T cell activation induces rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of a limited number of cellular substrates.

Activation of murine T cells by antigen, antibodies binding the T cell antigen receptor, or stimulatory anti-Thy-1 antibodies results in rapid phosphorylation of the T cell receptor zeta chain on tyrosine residues. The T cell receptor is itself unlikely to be a tyrosine kinase; rather, it is probable that this receptor is coupled to a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase. To understand further this protein kinase pathway, additional targets of the tyrosine kinase have been sought by comparing anti-phosphotyrosine antibody immunoblots of cellular proteins from unactivated and activated T cell hybridomas. In addition to the T cell receptor zeta chain, two proteins of 53 and 62 kDa are phosphorylated on tyrosine residues after T cell activation. These phosphorylations require stimulatory anti-Thy-1 antibodies, antigen, or antireceptor antibody stimulation. The 53-kDa protein is preferentially phosphorylated by antigen or antireceptor antibody. Of interest is that variants of the murine T cell hybridoma lacking the T cell receptor zeta chain or lacking surface antigen receptor can nonetheless be stimulated by anti-Thy-1 antibodies to phosphorylate the 62-kDa substrate. In contrast to the tyrosine kinases of oncogenic viruses, the kinase coupled to the T cell antigen receptor appears to have a limited number of targets. These proteins are candidates for critical substrates in this protein tyrosine kinase pathway.