The TCR signal transduction is initiated by the activation of Src-family kinases (SFK) which phosphorylate Immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAM) present in the intracellular parts of the T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling subunits. Numerous data suggest that after stimulation TCR interacts with membrane rafts and thus it gains access to SFK and other important molecules involved in signal transduction. However, the precise mechanism of this process is unclear. One of the key questions is how SFK access TCR and what is the importance of non-raft and membrane raft-associated SFK for the initiation and maintenance of the TCR signaling. To answer this question we targeted a negative regulator of SFK, C-terminal Src kinase (Csk) to membrane rafts, recently described "heavy rafts" or non-raft membrane. Our data show that only Csk targeted into "classical" raft but not to "heavy raft" or non-raft membrane effectively inhibits TCR signaling, demonstrating the critical role of membrane raft-associated SFK in this process.

Institute of Molecular Genetics AS CR Prague Czech Republic

References provided by Crossref.org

TCR Triggering Induces the Formation of Lck-RACK1-Actinin-1 Multiprotein Network Affecting Lck Redistribution

Lck, Membrane Microdomains, and TCR Triggering Machinery: Defining the New Rules of Engagement

The transmembrane region is responsible for targeting of adaptor protein LAX into "heavy rafts"