The oncogenic 70Z Cbl mutation blocks the phosphotyrosine binding domain-dependent negative regulation of ZAP-70 by c-Cbl in Jurkat T cells

Mol Cell Biol. 1999 Oct;19(10):6652-64. doi: 10.1128/MCB.19.10.6652.

Abstract

T-cell receptor (TCR) engagement results in the activation of Src family (Lck and Fyn) and ZAP-70 protein tyrosine kinases, leading to tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple cellular substrates including the complex adapter protein c-Cbl. Moreover, Cbl is tyrosine phosphorylated upon engagement of growth factor receptors, cytokine receptors, and immunoreceptors and functions as a negative regulator of tyrosine kinase signalling pathways. Cbl associates via its phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain to the ZAP-70 pY292 negative regulatory phosphotyrosine. We recently demonstrated that the oncogenic Cbl mutant, 70Z Cbl, requires its PTB domain to upregulate NFAT in unstimulated Jurkat T cells. Here, we demonstrate that kinase-dead but not wild-type forms of Fyn, Lck, and ZAP-70 block 70Z Cbl-mediated NFAT activation. Moreover, 70Z Cbl does not upregulate NFAT in the ZAP-70-deficient P116 Jurkat T-cell line. The requirement for Fyn, Lck, and ZAP-70 is not due to tyrosine phosphorylation of 70Z Cbl, as mutation of all tyrosines in, or deletion of, the C-terminal region of 70Z Cbl (amino acids 655 to 906) blocks 70Z Cbl tyrosine phosphorylation but enhances 70Z Cbl-mediated NFAT activation. Further, 70Z Cbl does not cooperate with ZAP-70 Y292F to upregulate NFAT, indicating that 70Z Cbl and ZAP-70 do not activate parallel signalling pathways. Finally, the upregulation of NFAT observed upon ZAP-70 overexpression is blocked by Cbl in a PTB domain-dependent manner. We conclude that oncogenic 70Z Cbl acts as a dominant negative to block the PTB domain-dependent negative regulatory role of endogenous Cbl on ZAP-70, leading to constitutive ZAP-70 signalling and activation of transcription factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Models, Biological
  • Mutation
  • NFATC Transcription Factors
  • Nuclear Proteins*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Tyrosine / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases*
  • ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • NFATC Transcription Factors
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tyrosine
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase
  • ZAP70 protein, human
  • src-Family Kinases
  • CBL protein, human