Receptor-regulated cellular signaling often is mediated by formation of transient, heterogeneous protein complexes of undefined structure. We used single and two-color photoactivated-localization microscopy (PALM) to study complexes downstream of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) in single molecule detail at the plasma membrane of intact T cells. The kinase ZAP-70 distributed completely with the TCRζ chain and both partially mixed with the adapter LAT in activated cells thus showing localized activation of LAT by TCR-coupled ZAP-70. In resting and activated cells LAT primarily resided in nanoscale clusters as small as dimers whose formation depended on protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions. Surprisingly, the adapter SLP-76 localized to the periphery of LAT clusters. This nanoscale structure depended on polymerized actin and its disruption affected TCR-dependent cell function. These results extend our understanding of the mechanism of T cell activation and the formation and organization of TCR-mediated signaling complexes, findings also relevant to other receptor systems.

Speciation--the splitting of one species into two--occurs by the evolution of any of several forms of reproductive isolation between taxa, including the intrinsic sterility and inviability of hybrids. Abundant evidence shows that these hybrid fitness problems are caused by incompatible interactions between loci: new alleles that become established in one species are sometimes functionally incompatible with alleles at interacting loci from another species. However, almost nothing is known about the genes involved in such hybrid incompatibilities or the evolutionary forces that drive their divergence. Here we identify a gene that causes epistatic inviability in hybrids between two fruitfly species, Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans. Our population genetic analysis reveals that this gene--which encodes a nuclear pore protein--evolved by positive natural selection in both species' lineages. These results show that a lethal hybrid incompatibility has evolved as a by-product of adaptive protein evolution.

The adapter molecule LAT is a nucleating site for multiprotein signaling complexes that are vital for the function and differentiation of T cells. Extensive investigation of LAT in multiple experimental systems has led to an integrated understanding of the formation, composition, regulation, dynamic movement, and function of LAT-nucleated signaling complexes. This review discusses interactions of signaling molecules that bind directly or indirectly to LAT and the role of cooperativity in stabilizing LAT-nucleated signaling complexes. In addition, it focuses on how imaging studies visualize signaling assemblies as signaling clusters and demonstrate their dynamic nature and cellular fate. Finally, this review explores the function of LAT based on the interpretation of mouse models using various LAT mutants.

Cytoskeletal forces are implicated in T-cell–receptor activation, but their determinants are not known. Traction force microscopy was used to measure forces generated during T-cell activation. Whereas actin dynamics were essential for force generation, myosin contractility played a limited role. T-cells were also found to be mechanosensitive.

The proteins STIM1 and Orai1 are the long sought components of the store-operated channels required in T-cell activation. However, little is known about the interaction of these proteins in T-cells after engagement of the T-cell receptor. We found that T-cell receptor engagement caused STIM1 and Orai1 to colocalize in puncta near the site of stimulation and accumulate in a dense structure on the opposite side of the T-cell. FRET measurements showed a close interaction between STIM1 and Orai1 both in the puncta and in the dense cap-like structure. The formation of cap-like structures did not entail rearrangement of the entire endoplasmic reticulum. Cap formation depended on TCR engagement and tyrosine phosphorylation, but not on channel activity or Ca 2؉ influx. These caps were very dynamic in T-cells activated by contact with superantigen pulsed B-cells and could move from the distal pole to an existing or a newly forming immunological synapse. One function of this cap may be to provide preassembled Ca 2؉ channel components to existing and newly forming immunological synapses. INTRODUCTIONT-cell activation in response to antigen induces and requires the elevation of intracellular Ca 2ϩ (Hogan et al., 2003;Quintana et al., 2005;Feske, 2007). T-cell receptor (TCR) engagement leads to activation of well-documented signal transduction pathways that cause a rapid release of Ca 2ϩ from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER; Samelson, 2002;Panyi et al., 2004;Gwack et al., 2007a). The depletion of Ca 2ϩ from this internal store then leads to the opening of ion channels in the plasma membrane (PM) allowing an influx of Ca 2ϩ from outside the cell. The store-operated channel responsible for Ca 2ϩ influx in T-cells is known as the Ca 2ϩ release-activated Ca 2ϩ (CRAC) channel, which has been studied by electrophysiological techniques for many years (Lewis, 2001;Prakriya and Lewis, 2003;Cahalan et al., 2007;Hewavitharana et al., 2007;Hogan and Rao, 2007;Putney, 2007a).Sustained elevation of cytosolic Ca 2ϩ is required for complete T-cell activation (Iezzi et al., 1998;Lewis, 2001;Hogan et al., 2003;Feske, 2007). High levels of intracellular Ca 2ϩ are necessary to maintain the interaction between a T-cell and antigen-presenting cell (APC) that leads to formation of the specialized contact surface known as the immunological synapse (IS). Increased Ca 2ϩ levels are also required for the activation of transcription factors. In particular, elevated Ca 2ϩ maintains prolonged nuclear accumulation of nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) by activating the phosphatase calcineurin that dephosphorylates NFAT, allowing it to translocate to the nucleus and activate genes such as IL2 (Hogan et al., 2003;Macian, 2005). Several hours of Ca 2ϩ influx are required to complete the T-cell activation program, which involves expression of a large number of activation-associated genes (Lewis, 2001;Macian et al., 2002;Hogan et al., 2003).Although sustained Ca 2ϩ influx in T-cells has been studied for decades, the proteins involved have only been ident...

The engagement of the T-cell receptor (TCR) causes the rapid recruitment of multiple signaling molecules into clusters with the TCR. Upon receptor activation, the adapters LAT and SLP-76, visualized as chimeric proteins tagged with yellow fluorescent protein, transiently associate with and then rapidly dissociate from the TCR. Previously, we demonstrated that after recruitment into signaling clusters, SLP-76 is endocytosed in vesicles via a lipid raft-dependent pathway that requires the interaction of the endocytic machinery with ubiquitylated proteins. In this study, we focus on LAT and demonstrate that signaling clusters containing this adapter are internalized into distinct intracellular compartments and dissipate rapidly upon TCR activation. The internalization of LAT was inhibited in cells expressing versions of the ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl mutated in the RING domain and in T cells from mice lacking c-Cbl. Moreover, c-Cbl RING mutant forms suppressed LAT ubiquitylation and caused an increase in cellular LAT levels, as well as basal and TCR-induced levels of phosphorylated LAT. Collectively, these data indicate that following the rapid formation of signaling complexes upon TCR stimulation, c-Cbl activity is involved in the internalization and possible downregulation of a subset of activated signaling molecules.

Since the cloning of the critical adapter, LAT (linker for activation of T cells), more than 15 years ago, a combination of multiple scientific approaches and techniques continues to provide valuable insights into the formation, composition, regulation, dynamics, and function of LAT-based signaling complexes. In this review, we will summarize current views on the assembly of signaling complexes nucleated by LAT. LAT forms numerous interactions with other signaling molecules, leading to cooperativity in the system. Furthermore, oligomerization of LAT by adapter complexes enhances intracellular signaling and is physiologically relevant. These results will be related to data from super-resolution microscopy studies that have revealed the smallest LAT-based signaling units and nanostructure.

Palmer et al. find that Cish, a member of the SOCS family, is induced by TCR stimulation in CD8+ T cells and inhibits their functional avidity against tumor. The authors uncover a novel mechanism of suppression for a SOCS member.