Analysis of the interaction of ZAP-70 and syk protein-tyrosine kinases with the T-cell antigen receptor by plasmon resonance.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of a 17-amino acid immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM), conserved in each of the signaling subunits of the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR), mediates the recruitment of ZAP-70 and syk protein-tyrosine kinases (PTKs) to the activated receptor. The interaction between the two tandemly arranged Src-homology 2 (SH2) domains of this family of PTKs and each of the phosphotyrosine-containing ITAMs was examined by real-time measurements of kinetic parameters. The association rate and equilibrium binding constants for the ZAP-70 and syk SH2 domains were determined for the CD3 epsilon ITAM. Both PTKs bound with ka and Kd values of 5 x 10(6) M-1.sec-1 and approximately 25 nM, respectively. Bindings to the other TCR ITAMs (zeta 1, zeta 2, gamma, and delta ITAMs) were comparable, although the zeta 3 ITAM bound approximately 2.5-fold less well. Studies of the affinity of a single functional SH2 domain of ZAP-70 provided evidence for the cooperative nature of binding of the dual SH2 domains. Mutation of either single SH2 domain decreased the Kd by > 100-fold. Finally, the critical features of the ITAM for syk binding were found to be similar to those required for ZAP-70 binding. These data provide insight into the mechanism by which the multisubunit TCR interacts with downstream effector molecules.