Serine residues in the LAT adaptor are essential for TCR-dependent signal transduction

J Leukoc Biol. 2011 Jan;89(1):63-73. doi: 10.1189/jlb.0509342. Epub 2010 Oct 12.

Abstract

The adaptor protein LAT has a prominent role in the transduction of intracellular signals elicited by the TCR/CD3 complex. Upon TCR engagement, LAT becomes tyrosine-phosphorylated and thereby, recruits to the membrane several proteins implicated in the activation of downstream signaling pathways. However, little is known about the role of other conserved motifs present in the LAT sequence. Here, we report that the adaptor LAT contains several conserved serine-based motifs, which are essential for proper signal transduction through the TCR. Mutation of these serine motifs in the human T cell line Jurkat prevents proper calcium influx, MAPK activation, and IL-2 production in response to TCR/CD3 stimulation. Moreover, this mutant form of LAT has a reduced ability to bind to PLC-γ1 and SLP-76, although phosphorylation of tyrosine residues 132, 171, and 191 is not decreased, raising a possible role for the serine-based motifs of LAT for the binding of important partners. The functional role of LAT serine-based motifs in signal transduction could be mediated by an effect on tyrosine phosphorylation, as their mutation significantly diminishes the phosphorylation of tyrosine residue 226. In addition, these serine motifs seem to have a regulatory role, given that upon their mutation, ZAP-70 shows enhanced phosphorylation. Therefore, the LAT serine-based motifs likely regulate signaling pathways that are essential for T cell physiology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / chemistry*
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Conserved Sequence / genetics
  • Enzyme Activation
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Phospholipase C gamma / metabolism
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Phosphotyrosine / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism*
  • Serine / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Transfection
  • ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Interleukin-2
  • LAT protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mutant Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • SLP-76 signal Transducing adaptor proteins
  • Phosphotyrosine
  • Serine
  • ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase
  • ZAP70 protein, human
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Phospholipase C gamma
  • Calcium