Nonreceptor Tyrosine-specific Protein Kinases

In addition to receptor tyrosine kinases, the cell also contains a number of tyrosine-specific protein kinases that are not an integral component of transmembrane receptors. These nonreceptor tyrosine kinases are localized in the cytoplasm at least occasionally or they are associated with transmembrane receptors on the cytoplasmic side of the cell membrane. They are therefore also known as cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases. The nonreceptor tyrosine kinases perform essential functions in signal transduction via cytokine receptors (see Chapter 11) and T cell receptors, and in other signaling pathways. 

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Permanent or transient association with subcellular structures, and variable subcellular distribution, are characteristic for the cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases. Tire nonreceptor tyrosine kinases are intracellular effector molecules that can associate with specific substrates during the process of signal transduction and activate these by tyrosine phosphorylation, to pass on the signal. Many of the functions of the nonreceptor tyrosine kinases are performed in the iimnediate vicinity of the cell membrane, whether a signal is received from an activated membrane receptor or a signal is passed on to a membrane-associated protein. 

In Fig. 8.14, the structures of some nonreceptor tyrosine kinases are shown schematically (review Taniguchi, 1995). Tire nonreceptor tyrosine kinases can be divided into different families based on sequence homology the Src family is the best characterized. In addition to the catalytic domain, the nonreceptor tyrosine kinases often have SH2 and SH3 domains responsible for specific association with substrate proteins. Nonreceptor tyrosine kinases that contain both SH2 and SH3 domains may be involved in signal transduction in larger protein complexes. 

In spite of having no intrinsic catalytic domains, activation of T lymphocytes commences with tyrosine phosphorylations, activation of PLC-v with production of IP3 and DAG, and elevation of cytosolic free Ca2+. Thus, the consequences of receptor ligation are not dissimilar from those induced by the receptors for EGF or PDGF. An early study trying to explain the induction of tyrosine kinase activity resulted in the discovery of the nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase Lck (p56lck), a T-cell-specific member of the Src family. Lck is associated with the cytosolic tail of CD4 (in helper T cells) or CD8 (in cytotoxic T cells) (Figure 8.14). As mentioned, the extracellular domains of these... 

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