Recycling of epidermal growth factor in A431 cells

Abstract

The fate of epidermal growth factor (EGF) after internalization by A431 cells was studied. First, cells containing ¹²⁵I-EGF-receptor complexes in endosomes were obtained. Subsequent incubation of the cells at 37°C resulted in the recycling of ¹²⁵I-EGF from endosomes to the cell surface in the receptor-bound state and the gradual release of recycled ligand into the medium. The excess of unlabeled EGF blocked both rebinding and re-internalization of recycled ¹²⁵I-EGF to produce enhanced accumulation of ligand in the medium. The rate of recycling was shown to be much higher than that of EGF degradation.