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Biomedical subjects

A Altman

Publications and source records attributed to A Altman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Protein kinase ctheta cooperates with calcineurin to induce Fas ligand expression during activation-induced T cell death.

Activation-induced cell death is mediated by the TCR-induced expression of the Fas ligand (FasL) on the surface of T cells, followed by binding to its receptor Fas. FasL expression is induced by stimulating T cells with a combination of phorbol ester and Ca2+ ionophore, implicating a role for protein kinase C (PKC) in this process. However, the precise mechanisms that regulate FasL expression, including the contribution of distinct T cell-expressed PKC isoforms, are poorly understood. Herein, we report that PKCtheta, a Ca2+-independent PKC isoform that we have previously isolated as a PKC enzyme selectively expressed in T cells, plays an important role in these processes. A constitutively active PKCtheta mutant preferentially induced FasL expression and activated the corresponding gene promoter; conversely, a dominant-negative PKCtheta mutant blocked FasL expression induced by anti-CD3 or PMA plus ionomycin stimulation. Furthermore, PKCtheta synergized with calcineurin to provide a potent stimulus for FasL promoter activation. Full activation of the promoter required its binding sites for the transcription factors NF-AT, AP-1, and NF-kappaB. The biological significance of these findings is implicated by the finding that rottlerin, a selective PKCtheta inhibitor, blocked FasL induction by anti-CD3 or PMA plus ionomycin stimulation and, consequently, protected human Jurkat T cells and the mouse T cell hybridoma A1.1 from activation-induced cell death.

Acetophenones↗

Protein kinase C activation inhibits tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl and its recruitment of Src homology 2 domain-containing proteins.

One of the major proteins that is rapidly tyrosine phosphorylated upon stimulation of the TCR/CD3 complex is the 120-kDa product of the c-cbl protooncogene (Cbl). Upon activation, tyrosine-phosphorylated Cbl interacts with the Src homology 2 (SH2) domains of several signaling proteins, e.g., phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) and CrkL. In the present study, we report that pretreatment of Jurkat T cells with PMA reduced the anti-CD3-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl and, consequently, its activation-dependent association with PI3-K and CrkL. A specific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor (GF-109203X) reversed the effect of PMA on tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl and restored the activation-dependent association of Cbl with PI3-K and CrkL. We also provide evidence that PKCalpha and PKCtheta can physically associate with Cbl and are able to phosphorylate it in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, a serine-rich motif at the C terminus of Cbl, which is critical for PMA-induced 14-3-3 binding, is also phosphorylated by PKCalpha and PKCtheta in vitro. These results suggest that, by regulating tyrosine and serine phosphorylation of Cbl, PKC is able to control the association of Cbl with signaling intermediates, such as SH2 domain-containing proteins and 14-3-3 proteins, which may consequently result in the modulation of its function.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Protein kinase C mu is negatively regulated by 14-3-3 signal transduction proteins.

Recent studies have documented direct interaction between 14-3-3 proteins and key molecules in signal transduction pathways like Ras, Cbl, and protein kinases. In T cells, the 14-3-3tau isoform has been shown to associate with protein kinase C theta and to negatively regulate interleukin-2 secretion. Here we present data that 14-3-3tau interacts with protein kinase C mu (PKCmu), a subtype that differs from other PKC members in structure and activation mechanisms. Specific interaction of PKCmu and 14-3-3tau can be shown in the T cell line Jurkat by immunocoprecipitiation and by pulldown assays of either endogenous or overexpressed proteins using PKCmu-specific antibodies and GST-14-3-3 fusion proteins, respectively. Using PKCmu deletion mutants, the 14-3-3tau binding region is mapped within the regulatory C1 domain. Binding of 14-3-3tau to PKCmu is significantly enhanced upon phorbol ester stimulation of PKCmu kinase activity in Jurkat cells and occurs via a Cbl-like serine containing consensus motif. However, 14-3-3tau is not a substrate of PKCmu. In contrast 14-3-3tau strongly down-regulates PKCmu kinase activity in vitro. Moreover, overexpression of 14-3-3tau significantly reduced phorbol ester induced activation of PKCmu kinase activity in intact cells. We therefore conclude that 14-3-3tau is a negative regulator of PKCmu in T cells.

14-3-3 Proteins↗

A direct interaction between the adaptor protein Cbl-b and the kinase zap-70 induces a positive signal in T cells.

Engagement of the T-cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex induces a rapid increase in the activities of Src-family and Syk/Zap-70-family kinases [1] [2]. These activated kinases then induce the tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple intracellular proteins, eventually leading to T-cell activation. One of the prominent substrates for these kinases is the adaptor protein Cbl [3] and recent studies suggest that Cbl negatively regulates upstream kinases such as Syk and Zap-70 [4] [5]. Cbl-b, a homologue of Cbl, is widely expressed in many tissues and cells including hematopoietic cells [6] [7]. Cbl-b undergoes rapid tyrosine phosphorylation upon stimulation of the TCR and cytokine receptors [8] [9]. The role of Cbl-b is unclear, however. Here, we show that overexpression of Cbl-b in T cells induced the constitutive activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). A loss-of-function mutation in Cbl-b disrupted the interaction between Cbl-b and Zap-70 and nearly completely abrogated the Cbl-b-mediated activation of NFAT. Unlike the proposed role of Cbl as a negative regulator, our results suggest that the Cbl homologue Cbl-b has a positive role in T-cell signaling, most likely via a direct interaction with the upstream kinase Zap-70.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Dual regulation of T cell receptor-mediated signaling by oncogenic Cbl mutant 70Z.

We previously showed that an oncogenic Cbl mutant (70Z) is constitutively active in transcriptional activation of nuclear factor at activated T cells (NFAT). However, the mechanism underlying this effect remains unclear. Here we analyzed the effects of 70Z mutations at an amino-terminal loss of function site (Gly-306) and at carboxyl-terminal potential tyrosine or serine phosphorylation sites on association with signaling proteins and on NFAT activation. Mutation at Gly-306 of 70Z disrupted its association with Zap-70 and almost completely abolished its ability to induce NFAT activation under basal and ionomycin-stimulated conditions. However, mutations at potential tyrosine or serine phosphorylation sites had little effect. In fact, expression of 70Z with Tyr-700, Tyr-731, or Tyr-774 mutated to Phe increased NFAT activity in comparison with unmutated 70Z. These findings suggest that an amino terminus-mediated interaction of 70Z with Zap-70 plays a positive role and that a carboxyl terminus-mediated, phosphotyrosine-dependent interaction with their binding proteins plays a negative role in 70Z-mediated NFAT activation. In support of this notion are the observations that 70Z reduced T cell receptor-induced NFAT activation and that wild-type Cbl further inhibited this event, suggesting that both 70Z and wild-type Cbl employ a similar mechanism by which Cbl proteins dually regulate T cell receptor-mediated signaling.

14-3-3 Proteins↗

Tyrosine phosphorylation and complex formation of Cbl-b upon T cell receptor stimulation.

Cbl-b, a mammalian homolog of Cbl, consists of an N-terminal region (Cbl-b-N) highly homologous to oncogenic v-Cbl, a Ring finger, and a C-terminal region containing multiple proline-rich stretches and potential tyrosine phosphorylation sites. In the present study, we demonstrate that upon engagement of the T cell receptor (TCR), endogenous Cbl-b becomes rapidly tyrosine-phosphorylated. In heterogeneous COS-1 cells, Cbl-b was phosphorylated on tyrosine residues by both Syk- (Syk/Zap-70) and Src- (Fyn/Lck) family kinases, with Syk kinase inducing the most prominent effect. Syk associates and phosphorylates Cbl-b in Jurkat T cells. A Tyr-316 Cbl-binding site in Syk was required for the association with and for the maximal tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl-b. Mutation at a loss-of-function site (Gly-298) in Cbl-b-N disrupts its interaction with Syk. Cbl-b constitutively binds Grb2 and becomes associated with Crk-L upon TCR stimulation. The Grb2- and the Crk-L-binding regions were mapped to the C-terminus of Cbl-b. The Crk-L-binding sites were further determined to be Y655DVP and Y709KIP, with the latter being the primary binding site. Taken together, these results implicate that Cbl-b is involved in TCR-mediated intracellular signaling pathways.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Protein kinase Ctheta, a selective upstream regulator of JNK/SAPK and IL-2 promoter activation in Jurkat T cells.

The predominant expression of protein kinase C (PKC) theta in T cells (J. Biol. Chem. 1993. 268: 4997-5004), its isoenzyme-specific ability to stimulate AP-1 transcriptional activity (Mol. Cell. Biol. 1996. 16: 1842-1850) and the recent discovery of its selective and antigen-dependent colocalization with the contact region between T cells and antigen-presenting cells (Nature 1997. 385: 83-89) suggest that, among the PKC family members, PKCtheta plays a specialized role in T cell activation. By investigating the downstream effectors of PKCtheta we now demonstrate a direct and isoenzyme-specific contribution of PKCtheta to c-Jun-N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) but not extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) activation. Expression of a constitutively active (CA) form of PKCtheta (but not CA-PKCalpha, epsilon and lambda/iota) resulted in strong activation of JNK/SAPK and expression of a dominant-negative form of PKCtheta interfered with the endogenous activation signal for JNK/SAPK. Importantly, Ca2+ ionophore and CA-PKCtheta (but not CA-PKCalpha, epsilon and lambda/iota) caused synergistic activation of the IL-2 promoter. Together, these data establish that PKCtheta is required for activation of JNK/SAPK signaling leading to IL-2 promoter transcription in T lymphocytes.

Anisomycin↗

Jun kinase phosphorylates and regulates the DNA binding activity of an octamer binding protein, T-cell factor beta1.

POU domain proteins have been implicated as key regulators during development and lymphocyte activation. The POU domain protein T-cell factor beta1 (TCFbeta1), which binds octamer and octamer-related sequences, is a potent transactivator. In this study, we showed that TCFbeta1 is phosphorylated following activation via the T-cell receptor or by stress-induced signals. Phosphorylation of TCFbeta1 occurred predominantly at serine and threonine residues. Signals which upregulate Jun kinase (JNK)/stress-activated protein kinase activity also lead to association of JNK with TCFbeta1. JNK associates with the activation domain of TCFbeta1 and phosphorylates its DNA binding domain. The phosphorylation of recombinant TCFbeta1 by recombinant JNK enhances the ability of TCFbeta1 to bind to a consensus octamer motif. Consistent with this conclusion, TCFbeta1 upregulates reporter gene transcription in an activation- and JNK-dependent manner. In addition, inhibition of JNK activity by catalytically inactive MEKK (in which methionine was substituted for the lysine at position 432) also inhibits the ability of TCFbeta1 to drive inducible transcription from the interleukin-2 promoter. These results suggest that stress-induced signals and T-cell activation induce JNK, which then acts on multiple cis sequences by modulating distinct transactivators like c-Jun and TCFbeta1. This demonstrates a coupling between the JNK activation pathway and POU domain proteins and implicates TCFbeta1 as a physiological target in the JNK signal transduction pathway leading to coordinated biological responses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Integrin-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation and growth regulation by Vav.

The proto-oncogene product p95Vav (Vav) undergoes rapid phosphorylation on tyrosine following stimulation of the T or B cell antigen receptor, and in response to a variety of other cell surface stimuli. Vav contains, among other, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor domain with homology to the Rho/Rac/CDC42 exchange protein Db1. It has been recently shown that Vav is functionally linked to small GTPases of the Rho family, suggesting that it is an activator of Rho GTPases and may participate in regulation of cytoskeletal organization. The present study shows that cell adhesion to fibronectin triggers rapid phosphorylation of Vav on tyrosine in Vav-transfected CHO cells and in Jurkat T cells. Vav phosphorylation is strongly dependent on adhesion and is mediated by beta 1 integrins. Furthermore, Vav overexpression enhances the adhesion-dependent increase in the rate and extent of phosphorylation on focal adhesion kinase and paxillin, and the formation of stress fibers and lamellipodia. In addition, there is a marked increase in the amount of Vav localized to the triton-insoluble fraction following 1 h of incubation on FN. Finally, Vav increases the growth rate of the cells in an adhesion-dependent manner. Our results strongly implicate Vav as a mediator of integrin signal transduction.

Actins↗

Hypertonicity regulates the function of human neutrophils by modulating chemoattractant receptor signaling and activating mitogen-activated protein kinase p38.

Excessive neutrophil activation causes posttraumatic complications, which may be reduced with hypertonic saline (HS) resuscitation. We tested if this is because of modulated neutrophil function by HS. Clinically relevant hypertonicity (10-25 mM) suppressed degranulation and superoxide formation in response to fMLP and blocked the activation of the mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) ERK1/2 and p38, but did not affect Ca2+ mobilization. HS did not suppress oxidative burst in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). This indicates that HS suppresses neutrophil function by intercepting signal pathways upstream of or apart from PKC. HS activated p38 by itself and enhanced degranulation in response to PKC activation. This enhancement was reduced by inhibition of p38 with SB203580, suggesting that p38 up-regulation participates in HS-induced enhancements of degranulation. HS had similar effects on the degranulation of cells that were previously stimulated with fMLP, but had no effect on its own, suggesting that HS enhancement of degranulation requires another signal. We conclude that depending on other stimuli, HS can suppress neutrophil activation by intercepting multiple receptor signals or augment degranulation by enhancing p38 signaling. In patients HS resuscitation may reduce posttraumatic complications by preventing neutrophil activation via chemotactic factors released during reperfusion.

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases↗

Coordinated regulation of the tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl by Fyn and Syk tyrosine kinases.

Cross-linking of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex induces rapid tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of Src (Lck and Fyn) and Syk (Syk and Zap-70) family protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) which, in turn, phosphorylate multiple intracellular substrates. Cbl is a prominent PTK substrate suggesting a pivotal role for it in early signal transduction events. However, the regulation of Cbl function and tyrosine phosphorylation in T cells by upstream PTKs remains poorly understood. In the present study, we used genetic and biochemical approaches to demonstrate that Cbl directly interacts with Syk and Fyn via its N-terminal and C-terminal regions, respectively. Tyr-316 of Syk was required for the interaction with Cbl as well as for the maximal tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl. However, both wild-type Syk and Y316F-mutated Syk phosphorylated equally well the C-terminal fragment of Cbl in vivo, suggesting the existence of an alternative, N terminus-independent mechanism for the Syk-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl. This mechanism appears to involve Fyn, since, in addition to its association with the C-terminal region of Cbl, Fyn also associated with Syk and enhanced the Syk-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl. These findings implicate Fyn as an adaptor protein that facilitates the interaction between Syk and Cbl, and suggest that Src and Syk family PTKs coordinately regulate the tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Protein kinase C-theta phosphorylation of moesin in the actin-binding sequence.

Moesin, a member of the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) family of membrane/cytoskeletal linkage proteins, is known to be threonine-phosphorylated at Thr558 in activated platelets within its conserved putative actin-binding domain. The pathway leading to this phosphorylation step and its control have not been previously elucidated. We have detected and characterized reactions leading to moesin phosphorylation in human leukocyte extracts. In vitro phosphorylation of endogenous moesin, which was identified by peptide microsequencing, was dependent on phosphatidylglycerol (PG) or to a lesser extent, phosphatidylinositol (PI), but not phosphatidylserine (PS) and diacylglycerol (DAG). Analysis of charge shifts, phosphoamino acid analysis, and stoichiometry was consistent with a single phosphorylation site. By using mass spectroscopy and direct microsequencing of CNBr fragments of phospho-moesin, the phosphorylation site was identified as KYKT*LRQIR (where * indicates the phosphorylation site) (Thr558), which is conserved in the ERM family. Recombinant moesin demonstrated similar in vitro phospholipid-dependent phosphorylation compared with the endogenous protein. The phosphorylation site sequence of moesin displays a high degree of conservation with the pseudosubstrate sequences of the protein kinase C (PKC) family. We identified the kinase activity as PKC-theta on the basis of immunodepletion of the moesin kinase activity and copurification of PKC-theta with the enzymic activity. We further demonstrate that PKC-theta displays a preference for PG vesicles over PI or PS/DAG, with minimal activation by DAG, as well as specificity for moesin compared with myelin basic protein, histone H1, or other cellular proteins. Expression of a human His6-tagged PKC-theta in Jurkat cells and purification by Ni2+ chelate chromatography yield an active enzyme that phosphorylates moesin. PG vesicle binding experiments with expressed PKC-theta and moesin demonstrate that both bind to vesicles independently of one another. Thus, PKC-theta is identified as a major kinase within cells with specificity for moesin and with activation under non-classical PKC conditions. It appears likely that this activity corresponds to a specific intracellular pathway controlling the function of moesin as well as other ERM proteins.

Actins↗

New perspectives on PKCtheta, a member of the novel subfamily of protein kinase C.

Members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine/threonine protein kinases have been implicated in numerous cellular responses in a large variety of cell types. Expression patterns of individual members and differences in their cofactor requirements and potential substrate specificity suggest that each isoenzyme may be involved in specific regulatory processes. The PKCtheta isoenzyme exhibits a relatively restricted expression pattern with high protein levels found predominantly in hematopoietic cells and skeletal muscle. PKCtheta was found to be expressed in T, but not B lymphocytes, and to colocalize with the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) at the site of contact between the antigen-responding T cell and the antigen-presenting cell (APC). Colocalization of PKCtheta with the TCR was selective for this isoenzyme and occurred only upon antigen-mediated responses leading to T-cell activation and proliferation. PKCtheta was found to be involved in the regulation of transcriptional activation of early-activation genes, predominantly AP-1, and its cellular distribution and activation were found to be regulated by the 14-3-3 protein. Other findings indicated that PKCtheta can associate with the HIV negative factor (Nef) protein, suggesting that altered regulation of PKCtheta by Nef may contribute to the T-cell impairments that are characteristic of infection by HIV. PKCtheta is expressed at relatively high levels in skeletal muscle, where it is suggested to play a role in signal transduction in both the developing and mature neuromuscular junction. In addition, PKCtheta appears to be involved in the insulin-mediated response of intact skeletal muscle, as well as in experimentally induced insulin resistance of skeletal muscle. Further studies suggest that PKCtheta is expressed in endothelial cells and is involved in multiple processes essential for angiogenesis and wound healing, including the regulation of cell cycle progression, formation and maintenance of actin cytoskeleton, and formation of capillary tubes. Here, we review recent progress in the study of PKCtheta and discuss its potential role in various cellular responses.

Animals↗

Cbl: complex formation and functional implications.

Chbl, a 120-kDa proto-oncogene product, whose gene was first identified as part of a transforming gene of a murine retrovirus and whose expression is predominant in haematopoietic cells, consists of an amino-terminal transforming region, a zinc Ring finger, multiple proline-rich stretches, and several potential phosphotyrosine-containing motifs. Cbl is rapidly tyrosine-phosphorylated in response to stimulation of a variety of cell-surface receptors and becomes associated with a number of intracellular signalling molecules such as protein tyrosine kinases, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Crk, and 14-3-3 proteins through different protein-interacting modules, leading to the formation of multimolecular signalling complexes. Cbl and its transforming mutants have been shown to display both negative and positive regulatory activities in protein tyrosine kinase- and Ras-mediated signalling pathways. Nevertheless, the exact biological function of this adaptor protein remains largely unknown. The present review summarizes recent progress in our understanding of the structure, regulation and biological function of Chl and defines open questions for future research.

Animals↗

Adaptor function for the Syk kinases-interacting protein 3BP2 in IL-2 gene activation.

Syk-family tyrosine kinases are essential for lymphocyte development and activation. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen to identify Syk kinases-interacting proteins (SKIPs), we isolated 3BP2, an Abl SH3-interacting protein of unknown function. 3BP2 was selectively expressed in hematopoietic/lymphoid tissues and bound via its SH2 domain activated Syk-family kinases in mammalian cells, including in antigen receptor-stimulated T cells. In addition to Zap-70, the 3BP2 SH2 domain associated in vitro with LAT, Grb2, PLCgamma1, and Cbl from activated T cell lysates. Transient 3BP2 overexpression induced transcriptional activation of the IL-2 promoter and its NFAT or AP-1 elements. This activity was dependent on the SH2 and pleckstrin-homology domains of 3BP2, and required functional Syk kinases, Ras, and calcineurin. Thus, 3BP2 is an important adaptor that may couple activated Zap-70/Syk to a LAT-containing signaling complex involved in TCR-mediated gene transcription.

Animals↗

Serine phosphorylation of Cbl induced by phorbol ester enhances its association with 14-3-3 proteins in T cells via a novel serine-rich 14-3-3-binding motif.

Stimulation of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR).CD3 complex induces rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl, a protooncogene product which has been implicated in intracellular signaling pathways via its interaction with several signaling molecules. We found recently that Cbl associates directly with a member of the 14-3-3 protein family (14-3-3tau) in T cells and that the association is increased as a consequence of anti-CD3-mediated T cell activation. We report here that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulation of T cells also enhanced the interaction between Cbl and two 14-3-3 isoforms (tau and zeta). Tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbl was not sufficient or required for this increased interaction. Thus, cotransfection of COS cells with Cbl plus Lck and/or Syk family protein-tyrosine kinases caused a marked increase in the phosphotyrosine content of Cbl without a concomitant enhancement of its association with 14-3-3. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulation induced serine phosphorylation of Cbl, and dephosphorylation of immunoprecipitated Cbl by a Ser/Thr phosphatase disrupted its interaction with 14-3-3. By using successive carboxyl-terminal deletion mutants of Cbl, the 14-3-3-binding domain was mapped to a serine-rich 30-amino acid region (residues 615-644) of Cbl. Mutation of serine residues in this region further defined a binding motif distinct from the consensus sequence RSXSXP, which was recently identified as a 14-3-3-binding motif. These results suggest that TCR stimulation induces both tyrosine and serine phosphorylation of Cbl. These phosphorylation events allow Cbl to recruit distinct signaling elements that participate in TCR-mediated signal transduction pathways.

14-3-3 Proteins↗

Reconstitution of T cell antigen receptor-induced Erk2 kinase activation in Lck-negative JCaM1 cells by Syk.

The two related protein-tyrosine kinases Syk and Zap are rapidly phosphorylated on tyrosine residues and enzymatically activated upon crosslinking of the T cell antigen receptor. We have previously reported that the activation of Syk is less dependent on the Src family kinase Lck than the activation of Zap. Here we report that overexpression of Syk in the Lck-negative JCaM1 cells enabled the T cell antigen receptor/CD3 complex to induce a normal activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and expression of a nuclear factor of activated T cells reporter construct. In contrast, Zap and other protein-tyrosine kinases were unable to reconstitute these signaling pathways when expressed at the same levels. In parallel, Syk was phosphorylated on tyrosine, while Zap was not. The Syk-mediated T cell antigen receptor-induced MAPK activation was detectable within 1 min of receptor stimulation and peaked at 3-5 min. The capacity of Syk to reconstitute the MAPK response required the catalytic activity of Syk, an intact autophosphorylation site (Y518 and Y519), both Src homology 2 domains and it was blocked by the inhibitory N17-mutated dominant-negative Ras construct. A Y341-->F mutant of Syk, which is deficient in its interaction with phospholipase Cy1 and Vav, was less efficient than wild-type Syk. Our results suggest that Syk, in contrast to Zap, can transduce signals from the T cell antigen receptor independently of Lck.

Animals↗