BLNK mediates Syk-dependent Btk activation.
Btk is a critical molecule in B cell antigen receptor (BCR)-coupled signaling, and its activity is regulated by Lyn and Syk. Although the molecular mechanism of Lyn-dependent Btk activation has been investigated, that of Syk-dependent Btk activation has remained unidentified. We have demonstrated that BLNK mediates Syk-dependent Btk activation. In a reconstitution cell system, coexpression of BLNK allows Syk to phosphorylate Btk on its tyrosine 551, leading to the enhancement of Btk activity. This phosphorylation depends on the interaction of Btk and BLNK by means of the Btk-Src homology 2 domain. The existence of such an activation mechanism is supported by the observation that the BCR-induced Btk phosphorylation and activation are significantly reduced in BLNK-deficient B cells as well as in Syk-deficient B cells. Although previous observations have identified the function of BLNK as the linker that integrates the action of Btk and Syk into downstream effectors such as phospholipase Cgamma2, our present study indicates another function of BLNK that connects the activity of Syk to that of Btk.
Department of Molecular Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Y
Y
Baba
S
S
Hashimoto
M
M
Matsushita
D
D
Watanabe
T
T
Kishimoto
T
T
Kurosaki
S
S
Tsukada
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000077329:Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D000072377:Syk Kinase
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C113939:B cell linker protein; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D000077329:Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase; C000625949:BTK protein, human; C000606896:SYK protein, human; D000072377:Syk Kinase