Biophysical basis underlying dynamic Lck activation visualized by ZapLck FRET biosensor

Sci Adv. 2019 Jun 19;5(6):eaau2001. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aau2001. eCollection 2019 Jun.

Abstract

Lck plays crucial roles in TCR signaling. We developed a new and sensitive FRET biosensor (ZapLck) to visualize Lck kinase activity with high spatiotemporal resolutions in live cells. ZapLck revealed that 62% of Lck signal was preactivated in T-cells. In Lck-deficient JCam T-cells, Lck preactivation was abolished, which can be restored to 51% by reconstitution with wild-type Lck (LckWT) but not a putatively inactive mutant LckY394F. LckWT also showed a stronger basal Lck-Lck interaction and a slower diffusion rate than LckY394F. Interestingly, aggregation of TCR receptors by antibodies in JCam cells led to a strong activation of reconstituted LckY394F similar to LckWT. Both activated LckY394F and LckWT diffused more slowly and displayed increased Lck-Lck interaction at a similar level. Therefore, these results suggest that a phosphorylatable Y394 is necessary for the basal-level interaction and preactivation of LckWT, while antibody-induced TCR aggregation can trigger the full activation of LckY394F.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques / methods
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / methods
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation / physiology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck)
  • src-Family Kinases