Ligand-induced internalization and increased cell calcium are mediated via distinct structural elements in the carboxyl terminus of the epidermal growth factor receptor.

Signals that can mediate ligand-induced receptor internalization and calcium regulation are present in a 48-amino acid "calcium-internalization" domain in the C' terminus of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. The basis of calcium and internalization regulation signalled by this 48-amino acid sequence was analyzed using deletion and substitution mutant receptors. Cells expressing truncated receptors containing either the NH2- or COOH-terminal portion of the 48-residue domain displayed high affinity EGF-dependent endocytosis and receptor down-regulation. These endocytosis-competent EGF receptor mutants that lacked any autophosphorylation site were unable to increase the concentration of intracellular calcium. To investigate the role of self-phosphorylation in EGF-induced calcium mobilization, phenylalanine was substituted for the single autophosphorylated tyrosine residue in this region of an internalization-competent truncated receptor. The receptor-mediated calcium response was abolished, while ligand-dependent receptor internalization was unimpaired. These results demonstrate that EGF-dependent receptor endocytosis and calcium mobilization are separate events. Tyrosine self-phosphorylation is required for increased Ca2+i, while structural features distinct from autophosphorylation are required for receptor internalization.