Tyrosine kinase that plays an essential role in regulation of the adaptive immune response. Regulates motility, adhesion and cytokine expression of mature T cells, as well as thymocyte development. Contributes also to the development and activation of primary B lymphocytes. When antigen presenting cells (APC) activate T-cell receptor (TCR), a serie of phosphorylations lead to the recruitment of ZAP70 to the doubly phosphorylated TCR component CD3Z through ITAM motif at the plasma membrane. This recruitment serves to localization to the stimulated TCR and to relieve its autoinhibited conformation. Release of ZAP70 active conformation is further stabilized by phosphorylation mediated by LCK. Subsequently, ZAP70 phosphorylates at least 2 essential adapter proteins: LAT and LCP2. In turn, a large number of signaling molecules are recruited and ultimately lead to lymphokine production, T-cell proliferation and differentiation. Furthermore, ZAP70 controls cytoskeleton modifications, adhesion and mobility of T-lymphocytes, thus ensuring correct delivery of effectors to the APC. ZAP70 is also required for TCR-CD3Z internalization and degradation through interaction with the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase CBL and adapter proteins SLA and SLA2. Thus, ZAP70 regulates both T-cell activation switch on and switch off by modulating TCR expression at the T-cell surface. During thymocyte development, ZAP70 promotes survival and cell-cycle progression of developing thymocytes before positive selection (when cells are still CD4/CD8 double negative). Additionally, ZAP70-dependent signaling pathway may also contribute to primary B cells formation and activation through B-cell receptor (BCR).
Specificity
Natural and recombinant Mouse Tyrosine-protein kinase ZAP-70
Subcellular Location
Cytoplasm Cell membrane Peripheral membrane protein In quiescent T-lymphocytes, ZAP70 is cytoplasmic. Upon TCR activation, it is recruited at the plasma membrane by interacting with CD3Z. Co-localizes together with RHOH in the immunological synapse. RHOH is required for its proper localization to the cell membrane and cytoskeleton fractions in the thymocytes.
Interacts with CD3Z; this interaction docks ZAP70 at the stimulated TCR. Interacts with NFAM1. Interacts with adapter proteins SLA and SLA2; these interactions negatively regulates T-cell receptor signaling. Interacts with CBLB. Interacts with CBL; this interaction promotes ubiquitination, internalization and subsequent degradation of CD3Z. Interacts with DEF6. Interacts (via SH2 domains) with RHOH; this interaction regulates ZAP70 subcellular localization. Interacts with FCRL3. Interacts with VAV1.