Trans-inactivation of receptor tyrosine kinases by novel angiotensin II AT2 receptor-interacting protein, ATIP

Negative regulation of mitogenic pathways is a fundamental process that remains poorly characterized. The angiotensin II AT2 Receptor is a rare example of a 7-transmembrane domain receptor that negatively cross-talks with Receptor Tyrosine Kinases to inhibit cell growth. In the present study, we report the molecular cloning of a novel protein, ATIP1 (AT2-interacting protein), which interacts with the C-terminal tail of the AT2 Receptor, but not with those of Other receptors such as angiotensin AT1, bradykinin BK2, and adrenergic beta(2) receptor. ATIP1 defines a family of at least four members that possess the same domain of interaction with the AT2 Receptor, contain a large coiled-coil region, and are able to dimerize. Ectopic expression of ATIP1 in eukaryotic cells leads to inhibition of Insulin, basic Fibroblast Growth Factor, and epidermal growth factor-induced ERK2 activation and DNA synthesis, and attenuates Insulin Receptor autophosphorylation, in the same way as the AT2 Receptor. The inhibitory effect of ATIP1 requires expression, but not ligand activation, of the AT2 Receptor and is further increased in the presence of Ang II, indicating that ATIP1 cooperates with AT2 to transinactivate Receptor Tyrosine Kinases. Our findings therefore identify ATIP1 as a novel early component of growth inhibitory signaling cascade.