SAP couples Fyn to SLAM immune receptors

Nat Cell Biol. 2003 Feb;5(2):155-60. doi: 10.1038/ncb920.

Abstract

SAP (SLAM-associated protein) is a small lymphocyte-specific signalling molecule that is defective or absent in patients with X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP). Consistent with its single src homology 2 (SH2) domain architecture and unusually high affinity for SLAM (also called CD150), SAP has been suggested to function by blocking binding of SHP-2 or other SH2-containing signalling proteins to SLAM receptors. Additionally, SAP has recently been shown to be required for recruitment and activation of the Src-family kinase FynT after SLAM ligation. This signalling 'adaptor' function has been difficult to conceptualize, because unlike typical SH2-adaptor proteins, SAP contains only a single SH2 domain and lacks other recognized protein interaction domains or motifs. Here, we show that the SAP SH2 domain binds to the SH3 domain of FynT and directly couples FynT to SLAM. The crystal structure of a ternary SLAM-SAP-Fyn-SH3 complex reveals that SAP binds the FynT SH3 domain through a surface-surface interaction that does not involve canonical SH3 or SH2 binding interactions. The observed mode of binding to the Fyn-SH3 domain is expected to preclude the auto-inhibited conformation of Fyn, thereby promoting activation of the kinase after recruitment. These findings broaden our understanding of the functional repertoire of SH3 and SH2 domains.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Binding Sites
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Glycoproteins / chemistry
  • Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / chemistry
  • Immunoglobulins / genetics
  • Immunoglobulins / metabolism*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins*
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / immunology
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / metabolism
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Virus / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Associated Protein
  • Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family Member 1
  • Thymus Gland / cytology
  • Thymus Gland / metabolism
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques
  • src Homology Domains

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Glycoproteins
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Virus
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • SH2D1A protein, human
  • SLAMF1 protein, human
  • Sh2d1a protein, mouse
  • Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Associated Protein
  • Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family Member 1
  • FYN protein, human
  • Fyn protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn

Associated data

  • PDB/1M27