The Tec family of tyrosine kinases in T cells, amplifiers of T cell receptor signals.
ITK and Rlk/Txk are the predominant Tec family of tyrosine kinases expressed in T cells, and are involved in T cell antigen receptor mediated activation of T cells. These kinases require prior activation of Lck, Zap-70 and PI3-kinase for efficient activation. They share major substrates with both Lck and Zap-70, however the pathways they regulate are unclear. Recent evidence suggests that these kinases may not activate unique pathways, but instead serve as amplifiers for the upstream kinases Lck and Zap-70. This review will discuss the evidence for this view.
Immunology Research Laboratories and Department of Veterinary Science, The Pennsylvania State University, 115 Henning Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA. axa45@psu.edu
Avery
A
August
Angela
A
Fischer
Shengli
S
Hao
Cynthia
C
Mueller
Melanie
M
Ragin
D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology*
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; C089848:Tec protein-tyrosine kinase; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases