The Cbl phosphotyrosine-binding domain selects a D(N/D)XpY motif and binds to the Tyr292 negative regulatory phosphorylation site of ZAP-70

The Cbl protooncogene product has emerged as a novel negative regulator of receptor and non-receptor tyrosine kinases through currently undefined mechanisms. Therefore, determining how Cbl physically interacts with tyrosine kinases is of substantial interest. We recently identified a phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain residing within the N-terminal transforming region of Cbl (Cbl-N), which mediated direct binding to ZAP-70 tyrosine kinase. Here, we have screened a degenerate phosphopeptide library and show that the Cbl-PTB domain selects a D(N/D)XpY motif, reminiscent of but distinct from the NPXpY motif recognized by the PTB domains of Shc and IRS-1/2. A phosphopeptide predicted by this motif and corresponding to the in vivo negative regulatory phosphorylation site of ZAP-70 (Tyr(P)292) specifically inhibited binding of ZAP-70 to Cbl-N. A ZAP-70/Y292F mutant failed to bind to Cbl-N, whereas a D290A mutant resulted in a 64% decrease in binding, confirming the importance of the Tyr(P) and Y-2 residues in Cbl-PTB domain recognition. Finally the ZAP-70/Y292F mutant also failed to associate with Cbl-N or full-length Cbl in vivo. These results identify a potential Cbl-PTB domain-dependent role for Cbl in the negative regulation of ZAP-70 and predict potential Cbl-PTB domain binding sites on other protein tyrosine kinases known to interact with Cbl.     

Regulation of ZAP-70 intracellular localization: visualization with the green fluorescent protein

To investigate the cellular dynamics of ZAP-70, we have studied the distribution and regulation of its intracellular location using a ZAP-70 green fluorescent protein chimera. Initial experiments in epithelial cells indicated that ZAP-70 is diffusely located throughout the quiescent cell, and accumulates at the plasma membrane upon cellular activation, a phenotype enhanced by the coexpression of Lck and the initiation of ZAP-70 kinase activity. Subsequent studies in T cells confirmed this phenotype. Intriguingly, a large amount of ZAP-70, both chimeric and endogenous, resides in the nucleus of quiescent and activated cells. Nuclear ZAP-70 becomes tyrosine phosphorylated upon stimulation via the T cell receptor, indicating that it may have an important biologic function.     

Protein tyrosine kinases Syk and ZAP-70 display distinct requirements for Src family kinases in immune response receptor signal transduction

Engagement of immunoreceptors in hemopoietic cells leads to activation of Src family tyrosine kinases as well as Syk or ZAP-70. Current models propose that Src family kinases are critical in immune response signal transduction through their role in phosphorylation of tyrosine residues within immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motifs (ITAMs; which recruit the SH2 domains of Syk or ZAP-70) and by direct phosphorylation of Syk and ZAP-70. Several lines of evidence suggest that Syk may not show the same dependence on activation by Src family kinases as ZAP-70. In this report, we used COS cells transiently transfected with components of the Fc epsilon RI complex (Lyn, Syk, and a chimeric CD8 receptor containing the cytoplasmic domain of the gamma subunit of Fc epsilon RI (CD8-gamma)) to examine the regulation of Syk activity. Syk was activated and phosphorylated in COS cells cotransfected with Lyn; however, in cells expressing CD8-gamma, activation of Syk and phosphorylation of CD8-gamma did not require coexpression of Lyn. Additional experiments indicate that gamma phosphorylation is dependent on Syk kinase activity and is independent of endogenous COS cell kinases. In parallel experiments, ZAP-70 was not activated by cotransfection with CD8-gamma, nor was CD8-gamma phosphorylated when coexpressed with ZAP-70 alone. Taken together, these studies indicate that Syk can be distinguished from ZAP-70 in its ability to be activated by coexpression with an ITAM-containing receptor without coexpression of a Src family kinase, and that Syk is capable of phosphorylating ITAM tyrosines under certain experimental conditions.     

Genetic evidence of a role for Lck in T-cell receptor function independent or downstream of ZAP-70/Syk protein tyrosine kinases

T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) engagement results in sequential activation of the Src protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) Lck and Fyn and the Syk PTKs, ZAP-70 and Syk. While the Src PTKs mediate the phosphorylation of TCR-associated signaling subunits and the phosphorylation and activation of the Syk PTKs, the lack of a constitutively active Syk PTK has prohibited the analysis of Lck function downstream of these initiating signaling events. We describe here the generation of an activated Syk family PTK by substituting the kinase domain of Syk for the homologous region in ZAP-70 (designated as KS for kinase swap). Expression of the KS chimera resulted in its autophosphorylation, the phosphorylation of cellular proteins, the upregulation of T-cell activation markers, and the induction of interleukin-2 gene synthesis in a TCR-independent fashion. The KS chimera and downstream ZAP-70 or Syk substrates, such as SLP-76, were still phosphorylated when expressed in Lck-deficient JCaM1.6 T cells. However, expression of the KS chimera in JCaM1.6 cells failed to rescue downstream signaling events, demonstrating a functional role for Lck beyond the activation of the ZAP-70 and Syk PTKs. These results indicate that downstream TCR signaling pathways may be differentially regulated by ZAP-70 and Lck PTKs and provide a mechanism by which effector functions may be selectively activated in response to TCR stimulation.     

Differential expression of ZAP-70 and Syk protein tyrosine kinases, and the role of this family of protein tyrosine kinases in TCR signaling

TCR stimulation results in the tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of cellular substrates. We have recently identified a 70-kDa protein tyrosine kinase, ZAP-70, which associates with the human TCR zeta-chain after TCR stimulation. We report here the isolation and sequence of a cDNA clone that encodes murine ZAP-70. Murine and human ZAP-70 share 93% amino acid identity and are homologous to the 72-kDa protein tyrosine kinase Syk. Syk has been implicated in the signal transduction pathways of the B cell membrane Ig and high affinity IgE receptors, Fc epsilon RI. In addition, we examined the tissue distribution of ZAP-70 and Syk in human and murine thymocyte subsets, B cells, and peripheral T cell subsets. ZAP-70 protein is expressed in all major thymocyte populations, with the level of expression being comparable to that found in both CD4+ and CD8+ peripheral T cells. Although Syk protein is also present in all thymocyte subsets, expression of Syk protein is down-regulated threefold to fourfold in peripheral T cells. In contrast to ZAP-70, expression of Syk is 12- to 15-fold higher in peripheral B cells when compared with peripheral T cells. In addition, whereas T cell stimulation results in down-regulation of Lck, no significant change in ZAP-70 or Syk protein is detected. Finally, we provide evidence that both ZAP-70 and Syk can associate with the TCR after TCR stimulation. With the use of a heterologous expression system, we show that, like ZAP-70, Syk is dependent upon a Src-family protein tyrosine kinase for association with the phosphorylated zeta-chain. Thus, the differential expression of these kinases suggests the possibility of different roles for ZAP-70 and Syk in TCR signaling and thymic development.     

The Syk/ZAP-70 protein tyrosine kinase connection to antigen receptor signalling processes

The T- and B-cell receptor (TCR and BCR) signal transduction processes involve a coordinated interplay between two classes of non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), the Src-family and the Syk/ZAP-70 family of PTKs. Following antigen-receptor stimulation, the Src-family of PTKs mediate the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues contained in a signalling motif localized in the TCR and BCR subunits. The phosphorylation of this signalling motif recruits the Syk/ZAP-70 family of PTKs into the antigen receptor complex. This mechanism requires the tandem SH2 domains in ZAP-70 complexing to two critically spaced phosphotyrosine residues within the signalling motif. The clustering of Syk/ZAP-70 and cross-talk between this family and the Src-PTKs regulates subsequent signalling events that lead to a variety of cellular responses, such as antibody secretion, lymphokine production, cytolytic activity, proliferation, differentiation and cell survival.     

Tyrosine 474 of ZAP-70 is required for association with the Shc adaptor and for T-cell antigen receptor-dependent gene activation

The protein tyrosine kinase ZAP-70 plays a central role in T-cell activation. Following receptor engagement, ZAP-70 is recruited to the phosphorylated subunits of the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR). This event results in ZAP-70 activation and in association of ZAP-70 with a number of signaling proteins. Among these is the Shc adaptor, which couples the activated TCR to Ras. Shc interaction with ZAP-70 is mediated by the Shc PTB domain. The inhibitory effect of a Shc mutant containing the isolated PTB domain suggests that Shc interaction with ZAP-70 might be required for TCR signaling. Here, we show that a point mutation (Phe474) of the putative Shc binding site on ZAP-70, spanning tyrosine 474, prevented ZAP-70 interaction with Shc and the subsequent binding of Shc to phospho-zeta. Neither ZAP-70 catalytic activity nor the pattern of protein phosphorylation induced by TCR triggering was affected by this mutation. However expression of the Phe474 ZAP-70 mutant resulted in impaired TCR-dependent gene activation. ZAP-70 could effectively phosphorylate Shc in vitro. Only the CH domain, which contains the two Grb2 binding sites on Shc, was phosphorylated by ZAP-70. Both Grb2 binding sites were excellent substrates for ZAP-70. The data show that Tyr474 on ZAP-70 is required for TCR signaling and suggest that Shc association with ZAP-70 and the resulting phosphorylation of Shc might be an obligatory step in linking the activated TCR to the Ras pathway.     

ZAP-70 protein tyrosine kinase is constitutively targeted to the T cell cortex independently of its SH2 domains

ZAP-70 is a nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase that is essential for signaling via the T cell antigen receptor (TCR). ZAP-70 becomes phosphorylated and activated by LCK protein tyrosine kinase after interaction of its two NH2-terminal SH2 domains with tyrosine-phosphorylated subunits of the activated TCR. In this study, the localization of ZAP-70 was investigated by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. ZAP-70 was found to be localized to the cell cortex in a diffuse band under the plasma membrane in unstimulated T cells, and this localization was not detectably altered by TCR stimulation. Analysis of mutants indicated that ZAP-70 targeting was independent of its SH2 domains but required its active kinase domain. The specific compartmentalization of ZAP-70 suggests that it may interact with an anchoring protein in the cell cortex via its hinge or kinase domains. It is likely that the maintenance of high concentrations of ZAP-70 at the cell cortex, that only has to move a short distance to interact with phophorylated TCR subunits, facilitates rapid initiation of signaling by the TCR. In addition, as the major increase in tyrosine phosphorylation induced by the TCR also occurs at the cell cortex (Ley, S.C., M. Marsh, C.R. Bebbington, K. Proudfoot, and P. Jordan. 1994. J. Cell. Biol. 125:639-649), ZAP-70 may be localized close to its downstream targets.     

Differential requirements for ZAP-70 in TCR signaling and T cell development

The Syk/ZAP-70 family of protein tyrosine kinases is indispensable for normal lymphoid development. Syk is necessary for the development of B cells and epithelial gammadelta T cells, whereas ZAP-70 is essential for the normal development of T cells and TCR signaling. In this study, we show that although development of the alphabeta lineage was arrested in the thymus, CD3-positive T cells, primarily of the gammadelta lineage, were present in the lymph nodes of mice lacking ZAP-70. Moreover, in the absence of ZAP-70, dendritic epidermal T cells were fewer in number and of abnormal morphology, and intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes, normally containing a large proportion of gammadelta T cells, were markedly reduced. These data suggest that gammadelta T cells show a variable dependence upon ZAP-70 for their development. Biochemical analyses of thymocytes revealed a lack of basal zeta-chain tyrosine phosphorylation. However, several other substrates were inducibly tyrosine phosphorylated following TCR stimulation. Thus, TCR-mediated signaling in ZAP-70-deficient thymocytes is only partially impaired. These studies suggest that Syk compensates only partially for the loss of ZAP-70, and that there is an absolute requirement of ZAP-70 for alphabeta T cells and epithelial gammadelta T cells, but not for some gammadelta T cells in peripheral lymphoid tissues.     

Analysis of immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) binding to ZAP-70 by surface plasmon resonance

The signaling function of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) is mediated via CD3 polypeptides, the cytoplasmic sequences of which bear conserved immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAM). ITAM are defined by two YxxL/I sequences separated by a six-eight amino acid long spacer. Upon antigen recognition, ITAM become phosphorylated on both tyrosine residues, creating a high affinity binding site for the tandem SH2 domains found in the protein tyrosine kinase ZAP-70. Using surface plasmon resonance, we further dissected the sequences required for the binding of ZAP-70 to each TCR-associated ITAM. First, we generated protein tyrosine phosphatase-resistant ITAM peptide analogs, in which difluorophosphonomethyl phenylalanyl (F2p) replaced both phosphotyrosines, and showed that those protein tyrosine phosphatase-resistant analogs bind ZAP-70 with high affinity, establishing a rational strategy for the design of novel pharmacological tools capable of interfering with TCR signaling function. Second, we substituted the five amino acids separating the two YxxL/I sequences of the CD3 zeta 1 ITAM with a non-peptidic linker made up of gamma-amino butyric acid units and demonstrated that the length of this intervening sequence rather than its chemical composition is essential for high affinity binding of phosphorylated ITAM to the ZAP-70 SH2 domains.     

ZAP-70 association with T cell receptor zeta (TCRzeta): fluorescence imaging of dynamic changes upon cellular stimulation

The nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase ZAP-70 is a critical enzyme required for successful T lymphocyte activation. After antigenic stimulation, ZAP-70 rapidly associates with T cell receptor (TCR) subunits. The kinetics of its translocation to the cell surface, the properties of its specific interaction with the TCRzeta chain expressed as a chimeric protein (TTzeta and Tzetazeta), and its mobility in different intracellular compartments were studied in individual live HeLa cells, using ZAP-70 and Tzetazeta fused to green fluorescent protein (ZAP-70 GFP and Tzetazeta-GFP, respectively). Time-lapse imaging using confocal microscopy indicated that the activation-induced redistribution of ZAP-70 to the plasma membrane, after a delayed onset, is of long duration. The presence of the TCRzeta chain is critical for the redistribution, which is enhanced when an active form of the protein tyrosine kinase Lck is coexpressed. Binding specificity to TTzeta was indicated using mutant ZAP-70 GFPs and a truncated zeta chimera. Photobleaching techniques revealed that ZAP-70 GFP has decreased mobility at the plasma membrane, in contrast to its rapid mobility in the cytosol and nucleus. Tzetazeta- GFP is relatively immobile, while peripherally located ZAP-70 in stimulated cells is less mobile than cytosolic ZAP-70 in unstimulated cells, a phenotype confirmed by determining the respective diffusion constants. Examination of the specific molecular association of signaling proteins using these approaches has provided new insights into the TCRzeta-ZAP-70 interaction and will be a powerful tool for continuing studies of lymphocyte activation.     

Roles of Lck, Syk and ZAP-70 tyrosine kinases in TCR-mediated phosphorylation of the adapter protein Shc

The adapter protein Shc has been implicated in mitogenic signaling via growth factor receptors, antigen receptors and cytokine receptors. Recent studies have suggested that tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc may play a key role in T lymphocyte proliferation via interaction of phosphorylated Shc with downstream molecules involved in activation of Ras and Myc proteins. However, the sites on Shc that are tyrosine phosphorylated in response to TCR engagement and the ability of different T cell tyrosine kinases to phosphorylate Shc have not been defined. In this report, we show that during TCR signaling, the tyrosines Y239, Y240 and Y317 of Shc are the primary sites of tyrosine phosphorylation. Mutation of all three tyrosines completely abolished tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc following TCR stimulation. Our data also suggest that multiple T cell tyrosine kinases contribute to tyrosine phosphorylation on Shc. In T cells, CD4/Lck-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation on Shc was markedly diminished when Y317 was mutated, suggesting a preference of Lck for the Y317 site. The syk-family kinases (Syk and ZAP-70) were able to phosphorylate the Y239 and Y240 sites, and less efficiently the Y317 site. Moreover, co-expression of Syk or ZAP-70 with Lck resulted in enhanced phosphorylation of Shc on all three sites, suggesting a synergy between the syk-family and scr-family kinases. Of the two potential Grb2 binding sites (Y239 and Y317), Y239 appears to play a greater role in recruiting Sos through Grb2. These studies have implications for Ras activation and mitogenic signaling during T cell activation.     

T cell activation induced by novel gain-of-function mutants of Syk and ZAP-70

The Syk family tyrosine kinases play a crucial role in antigen receptor-mediated signal transduction, but their regulation and cellular targets remain incompletely defined. Following receptor engagement, phosphorylation of tyrosine residues within ZAP-70 and Syk is thought to control both kinase activity and recruitment of modulatory factors. We report here the characterization of novel mutants of ZAP-70 and Syk, in which conserved C-terminal tyrosine residues have been replaced by phenylalanines (ZAP YF-C, Syk YF-C). Both mutant kinases display a prominent gain-of-function phenotype in Jurkat T cells, as demonstrated by lymphokine promoter activation, tyrosine phosphorylation of potential targets in vivo, and elevated intracellular calcium mobilization. While the presence of p56-Lck was required for ZAP YF-C-induced signaling, Syk YF-C showed enhanced functional activity in Lck-deficient JCaM1 Jurkat cells. Our results implicate the C terminus of Syk family kinases as an important regulatory region modulating T cell activation.     

Ex vivo evidence for asymmetric tyrosine phosphorylation of ZAP-70 on double-positive thymocytes in the positive selection process

Antigen stimulation via TCR in mature T cells provides rapid induction of tyrosine phosphorylation of intracellular substrates including ZAP-70. To study the potential involvement of tyrosine phosphorylation in CD4+CD8+ [double-positive (DP)] thymocytes in the positive selection process in vivo, we isolated and analyzed them in the presence of phosphatase inhibitor. DP thymocytes were obtained from TCR transgenic mice (TCR-Tg) expressing MHC class I- or class II-restricted TCR in selecting and non-selecting MHC backgrounds respectively. The phosphorylation of ZAP-70 in DP thymocytes of class I-restricted TCR-Tg was significantly higher in the positively selecting background than in the non-selecting one. However, such a phosphorylation difference between selecting and non-selecting TCR-Tg was found to be considerably less in class II-restricted TCR-Tg. A similar bias for ZAP-70 phosphorylation was also observed on selecting DP thymocytes when I-A(beta) deficient- and beta2-microglobulin-deficient mice were compared. These ex vivo studies suggest that TCR-mediated signaling on DP thymocytes induces ZAP-70 phosphorylation under a different manner of engagement of TCR to class I and class II molecules in the positive selection process.     

Prolactin stimulates phosphorylation of the human T-cell antigen receptor complex and ZAP-70 tyrosine kinase: a potential mechanism for its immunomodulation

Prolactin (PRL) is an immunomodulatory hormone which promotes T-cell activation and proliferation. However, the intracellular mechanisms of this action in normal lymphocytes are unknown. Because the PRL receptor (PRLR) activates several signals also activated by the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex, we evaluated whether signaling "cross-talk" occurs between these distinct receptors. Using human thymocytes, human peripheral blood lymphocytes and the rat Nb2 lymphoma T-cell, we found that PRL induced rapid phosphorylation of multiple, TCR/CD3 complex proteins, an event required for lymphocyte activation. Two of these phosphorylated proteins were identified to be CD3 epsilon and ZAP-70 tyrosine kinase, molecules essential for TCR function. Further, PRL induced tyrosyl phosphorylation of ZAP-70 in each population of T-lymphocytes tested, demonstrating for the first time that ZAP-70 is a target of PRL action. Taken together, our results suggest that the PRLR directly affects T-lymphocyte activation by means of signaling cross-talk with the TCR/CD3 complex.     

In vivo association of CD5 with tyrosine-phosphorylated ZAP-70 and p21 phospho-zeta molecules in human CD3+ thymocytes

CD5 is a 67-kDa T cell surface Ag that can be found physically associated with the CD3-TCR molecular complex. In different experimental models it has been shown to act as a costimulatory receptor for T cell activation. Unexpectedly, studies in CD5-deficient mice suggested a negative role for the CD5 Ag in CD3-TCR signaling in the thymus. In this report we assessed the constitutive interactions of CD5 in freshly isolated human thymocytes with signaling elements of the CD3-TCR complex. We determined that the ZAP-70 protein tyrosine kinase was present in CD5 immunoprecipitates. The two molecules were constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated in a complex also associating with unphosphorylated as well as phosphorylated zeta-chains. Although both p21 and p23 tyrosine-phosphorylated forms of zeta as well as phospho-CD3 epsilon molecules were constitutively present in human thymocytes and could be immunoprecipitated with ZAP-70- or CD3 epsilon-specific Abs, the p21 species of zeta was predominant in CD5 immune complexes. The interaction between CD5 and ZAP-70 was not observed in CD3-negative thymocytes, where the constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation of ZAP-70 was very low. We conclude that CD5 may affect in vivo the signaling capacity of TCRs expressed by human thymocytes by altering the phosphorylation state of CD3 and/or by retaining ZAP-70 with the p21 species of zeta.     

Nocodazole inhibits signal transduction by the T cell antigen receptor

The potential role of the cytoskeleton in signaling via the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) was investigated using pharmacological agents. In Jurkat T cells, disruption of the actin-based cytoskeleton with cytochalasin D or disruption of the microtubules with colchicine did not affect TCR induction of proximal signaling events triggered by CD3 mAb. Polymerized actin and tubulin, therefore, were not required for TCR-mediated signal transduction. Nocodazole, however, was found to inhibit dramatically TCR signaling, independently of its ability to depolymerize microtubules. This effect was TCR-specific, because signaling via the human muscarinic acetylcholine receptor 1 in the same cells was unaffected. A mechanism for the inhibition of TCR signaling by nocodazole was suggested by in vitro assays, which revealed that the drug inhibited the kinase activity of LCK and, to a lesser extent, FYN. The kinase activity of ZAP-70 in vitro, however, was unaffected. These results, therefore, suggested that nocodazole prevented initial phosphorylation of the TCR by LCK after stimulation, and as a result, it blocked activation of downstream signaling pathways. Immunofluorescence analyses also revealed that nocodazole and the specific SRC-family kinase inhibitor PP1 delocalized ZAP-70 from its constitutive site at the cell cortex. These effects did not require the SH2 domains of ZAP-70. The localization of ZAP-70 to the cell cortex is, therefore, regulated by the activity of SRC-family kinases, independently of their ability to phosphorylate immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs of the TCR.     

ZAP-70 and defects of T-cell receptor signaling

The activation, function, and development of peripheral T lymphocytes are dependent on the ability to signal properly through the surface T-cell antigen receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex. Transmission of such signals requires the activation of specific cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) associated with the TCR. Recently, mutations in one such PTK, called ZAP-70, have been shown to be responsible for a rare, autosomal recessive form of severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome (SCID) in humans. This distinctive SCID syndrome is characterized by the selective absence of peripheral CD8+ T cells and by the presence of circulating CD4+ T cells that do not respond to TCR-mediated stimuli in vitro. T-cell immunodeficiency syndromes that arise as a consequence of inherited mutations in either the CD3epsilon or CD3gamma subunit proteins have also been described in rare patients. Absence of these TCR components results in severely decreased expression of the surface TCR-CD3 complex and defective signal transduction through the TCR. In this report, the clinical, laboratory, and molecular findings of these immunodeficiency disorders are described, insights are provided by these inherited defects into the pathways of TCR signal transduction, and T-cell development is discussed.