Requirement for B cell linker protein (BLNK) in B cell development

Linker proteins function as molecular scaffolds to Localize enzymes with substrates. In B cells, B cell Linker protein (BLNK) Links the B cell receptor (BCR)activated Syk kinase to the phosphoinositide and mitogen-activated kinase pathways. To examine the in vivo role of BLNK, mice deficient in BLNK were generated. B cell development in BLNK-/- mice was blocked at the transition from B220(+) CD43(+) progenitor B to B220(+) CD43(-) precursor B cells. Only a small percentage of immunoglobulin M++ (IgM(++)), but not mature IgM(lo)lgD(hi), B cells were detected in the periphery. Hence, BLNK is an essential component of BCR signaling pathways and is required to promote B cell development.