Src-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation regulates dynamin self-assembly and ligand-induced endocytosis of the epidermal growth factor receptor.

Endocytosis of ligand-activated receptors requires dynamin-mediated GTP hydrolysis, which is regulated by dynamin self-assembly. Here, we demonstrate that phosphorylation of dynamin I by c-Src induces its self-assembly and increases its GTPase activity. Electron microscopic analyses reveal that tyrosine-phosphorylated dynamin I spontaneously self-assembles into large stacks of rings. Tyrosine 597 was identified as being phosphorylated both in vitro and in cultured cells following epidermal growth factor receptor stimulation. The replacement of tyrosine 597 with phenylalanine impairs Src kinase-induced dynamin I self-assembly and GTPase activity in vitro. Expression of Y597F dynamin I in cells attenuates agonist-driven epidermal growth factor receptor internalization. Thus, c-Src-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation is required for the function of dynamin in ligand-induced signaling receptor internalization.