Scaffolds, adaptors and linkers of TCR signaling: theory and practice.
Four non-enzymatic proteins form the structural core of the TCR signaling machinery, linking antigen-receptor activation to signaling. These four proteins, each with well defined protein-protein interaction domains, include three 'scaffolds' (LAT, SLP-76 and SLAP-130/Fyb/ADAP and a 'pure adaptor' (GADS). The biological functions of many distinct protein-protein interaction domains have been dissected through a methodological series of knockout and reconstitution experiments. In reviewing these recent advances, we attempt to address two questions often asked by immunologists not familiar with the field: what do scaffolds/adaptors/linkers do; and what do these terms mean?
Burack
W Richard
WR
Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Cheng
Alec M
AM
Shaw
Andrey S
AS
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D051380:GRB2 Adaptor Protein; D006801:Humans; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D011506:Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C106957:FYB1 protein, human; C409587:GRAP2 protein, human; D051380:GRB2 Adaptor Protein; C495948:GRB2 protein, human; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011506:Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; C092947:SLP-76 signal Transducing adaptor proteins