We have previously shown that the T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TC-PTP) dephosphorylates the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) β-receptor. Here, we show that the increased PDGF β-receptor phosphorylation in TC-PTP knockout (ko) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) occurs primarily on the cell surface. The increased phosphorylation is accompanied by a TC-PTP–dependent, monensin-sensitive delay in clearance of cell surface PDGF β-receptors and delayed receptor degradation, suggesting PDGF β-receptor recycling. Recycled receptors could also be directly detected on the cell surface of TC-PTP ko MEFs. The effect of TC-PTP depletion was specific for the PDGF β-receptor, because PDGF α-receptor homodimers were cleared from the cell surface at the same rate in TC-PTP ko MEFs as in wild-type MEFs. Interestingly, PDGF αβ-receptor heterodimers were recycling. Analysis by confocal microscopy revealed that, in TC-PTP ko MEFs, activated PDGF β-receptors colocalized with Rab4a, a marker for rapid recycling. In accordance with this, transient expression of a dominant-negative Rab4a construct increased the rate of clearance of cell surface receptors on TC-PTP ko MEFs. Thus, loss of TC-PTP specifically redirects the PDGF β-receptor toward rapid recycling, which is the first evidence of differential trafficking of PDGF receptor family members.
Generation of a monoclonal antibody recognizing the extracellular domain of cell‐surface protein tyrosine phosphatase alpha
