The calponin homology domain of Vav1 associates with calmodulin and is prerequisite to T cell antigen receptor-induced calcium release in Jurkat T lymphocytes

J Biol Chem. 2007 Aug 10;282(32):23737-44. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M702975200. Epub 2007 Jun 5.

Abstract

Vav1 is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that is expressed specifically in hematopoietic cells and plays important roles in T cell development and activation. Vav1 consists of multiple structural domains so as to facilitate both its guanine nucleotide exchange activity and scaffold function following T cell antigen receptor (TCR) engagement. Previous studies demonstrated that the calponin homology (CH) domain of Vav1 is required for TCR-stimulated calcium mobilization and thus downstream activation of nuclear factor of activated T cells. However, it remained obscure how Vav1 functions in regulating calcium flux. In an effort to explore molecules interacting with Vav1, we found that calmodulin bound to Vav1 in a calcium-dependent and TCR activation-independent manner. The binding site was mapped to the CH domain of Vav1. Reconstitution of vav1-null Jurkat T cells (J.Vav1) with CH-deleted Vav1 exhibited a severe deficiency in calcium release to the same extent as that of Jurkat cells treated with the calmodulin inhibitor or J.Vav1 cells. The defect persisted even when phospholipase-Cgamma1 was fully activated, indicating a prerequisite role of Vav1 CH domain in calcium signaling. The results suggest that Vav1 and calmodulin function cooperatively to potentiate TCR-induced calcium release. This study unveiled a mechanism by which the Vav1 CH domain is involved in calcium signaling and provides insight into our understanding of the role of Vav1 in T cell activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / chemistry*
  • Calmodulin / chemistry*
  • Calmodulin / metabolism
  • Calponins
  • Humans
  • Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors / metabolism
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Microfilament Proteins / chemistry*
  • Models, Biological
  • Phospholipase C gamma / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-vav / chemistry*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-vav / physiology*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / chemistry*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Calmodulin
  • Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-vav
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • VAV1 protein, human
  • Phospholipase C gamma
  • Calcium