[Effect of wortmannin on endocytosis of epidermal growth factor receptors]

Using subcellular fractionation of human carcinoma A431 cells in Percoll gradient it was shown that P13-kinase (P13-K) inhibitor wortmannin blocked the transition of the EGF-receptor complexes from the early to the late endosomes. Under conditions when the receptor TK-dependent sorting system is mainly involved, i.e. at low EGF concentrations, the efficiency of sorting was seen to fall 5-10-folls in the presence of wortmannin compared to the control. At high EGF concentrations of the toxin inhibitory effect was no more than 30%. Immunofluorescent analysis has demonstrated that wortmannin treatment led to a juxtranuclear localization of EGF-receptors, which is presumably characteristic of the late endosomes. However, this localization became obvious even in 15 min following endocytosis stimulation, when EGF-receptors, according to the Percoll data, were associated mainly with the early endosomes. A possible role of phosphatidylinositol metabolism products in endocytosis regulation is discussed in addition to the structural and functional organization of the early endosomal compartments. A conclusion is made that P13-K may be a component of the EGF receptor-specific sorting system.