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Joseph Schlessinger, PhD

William H. Prusoff Professor of Pharmacology; Co-Director, Cancer Biology Institute

Contact Information

Joseph Schlessinger, PhD

Office Location

Mailing Address

  • Pharmacology

    PO Box 208066, 333 Cedar Street

    New Haven, CT 06520-8066

    United States

Schlessinger Lab

Research Summary

Our laboratory is exploring the mode of action of growth factor receptors and the intracellular signaling pathways that are activated in response to growth factor stimulation. Receptor tyrosine kinases and cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinases play a critical role in the control of many cellular processes including: cell proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, as well as cell survival and cell migration. Various diseases are caused by dysfunctions in receptor tyrosine kinases or in critical components of signaling pathways that are activated by receptors tyrosine kinases. In addition, various developmental disorders are caused by loss of function mutations in receptor tyrosine kinases. We are using biochemical and genetic approaches as well as X-ray crystallography to determine the mechanism of activation of receptor tyrosine kinases, how they recruit target proteins, and the mode of action of downstream signaling proteins in normal cellular processes and in diseases caused by dysfunctional receptor tyrosine kinases.

Specialized Terms: Growth factor receptors; Intracellular signaling pathways; Protein kinases; Phosphorylation; SH2, SH3 and other protein modules involved in signal transduction; Drug discovery

Extensive Research Description

Tyrosine phosphorylation plays a critical role in the control of many cellular processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, as well as cell survival and migration. Receptor tyrosine kinases undergo ligand dependent dimerization which activates their intrinsic protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) domains. We have determined the crystal structure of Stem cell factor (SCF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF), two ligands of receptor tyrosine kinases. In addition, we have determined the crystal structure of FGF in complex with the extracellular ligand binding domain of FGF-receptor (FGFR) and with a heparin sulfate oligosacchride. The structure of the ternary FGF/heparin/FGFR complex provides a molecular view of how FGF acts in concert with heparin to induce the dimerization and activation of FGF-receptors. We have also determined the crystal structure of the catalytic PTK domain of FGFR in complex with an ATP analogue or in complex with specific PTK inhibitors of FGFR activity and function. These structures enabled the development of new specific inhibitor for PTKs that are currently being tested in clinical trials. Receptor tyrosine kinases undergo ligand-dependent dimerization, which activates their intrinsic protein tyrosine kinase activity resulting in autophosphorylation and subsequent interaction and recruitment of multiple cellular target proteins. The phosphorylated tyrosine residues together with their immediate flanking sequences function as binding sites for signaling molecules containing src homology 2 (SH2) domains. Many signaling proteins carry SH2 domains plus one or more small protein modules such as SH3, PH, PTB, WW or FYVE domains. These protein modules function as mediator of protein-protein or protein-lipid interactions that are critical for signal transmission. In addition to direct recruitment by RTKs, many signaling proteins are recruited by an alternative mechanism involving a family of membrane linked docking proteins such as FRS-2a, and b, IRS-1 and 2, and Gab-1 and 2, among many others. Recruitment of signaling proteins by RTKs or by docking proteins leads to activation of multiple signaling pathways resulting in stimulation of a variety of cellular responses. The small adapter protein Grb2, for example, is bound through its SH3 domains to short, proline-rich sequences in the carboxy terminal tail of the guanine nucleotide-releasing factor Sos. Interaction between Grb2 and Sos with tyrosine phosphorylated RTKs or docking proteins results in translocation of Sos to the plasma membrane allowing the exchange of GDP for GTP on Ras. The activated GTP-bound form of Ras then starts a kinase cascade composed of Raf, MAPKK, and MAPK leading to phosphorylation of prooncogene Jun on serine and threonine residues to induce transcriptional activation. These and other signaling pathways that are activated by RTKs regulate multiple cellular processes. Many cancers and other diseases are caused by dysfunctions in RTKs or in components of their intracellular pathways.

Research Interests

Pharmacology; Phosphorylation; Protein Kinases; Signal Transduction; Crystallography, X-Ray; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Cell Proliferation; Drug Discovery

Selected Publications

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