Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) chimeras were used to map a domain responsible for either efficient secretion of PDGF-A or the tight cell association of PDGF-B to their carboxy-terminal domains. Introduction of stop codons within PDGF-A or PDGF-B further dissected their respective carboxy-terminal domains. Although successive deletions of the PDGF-A carboxyl terminus did not impair its secretion, incremental deletions from the carboxyl terminus of PDGF-B abrogated its membrane retention properties and promoted secretion. By this approach, PDGF-B retention properties could be localized to PDGF-B residues 212-226. A processed form of PDGF-B, which contained this domain, was expressed at the cell surface but not released. Comparison of PDGF-B with PDGF-A revealed an analogous sequence located at the PDGF-A carboxylterminus. We demonstrated that this PDGF-A domain also acts as a retention sequence under conditions that inhibit its proteolytic cleavage. Thus, differences in PDGF-A and PDGF-B secretion relate to differential proteolytic processing of analogous retention domains. All of these findings establish a new mechanism for stable growth factor presentation at the cell surface.

Human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a connective tissue cell mitogen comprised of two related chains encoded by distinct genes. The B chain is the homolog of the v-sis oncogene product. Properties that distinguish these ligands include greater transforming potency of the B chain and more efficient secretion of the A chain. By a strategy involving the generation of PDGF A and B chimeras, these properties were mapped to distinct domains of the respective molecules. Increased transforming efficiency segregated with the ability to activate both alpha and beta PDGF receptors. These findings genetically map PDGF B residues 105 to 144 as responsible for conformational alterations critical to beta PDGF receptor interaction and provide a mechanistic basis for the greater transforming potency of the PDGF B chain.

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Deletion scanning mutagenesis within the transforming region of the v-sis oncogene was used to dissect structure-function relationships. Mutations affecting codons within a domain encoding amino acids 136 through 148 had no effect upon homodimer formation or recognition by antisera which detect determinants dependent upon native intrachain disulfide linkages, yet the same mutations completely abolished transforming activity. A platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF B) monoclonal antibody that prevents its interaction with PDGF receptors recognized v-sis, delta 142 (deletion of codon 142), and delta 148 but not delta 136, delta 137, or delta 139 mutants. These findings mapped the epitope recognized by this monoclonal antibody to include amino acid residues 136 to 139. Furthermore, mutations in the codon 136 to 148 domain caused markedly impaired ability to induce PDGF receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. Thus, subtle conformational alterations in this small domain critically affect PDGF receptor recognition and/or functional activation.