexpressed in a colon adenocarcinoma cell line.
Secreted from intestine, human fibroblast growth factor 19 (hFGF19) is an endocrine metabolic regulator that controls bile acid synthesis in the liver. Earlier studies have suggested that hFGF19 at 10-100 nM levels signals through FGF receptor 4 (FGFR4) in the presence of a co-receptor, betaKlotho, but its activity and receptor specificity at physiological concentrations (picomolar levels) remain unclear. Here we report that hFGF19 at picomolar levels require sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAGs), such as heparan sulfate, heparin, and chondroitin sulfates, for its signaling via human FGFR4 in the presence of human betaKlotho. Importantly, sGAGs isolated from liver are highly active in enhancing the picomolar hFGF19 signaling. At nanomolar levels, in contrast, hFGF19 activates all types of human FGFRs, i.e. FGFR1c, FGFR2c, FGFR3c, and FGFR4 in the co-presence of betaKlotho and heparin and activates FGFR4 even in the absence of betaKlotho. These results show that sGAGs play crucial roles in specific and sensitive hFGF19 signaling via FGF receptors and suggest that hepatic sGAGs are involved in the highly potent and specific signaling of picomolar hFGF19 through FGFR4 and betaKlotho. The results further suggest that hFGF19 at pathological concentrations may evoke aberrant signaling through various FGF receptors.
De novo bile acid synthesis in the liver needs to be tightly regulated in order to maintain optimal bile flow and prevent cholestasis. In the liver, fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) regulates bile acid synthesis by down-regulating messenger RNA levels of cytochrome P450 7A1 (CYP7A1). FGF19 acts through fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), and beta-Klotho has recently been recognized as a modulator of FGFR4 activity. However, its precise mechanism of action has not been thoroughly described. We show here that beta-Klotho is an endoplasmic reticulum-resident protein that affects the cellular abundance of different FGFR4 glycoforms. beta-Klotho binds and directs the core glycoform of FGFR4 to the proteasome, and it allows only a terminal glycoform to reach the plasma membrane. Only the terminal FGFR4 glycoform is phosphorylated upon FGF19 treatment of HepG2 cells, and this shows that only fully glycosylated FGFR4 is active in CYP7A1 down-regulation. Conclusion: beta-Klotho enhances FGF19 signaling by binding the inactive, core-glycosylated FGFR4 and preventing it from reaching the surface. These results indicate that beta-Klotho is an indirect regulator of FGFR4, whereas glycosylation is the master switch for FGF19 activity and regulation of bile acid synthesis.
Endocytosis and targeting of growth factor receptors for lysosomal degradation have been associated with ubiquitination of the intracellular part of the receptors. To elucidate the role of receptor ubiquitination in internalization and sorting of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), we constructed several mutants of FGFR1 in which lysines, potential ubiquitination sites, were substituted for arginines. Substitution of all lysine residues in the intracellular part of FGFR1 resulted in inactivation of the tyrosine kinase domain of the receptor. However, several multilysine FGFR1 mutants, where up to 26 of 29 lysines in the intracellular part of the receptor were mutated, retained tyrosine kinase activity. The active multilysine mutants were poorly ubiquitinated, but internalized normally, indicating that ubiquitination of the receptor is not required for endocytosis. In contrast, degradation of the multilysine mutants was dramatically reduced as the mutants were inefficiently transported to lysosomes but rather sorted to recycling endosomes. The altered sorting resulted in sustained signaling. The duration of FGFR1 signaling seems to be tightly regulated by receptor ubiquitination and subsequent sorting to the lysosomes for degradation.
J. Biol. Chem. 271, 15292-15297 (1996)[PubMed:8663044]
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are essential molecules for mammalian development. The nine known FGF ligands and the four signaling FGF receptors (and their alternatively spliced variants) are expressed in specific spatial and temporal patterns. The activity of this signaling pathway is regulated by ligand binding specificity, heparan sulfate proteoglycans, and the differential signaling capacity of individual FGF receptors. To determine potentially relevant ligand-receptor pairs we have engineered mitogenically responsive cell lines expressing the major splice variants of all the known FGF receptors. We have assayed the mitogenic activity of the nine known FGF ligands on these cell lines. These studies demonstrate that FGF 1 is the only FGF that can activate all FGF receptor splice variants. Using FGF 1 as an internal standard we have determined the relative activity of all the other members of the FGF family. These data should serve as a biochemical foundation for determining developmental, physiological, and pathophysiological processes that involve FGF signaling pathways.
J. Biol. Chem. 271, 15292-15297 (1996)[PubMed:8663044]
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are essential molecules for mammalian development. The nine known FGF ligands and the four signaling FGF receptors (and their alternatively spliced variants) are expressed in specific spatial and temporal patterns. The activity of this signaling pathway is regulated by ligand binding specificity, heparan sulfate proteoglycans, and the differential signaling capacity of individual FGF receptors. To determine potentially relevant ligand-receptor pairs we have engineered mitogenically responsive cell lines expressing the major splice variants of all the known FGF receptors. We have assayed the mitogenic activity of the nine known FGF ligands on these cell lines. These studies demonstrate that FGF 1 is the only FGF that can activate all FGF receptor splice variants. Using FGF 1 as an internal standard we have determined the relative activity of all the other members of the FGF family. These data should serve as a biochemical foundation for determining developmental, physiological, and pathophysiological processes that involve FGF signaling pathways.
Secreted from intestine, human fibroblast growth factor 19 (hFGF19) is an endocrine metabolic regulator that controls bile acid synthesis in the liver. Earlier studies have suggested that hFGF19 at 10-100 nM levels signals through FGF receptor 4 (FGFR4) in the presence of a co-receptor, betaKlotho, but its activity and receptor specificity at physiological concentrations (picomolar levels) remain unclear. Here we report that hFGF19 at picomolar levels require sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAGs), such as heparan sulfate, heparin, and chondroitin sulfates, for its signaling via human FGFR4 in the presence of human betaKlotho. Importantly, sGAGs isolated from liver are highly active in enhancing the picomolar hFGF19 signaling. At nanomolar levels, in contrast, hFGF19 activates all types of human FGFRs, i.e. FGFR1c, FGFR2c, FGFR3c, and FGFR4 in the co-presence of betaKlotho and heparin and activates FGFR4 even in the absence of betaKlotho. These results show that sGAGs play crucial roles in specific and sensitive hFGF19 signaling via FGF receptors and suggest that hepatic sGAGs are involved in the highly potent and specific signaling of picomolar hFGF19 through FGFR4 and betaKlotho. The results further suggest that hFGF19 at pathological concentrations may evoke aberrant signaling through various FGF receptors.
Secreted from intestine, human fibroblast growth factor 19 (hFGF19) is an endocrine metabolic regulator that controls bile acid synthesis in the liver. Earlier studies have suggested that hFGF19 at 10-100 nM levels signals through FGF receptor 4 (FGFR4) in the presence of a co-receptor, betaKlotho, but its activity and receptor specificity at physiological concentrations (picomolar levels) remain unclear. Here we report that hFGF19 at picomolar levels require sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAGs), such as heparan sulfate, heparin, and chondroitin sulfates, for its signaling via human FGFR4 in the presence of human betaKlotho. Importantly, sGAGs isolated from liver are highly active in enhancing the picomolar hFGF19 signaling. At nanomolar levels, in contrast, hFGF19 activates all types of human FGFRs, i.e. FGFR1c, FGFR2c, FGFR3c, and FGFR4 in the co-presence of betaKlotho and heparin and activates FGFR4 even in the absence of betaKlotho. These results show that sGAGs play crucial roles in specific and sensitive hFGF19 signaling via FGF receptors and suggest that hepatic sGAGs are involved in the highly potent and specific signaling of picomolar hFGF19 through FGFR4 and betaKlotho. The results further suggest that hFGF19 at pathological concentrations may evoke aberrant signaling through various FGF receptors.
Tumor cells use membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) for invasion and metastasis. However, the signaling mechanisms that underlie MT1-MMP regulation in cancer have remained unclear. Using a systematic gain-of-function kinome screen for MT1-MMP activity, we have here identified kinases that significantly enhance MT1-MMP activity in tumor cells. In particular, we discovered an MT1-MMP/FGF receptor-4 (FGFR4) membrane complex that either stimulates or suppresses MT1-MMP and FGFR4 activities, depending on a tumor progression-associated polymorphism in FGFR4. The FGFR4-R388 allele, linked to poor cancer prognosis, increased collagen invasion by decreasing lysosomal MT1-MMP degradation. FGFR4-R388 induced MT1-MMP phosphorylation and endosomal stabilization, and surprisingly, the increased MT1-MMP in return enhanced FGFR4-R388 autophosphorylation. A phosphorylation-defective MT1-MMP was stabilized on the cell surface, where it induced simultaneous FGFR4-R388 internalization and dissociation of cell-cell junctions. In contrast, the alternative FGFR4-G388 variant down-regulated MT1-MMP, and the overexpression of MT1-MMP and particularly its phosphorylation-defective mutant vice versa induced FGFR4-G388 degradation. These results provide a mechanistic basis for FGFR4-R388 function in cancer invasion.
Tumor cells use membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) for invasion and metastasis. However, the signaling mechanisms that underlie MT1-MMP regulation in cancer have remained unclear. Using a systematic gain-of-function kinome screen for MT1-MMP activity, we have here identified kinases that significantly enhance MT1-MMP activity in tumor cells. In particular, we discovered an MT1-MMP/FGF receptor-4 (FGFR4) membrane complex that either stimulates or suppresses MT1-MMP and FGFR4 activities, depending on a tumor progression-associated polymorphism in FGFR4. The FGFR4-R388 allele, linked to poor cancer prognosis, increased collagen invasion by decreasing lysosomal MT1-MMP degradation. FGFR4-R388 induced MT1-MMP phosphorylation and endosomal stabilization, and surprisingly, the increased MT1-MMP in return enhanced FGFR4-R388 autophosphorylation. A phosphorylation-defective MT1-MMP was stabilized on the cell surface, where it induced simultaneous FGFR4-R388 internalization and dissociation of cell-cell junctions. In contrast, the alternative FGFR4-G388 variant down-regulated MT1-MMP, and the overexpression of MT1-MMP and particularly its phosphorylation-defective mutant vice versa induced FGFR4-G388 degradation. These results provide a mechanistic basis for FGFR4-R388 function in cancer invasion.
Tumor cells use membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) for invasion and metastasis. However, the signaling mechanisms that underlie MT1-MMP regulation in cancer have remained unclear. Using a systematic gain-of-function kinome screen for MT1-MMP activity, we have here identified kinases that significantly enhance MT1-MMP activity in tumor cells. In particular, we discovered an MT1-MMP/FGF receptor-4 (FGFR4) membrane complex that either stimulates or suppresses MT1-MMP and FGFR4 activities, depending on a tumor progression-associated polymorphism in FGFR4. The FGFR4-R388 allele, linked to poor cancer prognosis, increased collagen invasion by decreasing lysosomal MT1-MMP degradation. FGFR4-R388 induced MT1-MMP phosphorylation and endosomal stabilization, and surprisingly, the increased MT1-MMP in return enhanced FGFR4-R388 autophosphorylation. A phosphorylation-defective MT1-MMP was stabilized on the cell surface, where it induced simultaneous FGFR4-R388 internalization and dissociation of cell-cell junctions. In contrast, the alternative FGFR4-G388 variant down-regulated MT1-MMP, and the overexpression of MT1-MMP and particularly its phosphorylation-defective mutant vice versa induced FGFR4-G388 degradation. These results provide a mechanistic basis for FGFR4-R388 function in cancer invasion.
The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19 subfamily of ligands, FGF19, FGF21, and FGF23, function as hormones that regulate bile acid, fatty acid, glucose, and phosphate metabolism in target organs through activating FGF receptors (FGFR1-4). We demonstrated that Klotho and betaKlotho, homologous single-pass transmembrane proteins that bind to FGFRs, are required for metabolic activity of FGF23 and FGF21, respectively. Here we show that, like FGF21, FGF19 also requires betaKlotho. Both FGF19 and FGF21 can signal through FGFR1-3 bound by betaKlotho and increase glucose uptake in adipocytes expressing FGFR1. Additionally, both FGF19 and FGF21 bind to the betaKlotho-FGFR4 complex; however, only FGF19 signals efficiently through FGFR4. Accordingly, FGF19, but not FGF21, activates FGF signaling in hepatocytes that primarily express FGFR4 and reduces transcription of CYP7A1 that encodes the rate-limiting enzyme for bile acid synthesis. We conclude that the expression of betaKlotho, in combination with particular FGFR isoforms, determines the tissue-specific metabolic activities of FGF19 and FGF21.
Evidence
2:
Inferred from Mutant PhenotypeUniProtKB
De novo bile acid synthesis in the liver needs to be tightly regulated in order to maintain optimal bile flow and prevent cholestasis. In the liver, fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) regulates bile acid synthesis by down-regulating messenger RNA levels of cytochrome P450 7A1 (CYP7A1). FGF19 acts through fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), and beta-Klotho has recently been recognized as a modulator of FGFR4 activity. However, its precise mechanism of action has not been thoroughly described. We show here that beta-Klotho is an endoplasmic reticulum-resident protein that affects the cellular abundance of different FGFR4 glycoforms. beta-Klotho binds and directs the core glycoform of FGFR4 to the proteasome, and it allows only a terminal glycoform to reach the plasma membrane. Only the terminal FGFR4 glycoform is phosphorylated upon FGF19 treatment of HepG2 cells, and this shows that only fully glycosylated FGFR4 is active in CYP7A1 down-regulation. Conclusion: beta-Klotho enhances FGF19 signaling by binding the inactive, core-glycosylated FGFR4 and preventing it from reaching the surface. These results indicate that beta-Klotho is an indirect regulator of FGFR4, whereas glycosylation is the master switch for FGF19 activity and regulation of bile acid synthesis.
Any process that modulates the rate, frequency or extent of extracellular matrix disassembly. Extracellular matrix disassembly is a process that results in the breakdown of the extracellular matrix.
Evidence
1:
Inferred from Mutant PhenotypeUniProtKB
Aberrant expression and polymorphism of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) has been linked to tumor progression and anticancer drug resistance. We describe here a novel mechanism of tumor progression by matrix degradation involving epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in response to membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP, MMP-14) induction at the edge of tumors expressing the FGFR4-R388 risk variant. Both FGFR4 and MT1-MMP were upregulated in tissue biopsies from several human cancer types including breast adenocarcinomas, where they were partially coexpressed at the tumor/stroma border and tumor invasion front. The strongest overall coexpression was found in prostate carcinoma. Studies with cultured prostate carcinoma cell lines showed that the FGFR4-R388 variant, which has previously been associated with poor cancer prognosis, increased MT1-MMP-dependent collagen invasion. In this experimental model, knockdown of FGFR4-R388 or MT1-MMP by RNA interference blocked tumor cell invasion and growth in collagen. This was coupled with impaired phosphorylation of FGFR substrate 2 and Src, upregulation of E-cadherin, and suppression of cadherin-11 and N-cadherin. These in vitro results were substantiated by reduced MT1-MMP content and in vivo growth of prostate carcinoma cells after the FGFR4-R388 gene silencing. In contrast, knockdown of the alternative FGFR4-G388 allele enhanced MT1-MMP and invasive tumor cell growth in vivo and within three-dimensional collagen. These results will help to explain the reported association of the FGFR4-R388 variant with the progression and poor prognosis of certain types of tumors.
STAT transcription factors signal from the plasma membrane to the nucleus in response to growth factors and cytokines, but little is known about activation of STAT1 from intracellular sites. Here we show that transient transfection of COS cells with fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) led to ligand-independent phosphorylation of the receptors, including intracellular immature forms. FGF-independent activation of STAT1 was demonstrated at the Golgi apparatus where it was colocalized with FGFRs. Both FGFR1 and FGFR2 induced strong phosphorylation of STAT1 causing redistribution of the Golgi apparatus, while FGFR3 and FGFR4 induced less phosphorylation of STAT1 and little or no redistribution of the Golgi apparatus. Upon expression of a cytosolic mutant of FGFR4 lacking the transmembrane as well as the extracellular region (CytR4), STAT1 was phosphorylated and transferred to the nucleus. The results indicate that immature forms of FGFRs form incomplete signaling complexes on Golgi membranes trapping phospho-STAT1 on this organelle.
Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR-4) is expressed at significant levels in almost all human prostate cancers, and expression of its ligands is ubiquitous. A common polymorphism of FGFR-4 in which arginine (Arg(388)) replaces glycine (Gly(388)) at amino acid 388 is associated with progression in human prostate cancer. We show that the FGFR-4 Arg(388) polymorphism, which is present in most prostate cancer patients, results in increased receptor stability and sustained receptor activation. In patients bearing the FGFR-4 Gly(388) variant, expression of Huntingtin-interacting protein 1 (HIP1), which occurs in more than half of human prostate cancers, also results in FGFR-4 stabilization. This is associated with enhanced proliferation and anchorage-independent growth in vitro. Our findings indicate that increased receptor stability and sustained FGFR-4 signaling occur in most human prostate cancers due to either the presence of a common genetic polymorphism or the expression of a protein that stabilizes FGFR-4. Both of these alterations are associated with clinical progression in patients with prostate cancer. Thus, FGFR-4 signaling and receptor turnover are important potential therapeutic targets in prostate cancer.
Loss of expression of neural cell-adhesion molecule (N-CAM) is implicated in the progression of tumour metastasis. Here we show that N-CAM modulates neurite outgrowth and matrix adhesion of beta-cells from pancreatic tumours by assembling a fibroblast-growth-factor receptor-4 (FGFR-4) signalling complex, which consists of N-cadherin, FGFR-4, phospholipase C gamma (PLC-gamma), the adaptor protein FRS2, pp60(c-src), cortactin and growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43). Dominant-negative FGFR-4, inhibitors of FGFR signalling and anti-beta(1)-integrin antibodies repress matrix adhesion induced by N-CAM. FGF ligands can replace N-CAM in promoting matrix adhesion but not neurite outgrowth. The results indicate that N-CAM stimulates beta1-integrin-mediated cell-matrix adhesion by activating FGFR signalling. This is a potential mechanism for preventing the dissemination of metastatic tumour cells.
Endocytosis and targeting of growth factor receptors for lysosomal degradation have been associated with ubiquitination of the intracellular part of the receptors. To elucidate the role of receptor ubiquitination in internalization and sorting of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), we constructed several mutants of FGFR1 in which lysines, potential ubiquitination sites, were substituted for arginines. Substitution of all lysine residues in the intracellular part of FGFR1 resulted in inactivation of the tyrosine kinase domain of the receptor. However, several multilysine FGFR1 mutants, where up to 26 of 29 lysines in the intracellular part of the receptor were mutated, retained tyrosine kinase activity. The active multilysine mutants were poorly ubiquitinated, but internalized normally, indicating that ubiquitination of the receptor is not required for endocytosis. In contrast, degradation of the multilysine mutants was dramatically reduced as the mutants were inefficiently transported to lysosomes but rather sorted to recycling endosomes. The altered sorting resulted in sustained signaling. The duration of FGFR1 signaling seems to be tightly regulated by receptor ubiquitination and subsequent sorting to the lysosomes for degradation.
Present in an inactive conformation in the absence of bound ligand. Ligand binding leads to dimerization and activation by autophosphorylation on tyrosine residues.
Endocytosis and targeting of growth factor receptors for lysosomal degradation have been associated with ubiquitination of the intracellular part of the receptors. To elucidate the role of receptor ubiquitination in internalization and sorting of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), we constructed several mutants of FGFR1 in which lysines, potential ubiquitination sites, were substituted for arginines. Substitution of all lysine residues in the intracellular part of FGFR1 resulted in inactivation of the tyrosine kinase domain of the receptor. However, several multilysine FGFR1 mutants, where up to 26 of 29 lysines in the intracellular part of the receptor were mutated, retained tyrosine kinase activity. The active multilysine mutants were poorly ubiquitinated, but internalized normally, indicating that ubiquitination of the receptor is not required for endocytosis. In contrast, degradation of the multilysine mutants was dramatically reduced as the mutants were inefficiently transported to lysosomes but rather sorted to recycling endosomes. The altered sorting resulted in sustained signaling. The duration of FGFR1 signaling seems to be tightly regulated by receptor ubiquitination and subsequent sorting to the lysosomes for degradation.
Enzyme which catalyzes the transfer of the terminal phosphate of ATP to a specific tyrosine residue on its target protein. Many of these kinases play significant roles in development and cell division. Tyrosine-protein kinases can be divided into two subfamilies: receptor tyrosine kinases, which have an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain, a transmembrane domain and an extracellular ligand-binding domain; and non-receptor (cytoplasmic) tyrosine kinases, which are soluble, cytoplasmic kinases.
A reference proteome is a set of protein sequences derived from a complete proteome which constitutes a defined standard for a particular user community. Reference proteomes are manually defined according to a number of criteria. They cover the proteomes of well- studied model organisms and other proteomes of interest for biomedical and biotechnological research. Reference proteomes have been selected to provide broad coverage of the tree of life, and constitute a representative cross-section of the taxonomic diversity to be found within UniProtKB.