Autosomal SCID caused by a point mutation in the N-terminus of Jak3: mapping of the Jak3-receptor interaction domain

EMBO J. 1999 Mar 15;18(6):1549-58. doi: 10.1093/emboj/18.6.1549.

Abstract

Signaling through the hematopoietic receptors requires activation of receptor-associated Janus (Jak) kinases. For example, Jak1 and Jak3 bind specifically to the IL-2 receptor beta (IL-2Rbeta) and common gamma (gammac) chains, respectively, and initiate biochemical signals critical in controlling immune responses. The region of Jak responsible for receptor interactions, however, is not well characterized. Here we describe a naturally occurring Jak3 mutation from a patient with autosomal severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), where a single amino acid substitution, Y100C, in Janus homology domain 7 (JH7) prevents kinase-receptor interaction. This mutation also results in a loss of IL-2-induced signaling in a B-cell line derived from this patient. Using mutational analysis we have identified a region of Jak3, including portions of JH6 and JH7, that is sufficient for kinase-receptor contact and show that this segment interacts with the proline-rich Box1 region of the receptor. Furthermore, a Jak3-Jak1 chimera containing only the JH6 and JH7 domains of Jak3 interacts with gammac and can reconstitute IL-2-dependent responses, including receptor phosphorylation and activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 5b. Our results suggest that the N-terminus of Jak kinases is critical for receptor binding, and is therefore likely to determine specificity of Jak kinase-receptor interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Humans
  • Janus Kinase 1
  • Janus Kinase 3
  • Point Mutation*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / physiology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Severe Combined Immunodeficiency / enzymology
  • Severe Combined Immunodeficiency / genetics*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • JAK1 protein, human
  • JAK3 protein, human
  • Janus Kinase 1
  • Janus Kinase 3