H. Schneider et al., RESTING LYMPHOCYTE KINASE (RLK TXK) PHOSPHORYLATES THE YVKM MOTIF ANDREGULATES PL 3-KINASE BINDING TO T-CELL ANTIGEN CTLA-4/, Biochemical and biophysical research communications (Print), 252(1), 1998, pp. 14-19
CTLA-4 and CD28 are differentially expressed on T-cells. They bind to
a common ligand B71/2 (CD80/86), however with different avidities. Unl
ike CD28 which augments the T-cell response, CTLA-4 operates predomina
tely as a negative regulator of T-cell proliferation. The mechanism by
which CTLA-4 can generate these intracellular signals is unclear. Lit
tle is known regarding the identity of the protein-tyrosine kinase(s)
responsible for CTLA-4 phosphorylation and thus creating conditions fo
r the reported binding to PI 3-kinase and the protein tyrosine phospha
tase SHP-2. In this study, we demonstrate that Rlk (resting lymphocyte
kinase) is capable of phosphorylating CTLA-4 at the YVKM motif. Consi
stent with this finding, Rlk is capable of providing conditions for th
e binding of the SH2 domains of PI 3-kinase to the receptor. CTLA-4 is
therefore the first known substrate for Rlk suggesting the possibilit
y that this kinase may participate in CTLA-4 function. (C) 1998 Academ
ic Press.