Role of hydroxyl radicals in radiation-induced activation of LYN tyrosine kinase in human B-cell precursors

Here we show that exposure of human B-cell precursors to gamma-rays stimulates the enzymatic activity of the Src protooncogene family protein tyrosine kinase LYN. LYN activation in irradiated cells is not triggered by DNA damage or a nuclear signal since gamma-rays effectively stimulated LYN kinase in enucleated B-cell precursors as well. LYN activation in irradiated cells was abrogated by presence of the OH* radical scavenger dimethylsulfoxide and exposure of intact or enucleated B-cell precursors to chemically generated OH* radicals instead of gamma-rays also triggered LYN kinase activation and enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple electrophoretically distinct protein substrates. Thus, OH* radicals appear to be both mandatory and sufficient for radiation-induced LYN kinase activation in irradiated B-cell precursors. We further present evidence which indicates that OH* radicals activate LYN by a novel mechanism which involves disruption of inactive LYN-LYN homodimers and monomerization of the LYN kinase after proteolytic degradation of a putative LYN-associated adapter protein through a cytoplasmic TPCK-sensitive chymotrypsin-like protease following its oxidation. LYN kinase plays a pivotal role in initiation of signal cascades that affect the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of B-cell precursors. Our results prompt re hypothesis that a growth regulatory balance might be altered in human B-cell precursors by radiation-induced stimulation of LYN kinase.