Tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125FAK by the aggregation of high affinity immunoglobulin E receptors requires cell adherence.

The aggregation of the high affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RI) in adherent rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins. We examined whether focal adhesion-associated tyrosine kinase, pp125FAK, is one of these proteins. Anti-pp125FAK monoclonal antibody immunoblotted and precipitated a 115-kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated protein. In the absence of Fc epsilon RI aggregation, pp125FAK was tyrosine-phosphorylated only in adherent cells. Aggregating Fc epsilon RI in adherent cells markedly enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125FAK. This increase was detectable within 1 min of Fc epsilon RI aggregation and was maximal by 15 min. In contrast, in nonadherent cells Fc epsilon RI aggregation did not induce tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125FAK. The enhanced influx of calcium by calcium ionophore or the activation of protein kinase C by phorbol myristate acetate induced tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125FAK only in adherent cells. Thus, Fc epsilon RI-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125FAK could be mediated by the activation of protein kinase C and/or the induction of calcium influx. The data indicate that cell adherence is essential for Fc epsilon RI-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125FAK.