Cloning and Characterization of Protein Tyrosine Kinases

Basic Sciences

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Abstract

This project involves the continued characterization of protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) cloned from natural killer cells. The primary emphasis of this project is the study of a PTK that has significant homology to the carboxyl-terminal Src kinase (Csk); the Csk homolgous kinase, Chk (previously known as Lsk). Before the discovery of Chk, Csk was the only PTK known to phosphorylate the conserved carboxyl-terminal tyrosine of Src family kinases and down-regulate their catalytic activity. Unlike Csk, which is ubiquitously expressed, Chk is expressed primarily in hematopoietic cells. We have shown Chk expression to be inducible in both T cells and peripheral blood monocytes. However, our studies have shown that unlike Csk, Chk expression does not inhibit T cell receptor function. In an effort to understand the different roles of Csk and Chk in T cells, we have identified Chk Src homology (SH)2 domain binding proteins from T cell lysates. Our only efforts on this project are the establishment of collaborations in an effort to identify a pathological condition that may reveal a phenotype in the Chk -/- mice.