CLEC-2 activates Syk through dimerization

Craig Hughes, Alice Pollitt, Jun Mori, JA Eble, Michael Tomlinson, JH Hartwig, CA O'Callaghan, Klaus Futterer, Steve Watson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

110 Citations (Scopus)
252 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The C-type lectin receptor CLEC-2 activates platelets through Src and Syk tyrosine kinases, leading to tyrosine phosphorylation of downstream adapter proteins and effector enzymes, including phospholipase-C 2. Signaling is initiated through phosphorylation of a single conserved tyrosine located in a YxxL sequence in the CLEC-2 cytosolic tail. The signaling pathway used by CLEC-2 shares many similarities with that used by receptors that have 1 or more copies of an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif, defined by the sequence Yxx(L/I)x6-12Yxx(L/I), in their cytosolic tails or associated receptor chains. Phosphorylation of the conserved immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif tyrosines promotes Syk binding and activation through binding of the Syk tandem SH2 domains. In this report, we present evidence using peptide pull-down studies, surface plasmon resonance, quantitative Western blotting, tryptophan fluorescence measurements, and competition experiments that Syk activation by CLEC-2 is mediated by the cross-linking through the tandem SH2 domains with a stoichiometry of 2:1. In support of this model, cross-linking and electron microscopy demonstrate that CLEC-2 is present as a dimer in resting platelets and converted to larger complexes on activation. This is a unique mode of activation of Syk by a single YxxL-containing receptor
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2947-2955
JournalBlood
Volume115
Issue number14
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Feb 2010

Keywords

  • dimerisation

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