BLNK | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Aliases | BLNK , AGM4, BASH, BLNK-S, LY57, SLP-65, SLP65, bca, B-cell linker, B cell linker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
External IDs | OMIM: 604515 MGI: 96878 HomoloGene: 32038 GeneCards: BLNK | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Wikidata | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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B-cell linker (BLNK) protein is expressed in B cells and macrophages and plays a large role in B cell receptor signaling. [5] Like all adaptor proteins, BLNK has no known intrinsic enzymatic activity. [6] Its function is to temporally and spatially coordinate and regulate downstream signaling effectors in B cell receptor (BCR) signaling, which is important in B cell development. [7] Binding of these downstream effectors is dependent on BLNK phosphorylation. [8] [9] BLNK is encoded by the BLNK gene [8] [10] and is also known as SLP-65, [11] BASH, [12] and BCA. [13]
BLNK consists of a N-terminal leucine zipper motif followed by an acidic region, a proline-rich region, and a C-terminal SH2 domain. [14] [5] The leucine zipper motif allows BLNK to localize to the plasma membrane, presumably by coiled-coil interactions with a membrane protein. [5] This leucine zipper motif distinguishes BLNK from lymphoctye cytosolic protein 2, also known as LCP-2 or SLP-76, which plays a similar role in T cell receptor signaling. [15] Although LCP-2 has an N-terminal heptad-like organization of leucine and isoleucine residues like BLNK, it has not been experimentally shown to have the leucine zipper motif. [16] Recruitment of BLNK to the plasma membrane is also achieved by binding of the SH2 domain of BLNK to a non-ITAM phospho-tyrosine on the cytoplasmic domain of CD79A, which is a part of Igα and the B cell receptor complex. [17] [18] [19]
BLNK's function and importance in B cell development were first illustrated in BLNK deficient DT40 cells, a chicken B cell line. [7] DT40 cells had interrupted B cell development: there was no calcium mobilization response in the B cell, impaired activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases p38, JNK, and somewhat inhibited ERK activation upon (BCR) activation as compared to wild type DT40 cells. [7] In knockout mice, BLNK deficiency results in a partial block in B cell development, [20] [21] and in humans BLNK deficiency results in a much more profound block in B cell development. [22] [5]
Linker or adaptor proteins provide mechanisms by which receptors can amplify and regulate downstream effector proteins. [6] BLNK is essential for normal B-cell development as part of the B cell receptor signaling pathway. [supplied by OMIM] [10] [23] [24]
Evidence also suggests that BLNK may have tumor suppressive activity through its interaction with Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) [25] [26] and regulation of the pre-B cell checkpoint. [14] [27]
The acidic region of BLNK contains several inducibly phosphorylated tyrosine residues, at least five of which are found in humans. [28] Evidence suggests that BLNK is phosphorylated by the tyrosine-protein kinase Syk after B cell receptor activation. [8] [9] [24] [29] Phosphorylation of these residues provides docking sites necessary for downstream protein-protein interactions between BLNK and the SH2 domain-containing proteins Grb2, [8] [11] [17] [30] PLCG2, Btk, the Vav protein family, and Nck. [31] [9] [8] BLNK has also been shown to interact with SH3KBP1 [32] and MAP4K1. [33] A more recent mass spectrometry study of BLNK in DT40 cells found that at least 41 unique serine, threonine, and tyrosine residues are phosphorylated on BLNK. [34]
The T-cell receptor (TCR) is a protein complex found on the surface of T cells, or T lymphocytes, that is responsible for recognizing fragments of antigen as peptides bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. The binding between TCR and antigen peptides is of relatively low affinity and is degenerate: that is, many TCRs recognize the same antigen peptide and many antigen peptides are recognized by the same TCR.
The B-cell receptor (BCR) is a transmembrane protein on the surface of a B cell. A B-cell receptor is composed of a membrane-bound immunoglobulin molecule and a signal transduction moiety. The former forms a type 1 transmembrane receptor protein, and is typically located on the outer surface of these lymphocyte cells. Through biochemical signaling and by physically acquiring antigens from the immune synapses, the BCR controls the activation of the B cell. B cells are able to gather and grab antigens by engaging biochemical modules for receptor clustering, cell spreading, generation of pulling forces, and receptor transport, which eventually culminates in endocytosis and antigen presentation. B cells' mechanical activity adheres to a pattern of negative and positive feedbacks that regulate the quantity of removed antigen by manipulating the dynamic of BCR–antigen bonds directly. Particularly, grouping and spreading increase the relation of antigen with BCR, thereby proving sensitivity and amplification. On the other hand, pulling forces delinks the antigen from the BCR, thus testing the quality of antigen binding.
Growth factor receptor-bound protein 2, also known as Grb2, is an adaptor protein involved in signal transduction/cell communication. In humans, the GRB2 protein is encoded by the GRB2 gene.
Bruton's tyrosine kinase, also known as tyrosine-protein kinase BTK, is a tyrosine kinase that is encoded by the BTK gene in humans. BTK plays a crucial role in B cell development.
ZAP-70 is a protein normally expressed near the surface membrane of lymphocytes. It is most prominently known to be recruited upon antigen binding to the T cell receptor (TCR), and it plays a critical role in T cell signaling.
B-lymphocyte antigen CD19, also known as CD19 molecule, B-Lymphocyte Surface Antigen B4, T-Cell Surface Antigen Leu-12 and CVID3 is a transmembrane protein that in humans is encoded by the gene CD19. In humans, CD19 is expressed in all B lineage cells. Contrary to some early doubts, human plasma cells do express CD19, as confirmed by others. CD19 plays two major roles in human B cells: on the one hand, it acts as an adaptor protein to recruit cytoplasmic signaling proteins to the membrane; on the other, it works within the CD19/CD21 complex to decrease the threshold for B cell receptor signaling pathways. Due to its presence on all B cells, it is a biomarker for B lymphocyte development, lymphoma diagnosis and can be utilized as a target for leukemia immunotherapies.
CD22, or cluster of differentiation-22, is a molecule belonging to the SIGLEC family of lectins. It is found on the surface of mature B cells and to a lesser extent on some immature B cells. Generally speaking, CD22 is a regulatory molecule that prevents the overactivation of the immune system and the development of autoimmune diseases.
Lymphocyte cytosolic protein 2, also known as LCP2 or SLP-76, is a signal-transducing adaptor protein expressed in T cells and myeloid cells and is important in the signaling of T-cell receptors (TCRs). As an adaptor protein, SLP-76 does not have catalytic functions, primarily binding other signaling proteins to form larger signaling complexes. It is a key component of the signaling pathways of receptors with immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) such as T-cell receptors, its precursors, and receptors for the Fc regions of certain antibodies. SLP-76 is expressed in T-cells and related lymphocytes like natural killer cells.
An immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM), is a conserved sequence of amino acids that is found intracellularly in the cytoplasmic domains of many inhibitory receptors of the non-catalytic tyrosine-phosphorylated receptor family found on immune cells. These immune cells include T cells, B cells, NK cells, dendritic cells, macrophages and mast cells. ITIMs have similar structures of S/I/V/LxYxxI/V/L, where x is any amino acid, Y is a tyrosine residue that can be phosphorylated, S is the amino acid serine, I is the amino acid isoleucine, and V is the amino acid valine. ITIMs recruit SH2 domain-containing phosphatases, which inhibit cellular activation. ITIM-containing receptors often serve to target immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM)-containing receptors, resulting in an innate inhibition mechanism within cells. ITIM bearing receptors have important role in regulation of immune system allowing negative regulation at different levels of the immune response.
The Linker for activation of T cells, also known as linker of activated T cells or LAT, is a protein involved in the T-cell antigen receptor signal transduction pathway which in humans is encoded by the LAT gene. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms.
Src homology 2 (SH2) domain containing inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase 1(SHIP1) is an enzyme with phosphatase activity. SHIP1 is structured by multiple domain and is encoded by the INPP5D gene in humans. SHIP1 is expressed predominantly by hematopoietic cells but also, for example, by osteoblasts and endothelial cells. This phosphatase is important for the regulation of cellular activation. Not only catalytic but also adaptor activities of this protein are involved in this process. Its movement from the cytosol to the cytoplasmic membrane, where predominantly performs its function, is mediated by tyrosine phosphorylation of the intracellular chains of cell surface receptors that SHIP1 binds. Insufficient regulation of SHIP1 leads to different pathologies.
CD244 also known as 2B4 or SLAMF4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CD244 gene.
Tyrosine-protein kinase Tec is a tyrosine kinase that in humans is encoded by the TEC gene. Tec kinase is expressed in hematopoietic, liver, and kidney cells and plays an important role in T-helper cell processes. Tec kinase is the name-giving member of the Tec kinase family, a family of non-receptor protein-tyrosine kinases.
GRB2-related adapter protein 2 also known as GRB2-related adaptor downstream of Shc (GADS) is a 37 kDa protein that in humans is encoded by the GRAP2 gene.
SH2 domain-containing adapter protein B is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SHB gene.
FYN binding protein (FYB-120/130), also known as FYB, ADAP, and SLAP-130 is a protein that is encoded by the FYB gene in humans. The protein is expressed in T cells, monocytes, mast cells, macrophages, NK cells, but not B cells. FYB is a multifunctional protein involved in post-activation T cell signaling, lymphocyte cytokine production, cell adhesion, and actin remodeling.
Cluster of differentiation CD79A also known as B-cell antigen receptor complex-associated protein alpha chain and MB-1 membrane glycoprotein, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CD79A gene.
A non-receptor tyrosine kinase (nRTK) is a cytosolic enzyme that is responsible for catalysing the transfer of a phosphate group from a nucleoside triphosphate donor, such as ATP, to tyrosine residues in proteins. Non-receptor tyrosine kinases are a subgroup of protein family tyrosine kinases, enzymes that can transfer the phosphate group from ATP to a tyrosine residue of a protein (phosphorylation). These enzymes regulate many cellular functions by switching on or switching off other enzymes in a cell.
SLP65/SLP76, Csk-interacting membrane protein, termed SCIMP, belongs to family of transmembrane adaptor proteins (TRAP) which do not directly associate with a receptor, such as LAT, NTAL, LIME or LAX. SCIMP is expressed in antigen-presenting cells (APC), namely B cells, bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and macrophages.
Non-catalytic tyrosine-phosphorylated receptors (NTRs), also called immunoreceptors or Src-family kinase-dependent receptors, are a group of cell surface receptors expressed by leukocytes that are important for cell migration and the recognition of abnormal cells or structures and the initiation of an immune response. These transmembrane receptors are not grouped into the NTR family based on sequence homology, but because they share a conserved signalling pathway utilizing the same signalling motifs. A signaling cascade is initiated when the receptors bind their respective ligand resulting in cell activation. For that tyrosine residues in the cytoplasmic tail of the receptors have to be phosphorylated, hence the receptors are referred to as tyrosine-phosphorylated receptors. They are called non-catalytic receptors, as the receptors have no intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity and cannot phosphorylate their own tyrosine residues. Phosphorylation is mediated by additionally recruited kinases. A prominent member of this receptor family is the T-cell receptor.