Signaling by the kinase MINK is essential in the negative selection of autoreactive thymocytes.

Signaling through the T cell antigen receptor leading to elimination (negative selection) or differentiation (positive selection) of developing thymocytes generates a self-tolerant T cell repertoire. Here we report that the serine-threonine kinase MINK selectively connects the T cell receptor to a signaling pathway that mediates negative but not positive selection. Analysis of this pathway suggested that the essential function of MINK in the elimination of self-reactive thymocytes may be associated with 'downstream' activation of Jun kinase and enhancement of expression of the proapoptotic molecule Bim.