The proto-oncogene p120(Cbl) is a downstream substrate of the Hck protein-tyrosine kinase

Hematopoietic cell kinase (HCK) as a therapeutic target in immune and cancer cells

The hematopoietic cell kinase (HCK) is a member of the SRC family of cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases (SFKs), and is expressed in cells of the myeloid and B-lymphocyte cell lineages. Excessive HCK activation is associated with several types of leukemia and enhances cell proliferation and survival by physical association with oncogenic fusion proteins, and with functional interactions with receptor tyrosine kinases. Elevated HCK activity is also observed in many solid malignancies, including breast and colon cancer, and correlates with decreased patient survival rates. HCK enhances the secretion of growth factors and pro-inflammatory cytokines from myeloid cells, and promotes macrophage polarization towards a wound healing and tumor-promoting alternatively activated phenotype. Within tumor associated macrophages, HCK stimulates the formation of podosomes that facilitate extracellular matrix degradation, which enhance immune and epithelial cell invasion. By virtue of functional cooperation between HCK and bona fide oncogenic tyrosine kinases, excessive HCK activation can also reduce drug efficacy and contribute to chemo-resistance, while genetic ablation of HCK results in minimal physiological consequences in healthy mice. Given its known crystal structure, HCK therefore provides an attractive therapeutic target to both, directly inhibit the growth of cancer cells, and indirectly curb the source of tumor-promoting changes in the tumor microenvironment.

SRC Homology 2 Domain Binding Sites in Insulin, IGF-1 and FGF receptor mediated signaling networks reveal an extensive potential interactome

Specific peptide ligand recognition by modular interaction domains is essential for the fidelity of information flow through the signal transduction networks that control cell behavior in response to extrinsic and intrinsic stimuli. Src homology 2 (SH2) domains recognize distinct phosphotyrosine peptide motifs, but the specific sites that are phosphorylated and the complement of available SH2 domains varies considerably in individual cell types. Such differences are the basis for a wide range of available protein interaction microstates from which signaling can evolve in highly divergent ways. This underlying complexity suggests the need to broadly map the signaling potential of systems as a prerequisite for understanding signaling in specific cell types as well as various pathologies that involve signal transduction such as cancer, developmental defects and metabolic disorders. This report describes interactions between SH2 domains and potential binding partners that comprise initial signaling downstream of activated fibroblast growth factor (FGF), insulin (Ins), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptors. A panel of 50 SH2 domains screened against a set of 192 phosphotyrosine peptides defines an extensive potential interactome while demonstrating the selectivity of individual SH2 domains. The interactions described confirm virtually all previously reported associations while describing a large set of potential novel interactions that imply additional complexity in the signaling networks initiated from activated receptors. This study of pTyr ligand binding by SH2 domains provides valuable insight into the selectivity that underpins complex signaling networks that are assembled using modular protein interaction domains.

Expression of a Src family kinase in chronic myelogenous leukemia cells induces resistance to imatinib in a kinase-dependent manner

The Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitor imatinib is remarkably effective in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), although drug resistance is an emerging problem. Myeloid Src family kinases such as Hck and Lyn are often overexpressed in imatinib-resistant CML cells that lack Bcr-Abl mutations. Here we tested whether Hck overexpression is sufficient to induce imatinib resistance using both wild-type Hck and a mutant (Hck-T338A) that is uniquely sensitive to the pyrazolo-pyrimidine inhibitor, NaPP1. Expression of either kinase in K562 CML cells caused resistance to imatinib-induced apoptosis and inhibition of soft-agar colony formation. Treatment with NaPP1 restored sensitivity to imatinib in cells expressing T338A but not wild-type Hck, demonstrating that resistance requires Hck kinase activity. NaPP1 also reduced Hck-mediated phosphorylation of Bcr-Abl at sites that may affect imatinib sensitivity exclusively in cells expressing Hck-T338A. These data show that elevated Src family kinase activity is sufficient to induce imatinib resistance through a mechanism that may involve phosphorylation of Bcr-Abl.

Lyn, one of the Src-family tyrosine kinases expressed in phagocytes, plays an important role in beta2 integrin-signalling pathways in opsonized zymosan-activated macrophage-like U937 cells

We have investigated the contribution of Hck, Lyn and Fgr, highly expressed Src family tyrosine kinases (SFKs) in signalling pathways in opsonized zymosan (OZ)-activated phagocytes by using short interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Treatment of macrophage-like U937 cells with the siRNAs targeted to these transcripts decreased the protein content of each kinase to less than half that of untreated cells. Among these siRNAs, siRNA targeted to Lyn was the most effective in diminishing two kinds of phagocyte functions, that is oxidative burst and phagocytosis. Phosphorylation of c-Cbl, a multidomain adaptor protein in the beta2 integrin-signalling pathway, was also largely inhibited by treatment with siRNA to Lyn. Thus, the results with siRNAs highly specific for Hck, Lyn and Fgr suggested that, among these three SFKs, Lyn plays the most important role in signalling pathways downstream of beta2 integrins in OZ-stimulated phagocytes.

Regulation of p73 by Hck through kinase-dependent and independent mechanisms

Background

p73, a p53 family member is a transcription factor that plays a role in cell cycle, differentiation and apoptosis. p73 is regulated through post translational modifications and protein interactions. c-Abl is the only known tyrosine kinase that phosphorylates and activates p73. Here we have analyzed the role of Src family kinases, which are involved in diverse signaling pathways, in regulating p73.

Results

Exogenously expressed as well as cellular Hck and p73 interact in vivo. In vitro binding assays show that SH3 domain of Hck interacts with p73. Co-expression of p73 with Hck or c-Src in mammalian cells resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation of p73. Using site directed mutational analysis, we determined that Tyr-28 was the major site of phosphorylation by Hck and c-Src, unlike c-Abl which phosphorylates Tyr-99. In a kinase dependent manner, Hck co-expression resulted in stabilization of p73 protein in the cytoplasm. Activation of Hck in HL-60 cells resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation of endogenous p73. Both exogenous and endogenous Hck localize to the nuclear as well as cytoplasmic compartment, just as does p73. Ectopically expressed Hck repressed the transcriptional activity of p73 as determined by promoter assays and semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis of the p73 target, Ipaf and MDM2. SH3 domain- dependent function of Hck was required for its effect on p73 activity, which was also reflected in its ability to inhibit p73-mediated apoptosis. We also show that Hck interacts with Yes associated protein (YAP), a transcriptional co-activator of p73, and shRNA mediated knockdown of YAP protein reduces p73 induced Ipaf promoter activation.

Conclusion

We have identified p73 as a novel substrate and interacting partner of Hck and show that it regulates p73 through mechanisms that are dependent on either catalytic activity or protein interaction domains. Hck-SH3 domain-mediated interactions play an important role in the inhibition of p73-dependent transcriptional activation of a target gene, Ipaf, as well as apoptosis.

The Cbl family proteins: ring leaders in regulation of cell signaling

The proto-oncogenic protein c-Cbl was discovered as the cellular form of v-Cbl, a retroviral transforming protein. This was followed over the years by important discoveries, which identified c-Cbl and other Cbl-family proteins as key players in several signaling pathways. c-Cbl has donned the role of a multivalent adaptor protein, capable of interacting with a plethora of proteins, and has been shown to positively influence certain biological processes. The identity of c-Cbl as an E3 ubiquitin ligase unveiled the existence of an important negative regulatory pathway involved in maintaining homeostasis in protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) signaling. Recent years have also seen the emergence of novel regulators of Cbl, which have provided further insights into the complexity of Cbl-influenced pathways. This review will endeavor to provide a summary of current studies focused on the effects of Cbl proteins on various biological processes and the mechanism of these effects. The major sections of the review are as follows: Structure and genomic organization of Cbl proteins; Phosphorylation of Cbl; Interactions of Cbl; Localization of Cbl; Mechanism of effects of Cbl: (a) Ubiquitylation-dependent events: This section elucidates the mechanism of Cbl-mediated downregulation of EGFR and details the PTK and non-PTKs targeted by Cbl. In addition, it addresses the functional requirements for E3 Ubiquitin ligase activity of Cbl and negative regulation of Cbl-mediated downregulation of PTKs, (b) Adaptor functions: This section discusses the mechanisms of adaptor functions of Cbl in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, insulin signaling, regulation of Ras-related protein 1 (Rap1), PI-3' kinase signaling, and regulation of Rho-family GTPases and cytoskeleton; Biological functions: This section gives an account of the diverse biological functions of Cbl and includes the role of Cbl in transformation, T-cell signaling and thymus development, B-cell signaling, mast-cell degranulation, macrophage functions, bone development, neurite growth, platelet activation, muscle degeneration, and bacterial invasion; Conclusions and perspectives.

The role(s) of Src kinase and Cbl proteins in the regulation of osteoclast differentiation and function

The osteoclast resorbs mineralized bone during bone development, homeostasis, and repair. The deletion of the gene encoding the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase c-Src produces an osteopetrotic skeletal phenotype that is the consequence of the inability of the mature osteoclast to efficiently resorb bone. Src-/- osteoclasts exhibit reduced motility and abnormal organization of the apical secretory domain (the ruffled border) and attachment-related cytoskeletal elements that are necessary for bone resorption. A key function of Src in osteoclasts is to promote the rapid assembly and disassembly of the podosomes, the specialized integrin-based attachment structures of osteoclasts and other highly motile cells. Once recruited to the activated integrins, especially alphavbeta3), by the adhesion tyrosine kinase Pyk2, Src binds and phosphorylates Cbl and Cbl-b, homologous multisite adapter proteins with ubiquitin ligase activity. The Cbl proteins in turn recruit and activate additional signaling effectors, including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and dynamin, which play key roles in the development of cell polarity and the regulation of cell attachment and motility. In addition, Src and the Cbl proteins contribute to signaling cascades that are activated by several important receptors, including receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB and the macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor, and also downregulate the signaling from many of these receptors.

TLR4 contributes to disease-inducing mechanisms resulting in central nervous system autoimmune disease

Environmental factors strongly influence the development of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis. Despite this clear association, the mechanisms through which environment mediates its effects on disease are poorly understood. Pertussis toxin (PTX) functions as a surrogate for environmental factors to induce animal models of autoimmunity, such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Although very little is known about the molecular mechanisms behind its function in disease development, PTX has been hypothesized to facilitate immune cell entry to the CNS by increasing permeability across the blood-brain barrier. Using intravital microscopy of the murine cerebromicrovasculature, we demonstrate that PTX alone induces the recruitment of leukocytes and of active T cells to the CNS. P-selectin expression was induced by PTX, and leukocyte/endothelial interactions could be blocked with a P-selectin-blocking Ab. P-selectin blockade also prevented PTX-induced increase in permeability across the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, permeability is a secondary result of recruitment, rather than the primary mechanism by which PTX induces disease. Most importantly, we show that PTX induces intracellular signals through TLR4, a receptor intimately associated with innate immune mechanisms. We demonstrate that PTX-induced leukocyte recruitment is dependent on TLR4 and give evidence that the disease-inducing mechanisms initiated by PTX are also at least partly dependent on TLR4. We propose that this innate immune pathway is a novel mechanism through which environment can initiate autoimmune disease of the CNS.

Cbl-mediated degradation of Lyn and Fyn induced by constitutive fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 activation supports osteoblast differentiation

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play an important regulatory role in skeletal development and bone formation. However, the FGF signaling mechanisms controlling osteoblast function are poorly understood. Here, we identified a role for the Src family members Lyn and Fyn in osteoblast differentiation promoted by constitutive activation of FGF receptor-2 (FGFR2). We show that the overactive FGFR2 S252W mutation induced decreased Src family kinase tyrosine phosphorylation and activity associated with decreased Lyn and Fyn protein expression in human osteoblasts. Pharmacological stimulation of Src family kinases or transfection with Lyn or Fyn vectors repressed alkaline phosphatase (ALP) up-regulation induced by overactive FGFR2. Inhibition of proteasome activity restored normal Lyn and Fyn expression and ALP activity in FGFR2 mutant osteoblasts. Immunoprecipitation studies showed that Lyn, Fyn, and FGFR2 interacted with the ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl and ubiquitin. Transfection with c-Cbl in which the RING finger was disrupted or with c-Cbl with a point mutation that abolishes the binding ability of the Cbl phosphotyrosine-binding domain restored Src kinase activity and Lyn, Fyn, and FGFR2 levels and reduced ALP up-regulation in mutant osteoblasts. Thus, constitutive FGFR2 activation induces c-Cbl-dependent Lyn and Fyn proteasome degradation, resulting in reduced Lyn and Fyn kinase activity, increased ALP expression, and FGFR2 down-regulation. This reveals a common Cbl-mediated negative feedback mechanism controlling Lyn, Fyn, and FGFR2 degradation in response to overactive FGFR2 and indicates a role for Cbl-dependent down-regulation of Lyn and Fyn in osteoblast differentiation induced by constitutive FGFR2 activation.

Physical and functional interaction between Hck tyrosine kinase and guanine nucleotide exchange factor C3G results in apoptosis, which is independent of C3G catalytic domain

The hematopoietic cell kinase Hck is a Src family tyrosine kinase expressed in cells of myelomonocytic lineage, B lymphocytes, and embryonic stem cells. To study its role in signaling pathways we used the Hck-SH3 domain in protein interaction cloning and identified C3G, the guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rap1 and R-Ras, as a protein that associated with Hck. This interaction was direct and was mediated partly through the proline-rich region of C3G. C3G could be co-immunoprecipitated with Hck from Cos-1 cells transfected with Hck and C3G. C3G was phosphorylated on tyrosine 504 in cells when coexpressed with Hck but not with a catalytically inactive mutant of Hck. Phosphorylation of endogenous C3G at Tyr-504 was increased by treatment of human myelomonocytic THP-1 cells with mercuric chloride, which is known to activate Hck tyrosine kinase specifically. Coexpression of Hck with C3G induced a high level of apoptosis in many cell lines by 30-42 h of transfection. Induction of apoptosis was not dependent on Tyr-504 phosphorylation or the catalytic domain of C3G but required the catalytic activity of Hck. Using dominant negative constructs of caspases we found that caspase-1, -8, and -9 are involved in this apoptotic pathway. These results suggest that C3G and Hck interact physically and functionally in vivo to activate kinase-dependent and caspase-mediated apoptosis, which is independent of catalytic domain of C3G.

Structure and expression of the murine ADAM 15 gene and its splice variants, and difference of interaction between their cytoplasmic domains and Src family proteins

The murine cell surface antigen ADAM 15 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is expressed in a variety of cells including monocytic and T cell lines and consists of a metalloprotease domain, a disintegrin domain, a cysteine-rich domain, and an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain in the extracellular region. The cytoplasmic domain comprises 103 amino acids containing proline-rich endophilin I, Src homology 3 (SH3), and phox homology domain-containing protein (SH3PX1) binding motifs. The ADAM15 gene is composed of 21 exons and 20 introns and spans approximately 10 kb. The transcription initiation site of the ADAM15 gene was defined by an oligonucleotide-capping method. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR using primers of the cytoplasmic domain of ADAM15 revealed the presence of different ADAM15 species designated ADAM15v1 and ADAM15v2, respectively, that had characteristic SH3-binding class I and/or class II motifs. The ADAM15v1 and ADAM15v2 genes consist of an extra one exon and two exons, respectively, which exist in intron 19 of the ADAM15 gene. The expression of ADAM15v1 and ADAM15v2 mRNA was found in T lymphocyte and monocyte lines. ADAM15v2 protein interacted more strongly with the Src family proteins Lck and Src than ADAM15 protein, when examined by pull-down and immunoprecipitation followed by immunoblot analysis using a T lymphocyte line. Phosphorylation of ADAM15v2 protein markedly enhanced the binding with Lck. These results suggest that the cytoplasmic domain of ADAM15v2 strongly interacts with Lck and plays an important role in T lymphocytes.

Phosphorylation of c-Cbl protooncogene product following ethanol administration in rat cerebellum: possible involvement of Fyn kinase

We have previously shown that ethanol administration results in tyrosine phosphorylation of the 130 kDa protein in rat brain, and identified the protein as Cas, the crk-associated src substrate. In the present study, we demonstrate that Cbl of a 120 kDa protein is also tyrosine-phosphorylated in the cerebellum in response to ethanol administration. We also investigated whether Fyn kinase was involved in ethanol-induced Cbl phosphorylation. Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that the amount of coimmunoprecipitated Fyn kinase with an anti-Cbl antibody increased in extracts from ethanol-administered rats compared to those from saline-administered rats. Exogenous Fyn kinase was shown to phosphorylate on tyrosine residue(s) of Cbl from the cerebellum in vitro. Furthermore, Fyn kinase and Cbl were demonstrated immunohistochemically to be coexpressed in white matter in the cerebellum. These findings indicate that Cbl is tyrosine-phosphorylated in rat cerebellum in response to ethanol administration, and also raise the possibility that Fyn kinase may be involved in the process.

Identification of novel SH3 domain ligands for the Src family kinase Hck. Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP), WASP-interacting protein (WIP), and ELMO1

The importance of the SH3 domain of Hck in kinase regulation, substrate phosphorylation, and ligand binding has been established. However, few in vivo ligands are known for the SH3 domain of Hck. In this study, we used mass spectrometry to identify approximately 25 potential binding partners for the SH3 domain of Hck from the monocyte cell line U937. Two major interacting proteins were the actin binding proteins Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) and WASP-interacting protein (WIP). We also focused on a novel interaction between Hck and ELMO1, an 84-kDa protein that was recently identified as the mammalian ortholog of the Caenorhabditis elegans gene, ced-12. In mammalian cells, ELMO1 interacts with Dock180 as a component of the CrkII/Dock180/Rac pathway responsible for phagocytosis and cell migration. Using purified proteins, we confirmed that WASP-interacting protein and ELMO1 interact directly with the SH3 domain of Hck. We also show that Hck and ELMO1 interact in intact cells and that ELMO1 is heavily tyrosine-phosphorylated in cells that co-express Hck, suggesting that it is a substrate of Hck. The binding of ELMO1 to Hck is specifically dependent on the interaction of a polyproline motif with the SH3 domain of Hck. Our results suggest that these proteins may be novel activators/effectors of Hck.

Inhibition of Src family kinases blocks epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced activation of Akt, phosphorylation of c-Cbl, and ubiquitination of the EGF receptor

Stimulation of T47D cells with epidermal growth factor (EGF) results in the activation of the intrinsic tyrosine kinases of the receptor and the phosphorylation of multiple cellular proteins including the receptor, scaffold molecules such as c-Cbl, adapter molecules such as Shc, and the serine/threonine protein kinase Akt. We demonstrate that EGF stimulation of T47D cells results in the activation of the Src protein-tyrosine kinase and that the Src kinase inhibitor PP1 blocks the EGF-induced phosphorylation of c-Cbl but not the activation/phosphorylation of the EGF receptor itself. PP1 also blocks EGF-induced ubiquitination of the EGF receptor, which is presumably mediated by phosphorylated c-Cbl. Src is associated with c-Cbl, and we have previously demonstrated that the Src-like kinase Fyn can phosphorylate c-Cbl at a preferred binding site for the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase. PP1 treatment blocks EGF-induced activation of the anti-apoptotic protein kinase Akt suggesting that Src may regulate activation of Akt, perhaps by a Src --> c-Cbl --> phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase --> Akt pathway.

Isolation and characterization of a novel, transforming allele of the c-Cbl proto-oncogene from a murine macrophage cell line

The c-Cbl proto-oncogene acts as an E3 ubiquitin ligase via its RING finger domain to negatively regulate activated cellular signal transduction pathways. We have identified an aberrant Cbl-protein of approximately 95 kDa, which we have called p95Cbl, from the murine reticulum sarcoma cell-line, J-774. Cloning of the p95Cbl cDNA revealed that it contains a deletion resulting in the loss of 111 amino acids, eliminating two critical tyrosine residues in the linker region as well as the entire RING finger domain. p95Cbl displays a propensity for its interaction with the Src-family kinase Hck over cellular Cbl expressed in the same cells. Like its wildtype counterpart, p95Cbl is inducibly tyrosine phosphorylated in response to Fcgamma receptor engagement on hematopoietic cells, however this phosphorylation is sustained beyond that of cellular Cbl. NIH3T3 fibroblasts stably expressing p95Cbl acquire the typical refractile morphology associated with cellular transformation and form colonies in a focus-formation assay. The exogenously expressed mutant protein is constitutively phosphorylated in fibroblasts and partitions into the particulate fraction of cells, while cellular Cbl is exclusively cytoplasmic. p95Cbl is a novel, oncogenic mutant of the c-Cbl proto-oncogene, which might act in a dominant negative fashion to prolong normal cellular signaling responses by interfering with the down-regulation of activated signaling complexes through c-Cbl.

Membrane-anchored Cbl suppresses Hck protein-tyrosine kinase mediated cellular transformation

The mammalian proto-oncogene Cbl and its cellular homologues in Caenorhabditis elegans (Sli-1) and Drosophila (D-Cbl) are negative regulators of some growth factor receptor signaling pathways. Herein we show that Cbl can negatively regulate another signaling molecule, namely theSrc-family kinase Hck by targeting it for degradation. Hck-mediated cellular transformation of murine fibroblasts is reverted by ectopic expression of a membrane-anchored allele of Cbl as assessed by the cellular morphology, suppression of anchorage independent growth, and an overall reduction in the total tyrosine phosphorylation levels within the cells. The expression of Cbl at the plasma membrane targets both Hck and itself for ubiquitination and degradation, requiring an intact RING finger. Pharmacological inhibition of the proteasome prevents the degradation of Hck correlating with an increase in the phosphotyrosine levels within the cells. Activated Hck and membrane-anchored Cbl are present in similar subcellular localizations and co-immunoprecipitate, suggesting that their interaction is required for subsequent ubiquitination and degradation. Interestingly, both constitutively active and kinase-inactive Hck interact with and are targeted for degradation by Cbl. This work illustrates alternate means to regulate Src-family kinases, and suggests that Cbl may be able to suppress many signaling pathways that are activated in various proliferative syndromes including cancer.

Phosphorylation-dependent interactions between ADAM15 cytoplasmic domain and Src family protein-tyrosine kinases

The adamalysins (ADAMs) are transmembrane glycoproteins involved in cell adhesion and proteolytic ectodomain processing of cytokines and adhesion molecules. Many ADAM cytoplasmic domains are proline-rich and have potential phosphorylation sites. We show here that the cytoplasmic domain of ADAM15, metargidin, can interact specifically with Src family protein-tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and the adaptor protein Grb2 in hematopoietic cells (Jurkat, THP-1, U937, and K562 cell lines). Src homology 3 domains from several Src family PTKs including Lck, Fyn, Abl, and Src associate with ADAM15 in vitro. Dephosphorylation of cell extracts resulted in decreased association of ADAM15 with Src family PTK SH3 domains, indicating that phosphorylation influences ADAM15 interactions with its binding partners. This was confirmed in vitro for Hck, Lck, and Grb2, which showed enhanced association with tyrosine-phosphorylated glutathione S-transferase-ADAM15 cytoplasmic domain compared with unphosphorylated protein. In contrast, binding of MAD2 to ADAM15 was slightly reduced by phosphorylation of the ADAM. Immunoprecipitation of ADAM15 from Jurkat cells confirmed the association with Lck in vivo, and upon PMA stimulation, the phosphorylation level of ADAM15 was increased. Cotransfection of ADAM15 and Hck showed Hck-dependent phosphorylation of ADAM15 in vivo. Hck, and to a lesser extent Lck, phosphorylated the ADAM15 cytoplasmic domain in vitro in immune complex kinase assays. Binding of ADAM15 cytoplasmic domain to Hck and Lck was also shown by Far Western analysis. In contrast to Hck, Lck activity was not required for binding to ADAM15, as shown by treatment of cells with PP1. Deletion and point mutation analysis of the ADAM15 cytoplasmic domain confirmed the importance of the proline-rich motifs for Grb2 and Lck binding and indicated the regulatory nature of Tyr(715) and Tyr(735). These data demonstrate selective, phosphorylation-dependent interactions of ADAM15 with Src family PTKs and Grb2, which highlight the potential for integration of ADAM functions and cellular signaling.

Beyond the RING: CBL proteins as multivalent adapters

Following discovery of c-Cbl, a cellular form of the transforming retroviral protein v-Cbl, multiple Cbl-related proteins have been identified in vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. c-Cbl and its homologues are capable of interacting with numerous proteins involved in cell signaling, including various molecular adapters and protein tyrosine kinases. It appears that Cbl proteins play several functional roles, acting both as multivalent adapters and inhibitors of various protein tyrosine kinases. The latter function is linked, to a substantial extent, to the E3 ubiquitin-ligase activity of Cbl proteins. Experimental evidence for these functions, interrelations between them, and their biological significance are addressed in this review, with the main accent placed on the adapter functions of Cbl proteins.

A conditional form of Bruton's tyrosine kinase is sufficient to activate multiple downstream signaling pathways via PLC Gamma 2 in B cells

BACKGROUND

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) is essential for B cell development and function. Mutations of Btk elicit X-linked agammaglobulinemia in humans and X-linked immunodeficiency in the mouse. Btk has been proposed to participate in B cell antigen receptor-induced signaling events leading to activation of phospholipase C-gamma2 (PLCgamma2) and calcium mobilization. However it is unclear whether Btk activation is alone sufficient for these signaling events, and whether Btk can activate additional pathways that do not involve PLCgamma2. To address such issues we have generated Btk:ER, a conditionally active form of the kinase, and expressed it in the PLCgamma2-deficient DT40 B cell line.

RESULTS

Activation of Btk:ER was sufficient to induce multiple B cell signaling pathways in PLCgamma2-sufficient DT40 cells. These included tyrosine phosphorylation of PLCgamma2, mobilization of intracellular calcium, activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, and apoptosis. In DT40 B cells deficient for PLCgamma2, Btk:ER activation failed to induce the signaling events described above with the consequence that the cells failed to undergo apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that Btk:ER regulates downstream signaling pathways primarily via PLCgamma2 in B cells. While it is not known whether activated Btk:ER precisely mimics activated Btk, this conditional system will likely facilitate the dissection of the role of Btk and its family members in a variety of biological processes in many different cell types.

Mercuric chloride activates the Src-family protein tyrosine kinase, Hck in myelomonocytic cells

Hck is a member of the Src-family of protein tyrosine kinases that appears to function in mature leukocytes to communicate a number of extracellular signals including various cytokines. In this study we show that the thiol-reactive heavy metal, mercuric chloride (HgCl2) induces rapid and robust activation of tyrosine phosphorylation within human myelomonocytic cells. This increase in tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins requires the activity of Hck because both kinase inactive alleles of Hck and pharmacological inhibitors selective for the Src-family kinases are able to abrogate the cellular response to HgCl2. Furthermore, ectopic expression of Hck in murine fibroblasts is able to confer HgCl2 responsiveness, as indicated by an increase in tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins to a normally nonresponsive cell line. Concomitant with the activation of Hck, there is a physical association of Hck with another cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase, Syk. The ability of HgCl2 to activate Src-family kinases such as Hck in hematopoietic cells may help explain why exposure to the heavy metal is associated with immune system dysfunction in rodents as well as humans.

Hck enhances the adherence of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages via Cbl and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Src family tyrosine kinases have previously been proposed to mediate some of the biological effects of lipopolysaccharide on macrophages. Accordingly, we have sought to identify substrates of Src family kinases in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. Stimulation of Bac1.2F5 macrophage cells with lipopolysaccharide was found to induce gradual and persistent tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl in an Src family kinase-dependent manner. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that Cbl associates with Hck in Bac1.2F5 cells, while expression of an activated form of Hck in Bac1.2F5 cells induces tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl in the absence of lipopolysaccharide stimulation. The Src homology 3 domain of Hck can directly bind Cbl, and this interaction is important for phosphorylation of Cbl. Association of the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase with Cbl is enhanced following lipopolysaccharide stimulation of Bac1.2F5 cells, and transient expression experiments indicate that phosphorylation of Cbl by Hck can facilitate the association of p85 with Cbl. Lipopolysaccharide treatment also stimulates the partial translocation of Hck to the cytoskeleton of Bac1.2F5 cells. Notably, lipopolysaccharide enhances the adherence of Bac1.2F5 cells, an effect that is dependent on the activity of Src family kinases and PI 3-kinase. Thus, we postulate that Hck enhances the adherence of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages, at least in part, via Cbl and PI 3-kinase.

SH3-SPOT: an algorithm to predict preferred ligands to different members of the SH3 gene family

We have developed a procedure to predict the peptide binding specificity of an SH3 domain from its sequence. The procedure utilizes information extracted from position-specific contacts derived from six SH3/peptide or SH3/protein complexes of known structure. The framework of SH3/peptide contacts defined on the structure of the complexes is used to build a residue-residue interaction database derived from ligands obtained by panning peptide libraries displayed on filamentous phage. The SH3-specific interaction database is a multidimensional array containing frequencies of position-specific contacts. As input, SH3-SPOT requires the sequence of an SH3 domain and of a query decapeptide ligand. The array, that we call the SH3-specific matrix, is then used to evaluate the probability that the peptide would bind the given SH3 domain. This procedure is fast enough to be applied to the entire protein sequence database. Panning experiments were performed to search putative specific ligands of different SH3 domains in a database of decapeptides, or in a database of protein sequences. The procedure ranked some of the natural partners of interaction of a number of SH3 domains among the best ligands of the approximately 5. 6x10(9) different decapeptides in the SWISSPROT database. We expect the predictive power of the method to increase with the enrichment of the SH3-specific matrix by interaction data derived from new complex structures or from the characterization of new ligands. The procedure was developed using the SH3 domain family as test case but its application can easily be extended to other families of protein domains (such as, SH2, MHC, EH, PDZ, etc.).

Structural basis for selective inhibition of Src family kinases by PP1

BACKGROUND

Small-molecule inhibitors that can target individual kinases are powerful tools for use in signal transduction research. It is difficult to find such compounds because of the enormous number of protein kinases and the highly conserved nature of their catalytic domains. Recently, a novel, potent, Src family selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor was reported (PP1). Here, we study the structural basis for this inhibitor's specificity for Src family kinases.

RESULTS

A single residue corresponding to Ile338 (v-Src numbering; Thr338 in c-Src) in Src family tyrosine kinases largely controls PP1's ability to inhibit protein kinases. Mutation of Ile338 to a larger residue such as methionine or phenylalanine in v-Src makes this inhibitor less potent. Conversely, mutation of Ile338 to alanine or glycine increases PP1's potency. PP1 can inhibit Ser/Thr kinases if the residue corresponding to Ile338 in v-Src is mutated to glycine. We have accurately predicted several non-Src family kinases that are moderately (IC(50) approximately 1 microM) inhibited by PP1, including c-Abl and the MAP kinase p38.

CONCLUSIONS

Our mutagenesis studies of the ATP-binding site in both tyrosine kinases and Ser/Thr kinases explain why PP1 is a specific inhibitor of Src family tyrosine kinases. Determination of the structural basis of inhibitor specificity will aid in the design of more potent and more selective protein kinase inhibitors. The ability to desensitize a particular kinase to PP1 inhibition of residue 338 or conversely to sensitize a kinase to PP1 inhibition by mutation should provide a useful basis for chemical genetic studies of kinase signal transduction.