Fibroblast and epidermal growth factor receptor expression in Xenopus oocytes displays distinct calcium oscillatory patterns

Abstract Electrophysiological study performed with the voltage clamp technique was used to examine the intracellular calcium pathway activated by tyrosine kinase receptor members. Three FGF receptors from Pleurodeles PR1, PR3, PR4, homologs to human receptors, and the human EGF receptor were expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Under FGF1, FGF2 and FGF4 stimulation, PR1 and PR3 display a one phase inward chloride calcium dependent current superimposed by sustained oscillations, whereas PR4 did not show any oscillations. These currents were dependent on intracellular calcium mobilisation, as the responses were reduced by caffeine (10 mM). Solely PR4 responses were affected by an extracellular calcium depleted solution suggesting the involvement of concomitant extracellular and intracellular calcium intervention in the calcium chloride current, whereas PR1 and PR3 did not. Under EGF stimulation, the EGF receptor elicits a two component inward current composed of an undelayed rapid transient dependent on intracellular calcium store recruitment followed by a second slower current dependent on calcium influx. The specific pattern and amplitude of the calcium oscillations induced by the combinatorial action of growth factors on their receptors could be relevant in numerous calcium dependent cell functions.