Regulation and functional roles of Grb14

Grb14 is the last described member of the Grb7 family of adaptors, containing Grb7, Grb10 and Grb14. These proteins share a series of conserved domains involved in protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions: an amino terminal proline-rich region, a C-terminal SH2 domain, and a central GM region containing a RA, a PH domain, and a newly described PIR (BPS) region. As shown for the other members of the Grb7/10/14 family, Grb14 binds to various receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) under ligand induction. This interaction involves the SH2 and PIR domains, and the respective participation of these domains is likely to be a determinant in the specificity of action of Grb14. At the present time, a role for this Grb14-RTK interaction was established only for insulin (IR) and FGF receptors (FGFR). Grb14, through its PIR, is an inhibitor of IR tyrosine kinase activity and thus of insulin effects. Grb14 also decreases FGF signaling, but more probably by interfering with cellular effectors downstream from the receptor. Only a few cytosolic partners of Grb14 are identified. One of them, the adaptor ZIP, allows phosphorylation of Grb14, and regulation of its inhibitory action on IR signaling. The identification of further proteins interacting with Grb14 is required to elucidate the biological role of this protein.