Muscarinic M2 receptors mediate transactivation of EGF receptor through Fyn kinase and without matrix metalloproteases

Transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) has been attributed to the activation of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and the release of EGF family ligands such as HB-EGF. This mode of transactivation leads to signalling downstream of EGFR which is indistinguishable from that induced by the ligand. Here we provide evidence that in the COS-7 cell model EGFR transactivation via the muscarinic M2 receptor (M2R) is independent of MMPs and results in an incomplete EGFR signalling including ERK and Akt but not PLCγ1. Using dominant-negative mutants of c-Src and Fyn and Src-deficient SYF cells as well as by co-immunoprecipitation studies, we can demonstrate that the M2R-mediated transactivation of EGFR specifically involves Fyn but not c-Src or Yes. This specific role of Fyn can be verified in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells with endogenously expressed M2 receptors.