The role of adapter proteins in T cell activation

• Published in: Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS Vol. 56; no. 11-12; pp. 1048 - 1060
• Main Authors: Koretzky, G A, Boerth, N J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Springer Nature B.V 01-12-1999; Birkhäuser Verlag
• Subjects: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Amino Acid Motifs; Antigens; Binding Sites; Biochemistry; Carrier Proteins - chemistry; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Enzymatic activity; Enzymes; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes; Membrane Proteins; Models, Immunological; Molecular biology; Phosphoproteins - chemistry; Phosphoproteins - metabolism; Protein Binding; Proteins; Signal Transduction; T cell receptors; T-Lymphocytes - cytology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism
• ISSN: 1420-682X; 1420-9071
• DOI: 10.1007/s000180050492

Engagement of antigen receptors on lymphocytes leads to a myriad of complex signal transduction cascades. Recently, work from several laboratories has led to the identification and characterization of novel adapter molecules, proteins with no intrinsic enzymatic activity but which integrate signal transduction pathways by mediating protein-protein interactions. Interestingly, it appears that many of these adapter proteins play as critical a role as the effector enzymes themselves in both lymphocyte development and activation. This review describes some of the biochemical and molecular features of several of these newly identified hematopoietic cell-specific adapter molecules highlighting their importance in regulating (both positively and negatively) signal transduction mediated by the T cell antigen receptor.