THE MATK TYROSINE KINASE INTERACTS IN A SPECIFIC AND SH2-DEPENDENT MANNER WITH C-KIT

We have cloned a protein tyrosine kinase, MATK, which is expressed abundantly in megakaryocytes and the brain. We investigated whether MATK participates in the c-Kit ligand/stem cell factor (KL/SCF) signaling pathway in the megakaryocytic cell line CMK. After KW SCF stimulation, five major proteins of molecular masses of 145, 113, 92, 76, and 63 kDa were rapidly and transiently tyrosine-phosphorylated in a time dependent manner, peaking within 5 min, and returning to basal levels within 60 min. To study the role of MATK in the KL/SCF signaling pathway, glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins containing SH2 and SH3 domains of MATK were cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified, MATK SH2, but not MATK-SH3, precipitated the tyrosine phosphorylated c-Kit (molecular mass of 145 kDa) in KL/SCF-stimulated CMK cells. Other GST fusion proteins containing the SH2 domain of p85 of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, phospholipase C gamma-1, and ras-GAP also precipitated c-Kit. The tyrosine-phosphorylated c-Kit was co-immunoprecipitated with anti-MATK and anti p85 antibodies in KL/SCF-stimulated CMX cells, but not in granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor or interleukin-6-stimulated cells, suggesting receptor specificity. These results indicate that MATK associates with the c-Kit receptor following specific stimulation by KL/SCF via its SH2 domain and likely participates in transduction of growth signals induced by this cytokine in megakaryocytes.