Functional complementation of BLNK by SLP-76 and LAT linker proteins

Recent studies have demonstrated a requirement for the SLP-76 (SH2 domain-containing leukocyte protein of 76 kDa) and LAT (linker for activation of T cells) adaptor/linker proteins in T cell antigen receptor activation and T cell development as well as the BLNK (B cell linker) linker protein in B cell antigen receptor (BCR) signal transduction and B cell development. Whereas the SLP-76 and LAT adaptor proteins are expressed in T, natural killer, and myeloid cells and platelets, BLNK is preferentially expressed in B cells and monocytes. Although BLNK is structurally homologous to SLP-76, BLNK interacts with a variety of downstream signaling proteins that interact directly with both SLP-76 and LAT. Here, we demonstrate that neither SLP-76 nor LAT alone is sufficient to restore the signaling deficits observed in BLNK-deficient B cells. Conversely, the coexpression of SLP-76 and LAT together restored BCR-inducible calcium responses as well as activation of all three families of mitogen-activated protein kinases. Together, these data suggest functional complementation of SLP-76 and LAT in T cell antigen receptor function with BLNK in BCR function.