Signals generated on engagement of the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) are critical in the regulation of T-lymphocyte function. TCR signal transduction is mediated proximally by multiple tyrosine kinases, which act in concert to activate a diverse array of signaling molecules (6,10,35,(55)(56)(57)64). Key among these downstream effectors are the enzymes phospholipase C-␥1 (PLC␥1) and the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (Erk), both of which need to be activated in order for TCR engagement to result in T cell activation. Activated PLC␥1 catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI-4,5-P 2 ) to inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP 3 ) and diacylglycerol (DAG). The former product regulates the levels of intracellular Ca 2ϩ , while the latter is an activator of the classical (cPKC: ␣,  I ,  II and ␥), and novel (nPKC: ␦, ε, and ) isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC) and of Ras-GRP (25). Erk is a proline-directed serine/threonine kinase that can phosphorylate and regulate multiple downstream effectors, including p90 RSK and the transcription factor Elk-1. The nature of the intervening steps between TCR stimulation and activation of these enzymes has begun to be elucidated, but our understanding of this process remains incomplete. Considerable evidence points to a required Lck/Fyncatalyzed tyrosine phosphorylation of the CD3 and TCR chains, with the resultant TCR recruitment and activation of the protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) ZAP-70, which then phosphorylates two of its substrates, SLP-76 and LAT, on key tyrosine residues (10,35,56,57,64). These last two proteins serve as linker molecules. They have no intrinsic enzymatic activity but, when tyrosine phosphorylated, function by appropriately colocalizing other signaling molecules. SLP-76 is cytosolic, while the majority of LAT partitions to the lipid rafts by virtue of posttranslational palmitoylation proximal to the endofacial side of its transmembrane domain. When phosphorylated, LAT binds directly to PLC␥1, Grb2, Grap, and Gads, effectively localizing these molecules and their associated proteins (including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, SOS, c-Cbl, Vav, SLP-76, and Itk) to the lipid rafts of the plasma membrane. This event is thought to be required for PLC␥1 tyrosine phosphorylation and activation, as well as the activation of Erk. It has been proposed that the LAT-assembled complex colocalizes PLC␥1 with the activated PTK (possibly Itk) that phosphorylates and activates it and that this process requires 56,64). Additionally, LAT association positions PLC␥1 near its substrate, PI-4,5-P 2 , potentially increasing the rate of PI-4,5-P 2 hydrolysis.Precisely how the formation of the LAT-associated signaling complex leads to Erk activation is unclear. Erk activation proceeds primarily through the sequential activation of Ras, Raf-1, and MEK. It has been suggested that Ras is activated in TCR-stimulated T cells via recruitment of Grb2-associated SOS, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Ras, to the