In contrast to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, ErbB2 is known to remain at the plasma membrane after ligand binding and dimerization. However, why ErbB2 is not efficiently down-regulated has remained elusive. Basically, two possibilities exist: ErbB2 is internalization resistant or it is efficiently recycled after internalization. By a combination of confocal microscopy, immunogold labeling electron microscopy, and biochemical techniques we show that ErbB2 is preferentially associated with membrane protrusions. Moreover, it is efficiently excluded from clathrin-coated pits and is not seen in transferrin receptor-containing endosomes. This pattern is not changed after binding of EGF, heregulin, or herceptin. The exclusion from coated pits is so pronounced that it cannot just be explained by lack of an internalization signal. Although ErbB2 is a raft-associated protein, the localization of ErbB2 to protrusions is not a result of raft binding. Also, an intact actin cytoskeleton is not required for keeping ErbB2 away from coated pits. However, after efficient cross-linking, ErbB2 is removed from protrusions to occur on the bulk membrane, in coated pits, and in endosomes. These data show that ErbB2 is a remarkably internalization-resistant receptor and suggest that the mechanism underlying the firm association of ErbB2 with protrusions also is the reason for this resistance.
INTRODUCTIONErbB2, a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) family, has no specific ligand, but it is the main heterodimerization partner for the other family members (Sliwkowski et al., 1994;Yarden, 2001;Yarden and Sliwkowski, 2001). The dimerization is mediated by a unique dimerization arm localized to the extracellular (Nterminal) portion of the receptor. Whereas exposure of this arm normally requires ligand binding and reorganization of the exterior portion of ErbB receptors, it is constitutively exposed in ErbB2 (Burgess et al., 2003). Moreover, in contrast to the EGFR, which is rapidly down-regulated upon ligand stimulation (Sorkin and Von Zastrow, 2002), ErbB2 avoids delivery to lysosomes and subsequent proteolysis and has a long half-life at the plasma membrane (Gilboa et al., 1995;Baulida et al., 1996;Baulida and Carpenter, 1997;Waterman et al., 1998;Wang et al., 1999). ErbB2 expression is up-regulated in various cancers. For instance, 20 -30% of breast cancers show strong overexpression, and this correlates with poor prognosis (Slamon et al., 1989;Reese and Slamon, 1997;Eccles, 2001). The oncogenic potential of ErbB2 may in part be explained by its capability to avoid down-regulation together with its pronounced engagement in formation of heterodimers. When overexpressed, ErbB2 causes the other family members to escape the lysosomal pathway upon ligand binding and receptor activation (Yarden, 2001). However, the reason why ErbB2 escapes the lysosomal pathway and remains at the plasma membrane has remained elusive. Basically, two mechanisms could lead to retention of ErbB2 at the plasma membrane: either E...