title: MAPkinase: a second site of G-protein regulation of B-cell activation via the antigen receptors.
abstract: Ligation of the antigen receptors on B cells transduces transmembrane signals leading to the induction of DNA synthesis. We now show that a pertussis toxin-sensitive heterotrimeric G-protein(s) of the Gi class plays a key role in the regulation of surface immunoglobulin (sIg)-mediated DNA synthesis in B cells. This site of G-protein regulation is distinct from that we have previously reported to govern the coupling of the antigen receptors on B cells to the phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate. We have, moreover, identified a candidate target for this new G-protein regulation by showing that mitogen-activating protein kinase (MAPkinase) activity, which plays a key role in the transduction of sIg-mediated proliferative signals in B cells, is abrogated by pre-exposure to pertussis toxin that covalently modifies and inactivates heterotrimeric G-proteins of the Gi class. Furthermore, our data suggest that this pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein couples the antigen receptors to MAPkinase activation, at least in part, by regulating sIg-coupling to Lyn, Syk and perhaps Blk and Fyn activity, results consistent with studies in other systems which show that classical G-protein-coupled receptors recruit such protein tyrosine kinases to tranduce MAPkinase activation. Interestingly, however, this G-protein plays no apparent role in the control of up-regulation of major histocompatibility complex class II expression on B cells, suggesting that such G-protein-regulated-tyrosine kinase and MAPkinase activation is not required for the induction of this biological response following antigen receptor ligation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Deehan
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Klaus
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Holman
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Harnett
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Harnett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; D014443:Tyrosine; D004247:DNA; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins