Overexpression of a catalytically inactive mutant of tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 in 293 cells resulted in hyperphosphorylation of a glycoprotein specifically associated with the enzyme. The protein has been purified to near homogeneity. Based on the amino acid sequences of peptides obtained from the protein, a full-length cDNA was isolated. The cDNA encodes a protein with a single transmembrane segment and a signal sequence. The extracellular portion of the protein contains a single immunoglobulin-like domain displaying 46% sequence identity to that of myelin P0, a major structural protein of peripheral myelin. The intracellular segment of the protein shows no significant sequence identity to any known protein except for two immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs. We name the protein PZR for protein zero related. Transfection of the PZR cDNA in Jurkat cells gave rise to a protein of expected molecular size. Stimulation of cells with pervanadate resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation of PZR and a nearstoichiometric association of PZR with SHP-2. Northern blotting analyses revealed that PZR is widely expressed in human tissues and is particularly abundant in heart, placenta, kidney, and pancreas. As a binding protein and a putative substrate of SHP-2, PZR protein may have an important role in cell signaling.Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) 1 represent a highly diverse family of enzymes that have a pivotal role in cell proliferation, differentiation, and transformation (1-3). SHP-1 and SHP-2, representing a subfamily of PTPs containing Src homology 2 domains have been extensively studied in recent years (for review, see Refs. 4 -11). These two enzymes share nearly 60% overall sequence identity and are regulated in similar manners. Nevertheless, in many systems, they have distinct physiological functions. SHP-1 has a negative role in proliferation of hematopoietic cells, whereas SHP-2 is a positive transducer of growth factor signal transduction. This distinction in functions is presumably attributable to different physiological targets. Recently, a number putative substrates of SHP-1 and SHP-2 have been identified (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22), and one of them, designated SIRP or SHPS-1, has been cloned (23, 24). In our earlier studies, by overexpressing catalytically inactive mutants of SHP-1 and SHP-2, we have identified several hyperphosphorylated proteins associated with the inactive SHP-1 and/or SHP-2 (25, 26). Among these is a 43-kDa membrane protein that is specifically associated with SHP-2. Here we report the purification and molecular cloning of this protein. It represents a novel transmembrane protein with an extracellular segment homologous to myelin protein zero and an intracellular portion containing two immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIMs). We name it PZR for protein zero related.
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURESMaterials-Polyclonal anti-SHP-1 and anti-SHP-2 antibodies were raised in rabbits against full-length SHP-1 and an Src homology 2 domain-truncated form of SH...