Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026

Assessment of Mitochondrial Functions and Cell Viability in Renal Cells Overexpressing Protein Kinase C Isozymes
Published on: January 7, 2013
PTPN4 negatively regulates CrkI in human cell lines
Juan Zhou1, Bingbing Wan, Jingxuan Shan
1State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
PTPN4 is a widely expressed non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase. Although its overexpression inhibits cell growth, the proteins with which it interacts to regulate cell growth are unknown. In this study, we identified CrkI as a PTPN4-interacting protein using a yeast two-hybrid, and confirmed this interaction using in vitro GST pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation and co-localization assays. We further determined the interactional regions as the SH3 domain of CrkI and the proline-rich region between amino acids 462 and 468 of PTPN4. Notably, overexpression of PTPN4 inhibits CrkI-mediated proliferation and wound healing of HEK293T cells, while knockdown of PTPN4 by siRNA in Hep3B cells enhances CrkI-mediated cell growth and motility. Moreover, our data show that ectopic expression of PTPN4 reduces the phosphorylation level of CrkI in HEK293T cells. These findings suggest that PTPN4 negatively regulates cell proliferation and motility through dephosphorylation of CrkI.
Insights
Protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 4 (PTPN4) inhibits cell growth by interacting with CrkI. PTPN4 dephosphorylates CrkI, negatively regulating cell proliferation and motility.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 4 (PTPN4) is widely expressed.
- PTPN4 overexpression inhibits cell growth, but its interacting partners are unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify proteins interacting with PTPN4.
- To elucidate the role of PTPN4-CrkI interaction in cell growth regulation.
Main Methods:
- Yeast two-hybrid screening to identify interacting proteins.
- GST pull-down, co-immunoprecipitation, and co-localization assays to confirm interactions.
- siRNA-mediated knockdown and ectopic expression studies in HEK293T and Hep3B cells.
Main Results:
- CrkI was identified as a PTPN4-interacting protein.
- The SH3 domain of CrkI and a proline-rich region of PTPN4 mediate the interaction.
- PTPN4 inhibits CrkI-mediated proliferation and wound healing, while PTPN4 knockdown enhances CrkI-mediated cell growth and motility.
- PTPN4 reduces CrkI phosphorylation levels.
Conclusions:
- PTPN4 negatively regulates cell proliferation and motility.
- PTPN4 exerts its function through the dephosphorylation of CrkI.
Related Concept Videos
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway
Negative Regulator Molecules
Inhibition of Cdk Activity
