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Updated: May 7, 2026

Defining Substrate Specificities for Lipase and Phospholipase Candidates
Published on: November 23, 2016
SRChing for the substrates of Src
A B Reynolds1, S B Kanner2, A H Bouton3
1Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Abstract:
By the mid 1980's, it was clear that the transforming activity of oncogenic Src was linked to the activity of its tyrosine kinase domain and attention turned to identifying substrates, the putative next level of control in the pathway to transformation. Among the first to recognize the potential of phosphotyrosine-specific antibodies, Parsons and colleagues launched a risky shotgun-based approach that led ultimately to the cDNA cloning and functional characterization of many of today's best-known Src substrates (for example, p85-Cortactin, p110-AFAP1, p130Cas, p125FAK and p120-catenin). Two decades and over 6000 citations later, the original goals of the project may be seen as secondary to the enormous impact of these protein substrates in many areas of biology. At the request of the editors, this review is not restricted to the current status of the substrates, but reflects also on the anatomy of the project itself and some of the challenges and decisions encountered along the way.
Insights
Identifying oncogenic Src substrates using phosphotyrosine-specific antibodies revealed key proteins like p125FAK. This research significantly impacted cancer biology and substrate identification methods.
Area of Science:
- Oncogenic signaling and molecular biology.
- Protein tyrosine kinase pathways.
Background:
- The transforming activity of oncogenic Src is linked to its tyrosine kinase domain.
- Identifying downstream substrates is crucial for understanding cancer transformation pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the identification and characterization of Src protein substrates.
- To reflect on the methodology and challenges in substrate discovery.
- To highlight the broad biological impact of identified substrates.
Main Methods:
- Utilized phosphotyrosine-specific antibodies.
- Employed a shotgun-based approach for substrate identification.
- Involved cDNA cloning and functional characterization of identified proteins.
Main Results:
- Successfully identified and characterized numerous Src substrates, including p125FAK, p130Cas, and others.
- The identified substrates have had a profound impact across various biological fields.
- The project's original goals evolved due to the broader significance of the findings.
Conclusions:
- The identification of Src substrates has been pivotal in advancing cancer research.
- The methods developed have broad applicability in identifying signaling pathway components.
- Further research continues to explore the roles of these substrates in diverse biological processes.
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