Ligand-dependent and -independent processes in B-cell-receptor-mediated signaling
E M Fuentes-Pananá1, J G Monroe
1University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Room 311 BRBII/III, 421 Curie Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Abstract:
The B cell antigen receptor (BCR) is a protein complex expressed on the surface of immature and mature B cells. After ligand-induced aggregation, this complex generates signals that lead to a variety of biological outcomes, including survival, proliferation and differentiation. During B cell development intermediate forms of the BCR are expressed on the surface. The composition of these pro- and preBCR complexes reflects the ordered assembly of the BCR complex and they exist to generate signals for positive selection at defined developmental checkpoints. Because these receptors lack the ability to bind conventional ligands, the pro- and preBCR have been postulated to signal via ligand-independent processes. This ligand-independent or constitutive signal may also play a role in the survival of peripheral mature B cells. Here we discuss the evidence for ligand-independent functions for the BCR and postulate how it may be regulated and linked to biological processes associated with B cell development and survival.
More Related Videos
07:41A Kinetic Fluorescence-based Ca2+ Mobilization Assay to Identify G Protein-coupled Receptor Agonists, Antagonists, and Allosteric Modulators
Published on: February 20, 2018
09:03Parallel Interrogation of β-Arrestin2 Recruitment for Ligand Screening on a GPCR-Wide Scale using PRESTO-Tango Assay
Published on: March 10, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Cell Signaling
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Amplifying Signals via Second Messengers
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade
Overview of Cell Signaling
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Signal Transduction: Overview
Typically, signal transduction involves three...
