Ethanol modulates epidermal growth factor-stimulated tyrosine kinase and phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1

A431 cells have an abundance of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) receptors which possess intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. Treatment of membranes isolated from A431 cells with EGF caused a 2-3 fold increase in phosphorylation of a synthetic peptide (Arg-Arg-Leu-Ile-Glu-Asp-Ala-Glu-Tyr-Ala-Ala-Arg-Gly) which is a substrate for tyrosine kinase. Treatment of these membranes with 0.1 to 100 mM ethanol altered basal tyrosine kinase activity in a biphasic manner; increase at 10 mM and decrease at 100 mM ethanol. The treatment of the membranes with the same concentrations of ethanol also altered EGF's ability to stimulate tyrosine kinase activity: increase at 0.1 mM ethanol and decrease at 10 mM. Strikingly, EGF-stimulated tyrosine kinase was more sensitive to ethanol than the basal activity. Experiments with other alcohols showed a relationship between chain length and the inhibitory ability of the alcohol. These data demonstrate a biochemical effect of low concentrations of ethanol on tyrosine kinase. Interestingly, ethanol treatment of A431 cells inhibited EGF-stimulated phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 which is a substrate for EGF receptor tyrosine kinase. It is concluded that ethanol at low concentrations has significant modulatory effect on basal and EGF-stimulated tyrosine kinase, as well as PLC-gamma 1 phosphorylation.