MPYS, a novel membrane tetraspanner, is associated with major histocompatibility complex class II and mediates transduction of apoptotic signals

Mol Cell Biol. 2008 Aug;28(16):5014-26. doi: 10.1128/MCB.00640-08. Epub 2008 Jun 16.

Abstract

Although the best-defined function of type II major histocompatibility complex (MHC-II) is presentation of antigenic peptides to T lymphocytes, these molecules can also transduce signals leading alternatively to cell activation or apoptotic death. MHC-II is a heterodimer of two transmembrane proteins, each containing a short cytoplasmic tail that is dispensable for transduction of death signals. This suggests the function of an undefined MHC-II-associated transducer in signaling the death response. Here we describe a novel plasma membrane tetraspanner (MPYS) that is associated with MHC-II and mediates its transduction of death signals. MPYS is unusual among tetraspanners in containing an extended C-terminal cytoplasmic tail (approximately 140 amino acids) with multiple embedded signaling motifs. MPYS is tyrosine phosphorylated upon MHC-II aggregation and associates with inositol lipid and tyrosine phosphatases. Finally, MHC class II-mediated cell death signaling requires MPYS-dependent activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis* / drug effects
  • Calcium Signaling / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / metabolism*
  • Lymphoma / enzymology
  • Lymphoma / pathology
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nanotechnology
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Phosphotyrosine / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction* / drug effects
  • Time Factors
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • AG 1879
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Pyrimidines
  • Sting1 protein, mouse
  • Phosphotyrosine
  • src-Family Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases