Activators of protein kinase C induce dissociation of CD4, but not CD8, from p56lck

The CD4 and CD8 T cell receptor accessory molecules can both be isolated from T lymphocytes in association with p56lck, a membrane-associated, cytoplasmic tyrosine protein kinase that is expressed exclusively in lymphoid cells. The enzymatic activity of p56lck may therefore be regulated by CD4 and CD8 and be important in antigen-induced T cell activation. Exposure of human T cells and some mouse T cells to the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), an activator of protein kinase C, caused the dissociation of p56lck and CD4. Activation of protein kinase C may therefore interrupt regulation of p56lck by CD4 and alter the ability of p56lck to interact with polypeptide substrates. In contrast, exposure of cells to TPA did not cause dissociation of p56lck and CD8. Regulation of p56lck by CD4 may therefore differ from regulation by CD8.     

Specific expression of a tyrosine kinase gene, blk, in B lymphoid cells

Several pathways of transmembrane signaling in lymphocytes involve protein-tyrosine phosphorylation. With the exception of p56lck, a tyrosine kinase specific to T lymphoid cells that associates with the T cell transmembrane proteins CD4 and CD8, the kinases that function in these pathways are unknown. A murine lymphocyte complementary DNA that represents a new member of the src family has now been isolated and characterized. This complementary DNA, termed blk (for B lymphoid kinase), specifies a polypeptide of 55 kilodaltons that is related to, but distinct from, previously identified retroviral or cellular tyrosine kinases. The protein encoded by blk exhibits tyrosine kinase activity when expressed in bacterial cells. In the mouse and among cell lines, blk is specifically expressed in the B cell lineage. The tyrosine kinase encoded by blk may function in a signal transduction pathway that is restricted to B lymphoid cells.     

Cloning and expression of the human interleukin-6 (BSF-2/IFN beta 2) receptor

Interleukin-6 (IL-6/BSF-2/IFN beta 2) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates the growth and differentiation of various tissues, and is known particularly for its role in the immune response and acute phase reactions. A complementary DNA encoding the human IL-6 receptor (IL-6-R) has now been isolated. The IL-6-R consists of 468 amino acids, including a signal peptide of approximately 19 amino acids and a domain of approximately 90 amino acids that is similar to a domain in the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily. The cytoplasmic domain of approximately 82 amino acids lacks a tyrosine/kinase domain, unlike other growth factor receptors.     

Interleukin-2 receptor beta chain gene: generation of three receptor forms by cloned human alpha and beta chain cDNA's

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) binds to two distinct receptor molecules, the IL-2 receptor alpha (IL-2R alpha, p55) chain and the newly identified IL-2 receptor beta (IL-2R beta, p70-75) chain. The cDNA encoding the human IL-2R beta chain has now been isolated. The overall primary structure of the IL-2R beta chain shows no apparent homology to other known receptors. Unlike the IL-2R alpha chain, the IL-2R beta chain has a large cytoplasmic region in which a functional domain (or domains) mediating an intracellular signal transduction pathway (or pathways) may be embodied. The cDNA-encoded beta chain binds and internalizes IL-2 when expressed on T lymphoid cells but not fibroblast cells. Furthermore, the cDNA gives rise to the generation of high-affinity IL-2 receptor when co-expressed with the IL-2R alpha chain cDNA.     

Cloning of an interleukin-3 receptor gene: a member of a distinct receptor gene family

Interleukin-3 (IL-3) binds to its receptor with high and low affinities, induces tyrosine phosphorylation, and promotes the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. A binding component of the IL-3 receptor was cloned. Fibroblasts transfected with the complementary DNA bound IL-3 with a low affinity [dissociation constant (Kd) of 17.9 +/- 3.6 nM]. No consensus sequence for a tyrosine kinase was present in the cytoplasmic domain. Thus, additional components are required for a functional high affinity IL-3 receptor. A sequence comparison of the IL-3 receptor with other cytokine receptors (erythropoietin, IL-4, IL-6, and the beta chain IL-2 receptor) revealed a common motif of a distinct receptor gene family.     

Structural mutations of the T cell receptor zeta chain and its role in T cell activation

T cell hybridomas that express zeta zeta, but not zeta eta, dimers in their T cell receptors (TCRs) produce interleukin-2 (IL-2) and undergo an inhibition of spontaneous growth when activated by antigen, antibodies to the receptor, or antibodies to Thy-1. Hybridomas without zeta and eta were reconstituted with mutated zeta chains. Cytoplasmic truncations of up to 40% of the zeta molecule reconstituted normal surface assembly of TCRs, but antigen-induced IL-2 secretion and growth inhibition were lost. In contrast, cross-linking antibodies to the TCR activated these cells. A point mutation conferred the same signaling phenotype as did the truncations and caused defective antigen-induced tyrosine kinase activation. Thus zeta allows the binding of antigen/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) to alpha beta to effect TCR signaling.     

A 32-kD GTP-binding protein associated with the CD4-p56lck and CD8-p56lck T cell receptor complexes

The guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding proteins include signal-transducing heterotrimeric G proteins (for example, Gs, Gi), smaller GTP-binding proteins that function in protein sorting, and the oncogenic protein p21ras. The T cell receptor complexes CD4-p56lck and CD8-p56lck were found to include a 32- to 33-kilodalton phosphoprotein (p32) that was recognized by an antiserum to a consensus GTP-binding region in G proteins. Immunoprecipitated CD4 and CD8 complexes bound GTP and hydrolyzed it to guanosine diphosphate (GDP). The p32 protein was covalently linked to [alpha-32P]GTP by ultraviolet photoaffinity labeling. These results demonstrate an interaction between T cell receptor complexes and an intracellular GTP-binding protein.     

EGF receptor and erbB-2 tyrosine kinase domains confer cell specificity for mitogenic signaling

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) can efficiently couple with mitogenic signaling pathways when it is transfected into interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent 32D hematopoietic cells. When expression vectors for erbB-2, which is structurally related to EGFR, or its truncated counterpart, delta NerbB-2, were introduced into 32D cells, neither was capable of inducing proliferation. This was despite overexpression and constitutive tyrosine kinase activity of their products at levels associated with potent transformation of fibroblast target cells. Thus, EGFR and erbB-2 couple with distinct mitogenic signaling pathways. The region responsible for the specificity of intracellular signal transduction was localized to a 270-amino acid stretch encompassing their respective tyrosine kinase domains. Thus, tissue- or cell-specific regulation of growth factor receptor signaling can occur at a point after the initial interaction of growth factor with receptor. Such specificity in signal transduction may account for the selection of certain oncogenes in some malignancies.     

Long-term survival but impaired homeostatic proliferation of Naïve T cells in the absence of p56lck

Interactions between the T cell receptor (TCR) and major histocompatibility complex antigens are essential for the survival and homeostasis of peripheral T lymphocytes. However, little is known about the TCR signaling events that result from these interactions. The peripheral T cell pool of p56lck (lck)-deficient mice was reconstituted by the expression of an inducible lck transgene. Continued survival of peripheral na?ve T cells was observed for long periods after switching off the transgene. Adoptive transfer of T cells from these mice into T lymphopoienic hosts confirmed that T cell survival was independent of lck but revealed its essential role in TCR-driven homeostatic proliferation of na?ve T cells in response to the T cell-deficient host environment. These data suggest that survival and homeostatic expansion depend on different signals.     

Integration of TGF-beta and Ras/MAPK signaling through p53 phosphorylation

During development and tissue homeostasis, cells must integrate different signals. We investigated how cell behavior is controlled by the combined activity of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling, whose integration mechanism is unknown. We find that RTK/Ras/MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) activity induces p53 N-terminal phosphorylation, enabling the interaction of p53 with the TGF-beta-activated Smads. This mechanism confines mesoderm specification in Xenopus embryos and promotes TGF-beta cytostasis in human cells. These data indicate a mechanism to allow extracellular cues to specify the TGF-beta gene-expression program.     

Phosphorylation by p38 MAPK as an alternative pathway for GSK3beta inactivation

Glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) is involved in metabolism, neurodegeneration, and cancer. Inhibition of GSK3beta activity is the primary mechanism that regulates this widely expressed active kinase. Although the protein kinase Akt inhibits GSK3beta by phosphorylation at the N terminus, preventing Akt-mediated phosphorylation does not affect the cell-survival pathway activated through the GSK3beta substrate beta-catenin. Here, we show that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) also inactivates GSK3beta by direct phosphorylation at its C terminus, and this inactivation can lead to an accumulation of beta-catenin. p38 MAPK-mediated phosphorylation of GSK3beta occurs primarily in the brain and thymocytes. Activation of beta-catenin-mediated signaling through GSK3beta inhibition provides a potential mechanism for p38 MAPK-mediated survival in specific tissues.     

Pyogenic bacterial infections in humans with IRAK-4 deficiency

Members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) and interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) superfamily share an intracytoplasmic Toll-IL-1 receptor (TIR) domain, which mediates recruitment of the interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) complex via TIR-containing adapter molecules. We describe three unrelated children with inherited IRAK-4 deficiency. Their blood and fibroblast cells did not activate nuclear factor kappaB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and failed to induce downstream cytokines in response to any of the known ligands of TIR-bearing receptors. The otherwise healthy children developed infections caused by pyogenic bacteria. These findings suggest that, in humans, the TIR-IRAK signaling pathway is crucial for protective immunity against specific bacteria but is redundant against most other microorganisms.     

The IL-2 receptor beta chain (p70): role in mediating signals for LAK, NK, and proliferative activities

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) induces cytolytic activity and proliferation of human blood lymphocytes. Yet, prior to activation, these cells do not express IL-2 receptors recognized by monoclonal antibodies to the Tac antigen. A novel glycoprotein (IL-2R beta), identified on several lymphocytoid cell lines, has the ability to bind IL-2 alone and to associate with Tac antigen (IL-2R alpha) to form high-affinity IL-2 receptors. It is now reported that IL-2R beta is expressed on both circulating T lymphocytes and large granular lymphocytes in quantities approximately proportional to their responsiveness to IL-2. Studies of the responses of these cells to IL-2 suggest that IL-2R beta mediates the initial phase of induction of lymphokine activated killer (LAK), natural killer (NK), and proliferative activities. Subsequently, IL-2R alpha is induced and functional high-affinity IL-2 receptors are expressed.     

家蚕eIF2α全长cDNA克隆及生物信息学分析

【目的】克隆家蚕eIF2α全长cDNA,分析家蚕抗BmDNV-Z品系、感性品系eIF2α的点突变。【方法】利用荧光差异显示技术,在易感浓核病毒中国镇江株(BmDNV-Z)的家蚕品系华八中获得感性特异条带G13-1b650,通过电子延伸,设计特异引物验证。【结果】克隆了家蚕eIF2α（BmeIF2α）全长cDNA。其全长为1 100 bp（GenBank登录号：DQ073458）,ORF框为999 bp,编码332个氨基酸。BmeIF2α蛋白与草地贪夜蛾eIF2α蛋白同源性高达94.3%。具有保守的磷酸化位点S（51）R（52）R（52）R（54）R（56）K（60）R（63）。BmeIF2α有推定的3个蛋白激酶C磷酸化、5个酪氨酸激酶磷酸化、9个酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化、3个依赖cAMP与cGMP蛋白激酶磷酸化位点,2个酪氨酸硫酸盐化位点,1个糖基化位点。【结论】家蚕易感品系的eIF2α在113～127位的"H V A E L L H Y E T S E Q S E"为酪氨酸硫酸盐化位点,而完全抗性品系eIF2α发生C378→T突变,导致Ser126→Leu,缺少了113～127位的酪氨酸硫酸盐化位点。     

Prostaglandin E2 promotes colon cancer cell growth through a Gs-axin-beta-catenin signaling axis

How cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and its proinflammatory metabolite prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) enhance colon cancer progression remains poorly understood. We show that PGE2 stimulates colon cancer cell growth through its heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptor, EP2, by a signaling route that involves the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and the protein kinase Akt by free G protein betagamma subunits and the direct association of the G protein alphas subunit with the regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) domain of axin. This leads to the inactivation and release of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta from its complex with axin, thereby relieving the inhibitory phosphorylation of beta-catenin and activating its signaling pathway. These findings may provide a molecular framework for the future evaluation of chemopreventive strategies for colorectal cancer.     

Structure of nerve growth factor complexed with the shared neurotrophin receptor p75

Neurotrophins are secreted growth factors critical for the development and maintenance of the vertebrate nervous system. Neurotrophins activate two types of cell surface receptors, the Trk receptor tyrosine kinases and the shared p75 neurotrophin receptor. We have determined the 2.4 A crystal structure of the prototypic neurotrophin, nerve growth factor (NGF), complexed with the extracellular domain of p75. Surprisingly, the complex is composed of an NGF homodimer asymmetrically bound to a single p75. p75 binds along the homodimeric interface of NGF, which disables NGF's symmetry-related second p75 binding site through an allosteric conformational change. Thus, neurotrophin signaling through p75 may occur by disassembly of p75 dimers and assembly of asymmetric 2:1 neurotrophin/p75 complexes, which could potentially engage a Trk receptor to form a trimolecular signaling complex.