Src Kinase becomes preferentially associated with the VEGFR, KDR/Flk-1, following VEGF stimulation of vascular endothelial cells

Mary T Chou¹^,2 , Jing Wang¹^,2^,3 and Donald J Fujita¹^,2

¹Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary Health Sciences Center, 3330 Hospital Dr. N.W., Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 4N1

²Cancer Biology Research Group, University of Calgary Health Sciences Center, 3330 Hospital Dr. N.W., Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 4N1

³Current address: Sangstat, Fremont, CA, 94555

author email corresponding author email

BMC Biochemistry 2002, 3:32doi:10.1186/1471-2091-3-32


Published:	31 December 2002

Abstract

Background

The cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase, Src, has been found to play a crucial role in VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) – dependent vascular permeability involved in angiogenesis. The two main VEGFRs present on vascular endothelial cells are KDR/Flk-1 (kinase insert domain-containing receptor/fetal liver kinase-1) and Flt-1 (Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1). However, to date, it has not been determined which VEGF receptor (VEGFR) is involved in binding to and activating Src kinase following VEGF stimulation of the receptors.

Results

In this report, we demonstrate that Src preferentially associates with KDR/Flk-1 rather than Flt-1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and that VEGF stimulation resulted in an increase of Src activity associated with activated KDR/Flk-1. These findings were determined through immunoprecipitation-kinase experiments and coimmunoprecipitation studies, and were further confirmed by GST-pull-down assays and Far Western studies. However, Fyn and Yes, unlike Src, were found to associate preferentially with Flt-1.

Conclusions

Thus, Src preferentially associates with KDR/Flk-1, rather than with Flt-1, upon VEGF stimulation in endothelial cells. Our findings further highlight the potential significance of upregulated KDR/Flk-1-associated Src activity in the process of angiogenesis, and help to elucidate more clearly the specific roles and mechanisms involving Src family tyrosine kinase in VEGF-stimulated signal transduction events.