Identification of Fyn as the binding partner for the WASP N-terminal domain in T cells

Int Immunol. 2011 Aug;23(8):493-502. doi: 10.1093/intimm/dxr042. Epub 2011 Jun 24.

Abstract

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) plays important roles in TCR signaling. In transgenic (Tg) mice, over-expression of the WASP N-terminal region (exons 1-5) including the enabled/vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (Ena/VASP) homology 1 (EVH1) domain and anti-WASP-EVH1 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) intracellular expressed antibodies (intrabodies) impairs IL-2 production in activated T cells. However, it largely remains unknown that how this domain transduces TCR signaling. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that the WASP N-terminal domain specifically associates with the Fyn SH3 domain; the interaction was uncovered by screening a λgt11 cDNA expression library obtained from the mouse T-cell line KKF. The interaction between Fyn and WASP was inhibited by over-expression of the WASP N-terminal domain and anti-WASP-EVH1 scFv intrabodies in gene-transfected NIH3T3 cells and T cells derived from these Tg mice. WASP-interacting protein binding to the EVH1 domain of WASP was also inhibited in these Tg mice T cells. Furthermore, tyrosine phosphorylation of WASP and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor of activated T cells following TCR stimulation was severely inhibited by over-expression of the WASP N-terminal domain. These observations strongly suggest that the WASP N-terminal domain plays a pivotal role in the TCR signaling cascade by binding to Fyn.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology
  • Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism
  • NFATC Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Phosphorylation / genetics
  • Phosphorylation / immunology
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Tyrosine / metabolism
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein / genetics
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein / immunology
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Interleukin-2
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • NFATC Transcription Factors
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Waspip protein, mouse
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein
  • Tyrosine
  • Fyn protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases