Papers In Press, published online ahead of print August 6, 2001
J. Biol. Chem, 10.1074/jbc.M106249200
Submitted on July 5, 2001
Revised on August 6, 2001
Accepted on August 6, 2001
Sak serine/threonine kinase acts as an effector of Tec tyrosine kinase
Yoshihiro Yamashita, Sachiko Kajigaya, Koji Yoshida, Shuichi Ueno, Jun Ota, Ken Ohmine, Masuzu Ueda, Akira Miyazato, Ken-ichi Ohya, Toshio Kitamura, Keiya Ozawa, and Hiroyuki Mano
Functional Genomics, Jichi Medical School, Kawachi-gun, Tochigi 329-0498
Corresponding Author: hmano{at}jichi.ac.jp
The murine sak gene encodes a putative serine/threonine kinase which is homologous to the members of the Plk/Polo-family. Although Sak protein is presumed to be involved in cell growth mechanism, efforts have failed to demonstrate its kinase activity. Little has been, therefore, elucidated how Sak is regulated and how Sak contributes to cell proliferation. Tec is a cytoplasmic protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK) which becomes activated by the stimulation of cytokine receptors, lymphocyte surface antigens, heterotrimeric G protein-linked receptors and integrins. To clarify the in vivo function of Tec, we have tried to isolate the second messengers of Tec by using the yeast two-hybrid screening. One of such Tec-binding proteins turned out to be Sak. In human kidney 293 cells, Sak became tyrosine-phosphorylated by Tec, and the serine/threonine kinase activity of Sak was detected only under the presence of Tec, suggesting Sak to be an effector molecule of Tec. In addition, Tec activity efficiently protects Sak from the PEST sequence-dependent proteolysis. Internal deletion of the PEST sequences led to the stabilization of Sak proteins, and expression of these mutants acted suppressive to cell growth. Our data collectively supports a novel role of Sak acting in the PTK-mediated signaling pathway.