MPYS, a Novel Membrane Tetraspanner, Is Associated with Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II and Mediates Transduction of Apoptotic Signals

作者：Lei Jin, Paul M. Waterman, Karen R. Jonscher, Cindy M. Short, Nichole A. Reisdorph, John C. Cambier · 发表于：Molecular and Cellular Biology · 年份：2008 · DOI：10.1128/mcb.00640-08 · 被引用次数：458 · 研究领域：Immune Cell Function and Interaction、Cell Adhesion Molecules Research、T-cell and B-cell Immunology

Although the best-defined function of type II major histocompatibility complex (MHC-II) is presentation of antigenic peptides to T lymphocytes, these molecules can also transduce signals leading alternatively to cell activation or apoptotic death. MHC-II is a heterodimer of two transmembrane proteins, each containing a short cytoplasmic tail that is dispensable for transduction of death signals. This suggests the function of an undefined MHC-II-associated transducer in signaling the death response. Here we describe a novel plasma membrane tetraspanner (MPYS) that is associated with MHC-II and mediates its transduction of death signals. MPYS is unusual among tetraspanners in containing an extended C-terminal cytoplasmic tail (approximately 140 amino acids) with multiple embedded signaling motifs. MPYS is tyrosine phosphorylated upon MHC-II aggregation and associates with inositol lipid and tyrosine phosphatases. Finally, MHC class II-mediated cell death signaling requires MPYS-dependent activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway.