Activation of ErbB2 by 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (menadione) in human keratinocytes: role of EGFR and protein tyrosine phosphatases

Activation of ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases triggers multiple signaling pathways that regulate cellular proliferation and survival. We here demonstrate that ErbB2 is activated via the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) upon exposure of cultured human keratinocytes to 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (menadione). Both ErbB2 and EGFR are shown to be regulated by protein tyrosine phosphatases that are inhibited by menadione, giving rise to the hypothesis that phosphatase inhibition by menadione may result in a net activation of EGFR and an enhanced ErbB2 phosphorylation. Isolated PTP-1B, a protein tyrosine phosphatase known to be associated with ErbB receptors, is demonstrated to be inhibited by menadione.     

Association of tyrosine phosphatase epsilon with microtubules inhibits phosphatase activity and is regulated by the epidermal growth factor receptor

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are key mediators that link physiological cues with reversible changes in protein structure and function; nevertheless, significant details concerning their regulation in vivo remain unknown. We demonstrate that PTPepsilon associates with microtubules in vivo and is inhibited by them in a noncompetitive manner. Microtubule-associated proteins, which interact strongly with microtubules in vivo, significantly increase binding of PTPepsilon to tubulin in vitro and further reduce phosphatase activity. Conversely, disruption of microtubule structures in cells reduces their association with PTPepsilon, alters the subcellular localization of the phosphatase, and increases its specific activity. Activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) increases the PTPepsilon-microtubule association in a manner dependent upon EGFR-induced phosphorylation of PTPepsilon at Y638 and upon microtubule integrity. These events are transient and occur with rapid kinetics similar to EGFR autophosphorylation, suggesting that activation of the EGFR transiently down-regulates PTPepsilon activity near the receptor by promoting the PTPepsilon-microtubule association. Tubulin also inhibits the tyrosine phosphatase PTP1B but not receptor-type PTPmu or the unrelated alkaline phosphatase. The data suggest that reversible association with microtubules is a novel, physiologically regulated mechanism for regulation of tyrosine phosphatase activity in cells.     

Cellular signaling by tyrosine phosphorylation in keloid and normal human dermal fibroblasts

Keloids represent a dysregulated response to cutaneous wounding that results in disfiguring scars. Unique to humans, keloids are characterized by an accumulation of extracellular matrix components. The underlying molecular mechanisms of keloid pathogenesis, however, remain largely uncharacterized. Similarly, cellular signaling mechanisms, which may indicate inherent differences in the way keloid fibroblasts and normal human dermal fibroblasts interact with extracellular matrix or other cells, have not been investigated. As part of a fundamental assessment of cellular response to injury in keloid fibroblasts, phosphorylation studies were performed using three different keloid (n = 3) and normal human dermal (n = 3) fibroblast cell lines. These studies were undertaken to elucidate whether keloid and normal human dermal fibroblasts exhibit different tyrosine kinase activity. Initially, distinct tyrosine phosphorylation patterns of keloid and normal human dermal fibroblasts were demonstrated. Next, the phosphorylation patterns were correlated with known molecules that may be important to keloid pathogenesis. On the basis of molecular weight, it was hypothesized that the highly phosphorylated bands seen in keloid fibroblasts represented epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR); discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1); and Shc, an adaptor protein known to bind many tyrosine kinases, including EGFR and DDR1. Individual immunoblotting using EGFR, DDR1, and Shc antibodies revealed greater expression in keloid fibroblasts compared with normal human dermal fibroblasts. These data substantiate for the first time the finding of greater phosphorylation by the above-mentioned molecules, which may be important in keloid pathogenesis.     

Involvement of hepatocyte epidermal growth factor receptor mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways in response to growth inhibition by a novel K vitamin

Compound 5 (Cpd 5), a synthetic K vitamin analogue, or 2-(2-mercaptoethanol)-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone, is a potent inhibitor of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced rat hepatocyte DNA synthesis and induces EGF receptor (EGFR) tyrosine phosphorylation. To understand the cellular responses to Cpd 5, its effects on the EGF signal transduction pathway were examined and compared to those of the stimulant, EGF. Cpd 5 induced a cellular response program that included the induction of EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation and the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation was induced by Cpd 5 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Coimmunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that both EGF and Cpd 5 induced tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR was associated with increased amounts of adapter proteins Shc and Grb2, and the Ras GTP-GDP exchange protein Sos, indicating the formation of functional EGFR complexes. Although EGFR phosphorylation was induced both by the stimulant EGF and the inhibitor Cpd 5, the timing and intensity of activation by EGF and Cpd 5 were different. EGF activated EGFR transiently, whereas Cpd 5 induced an intense and sustained activation. Cpd 5-altered cells had a decreased ability to dephosphorylate tyrosine phosphorylated EGFR, providing evidence for an inhibition of tyrosine phosphatase activity. Both EGF and Cpd 5 caused an induction of phospho-extracellular response kinase (ERK), which was also more sustained with Cpd 5. Moreover, whereas Cpd 5 induced a striking translocation of phosphorylated ERK from cytosol to the nucleus, no significant nuclear translocation occurred after stimulation with EGF. The data suggest that this novel compound causes growth inhibition through antagonism of EGFR phosphatases and consequent induction of EGFR and ERK phosphorylation. This is supported by experiments with PD 153035 and PD 098059, antagonists of phosphorylation of EGFR and MAP kinase kinase (MEK), respectively, which both antagonized Cpd 5-induced phosphorylation and the inhibition of DNA synthesis. These results imply a mechanism of cell growth inhibition associated with intense and prolonged protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Protein tyrosine phosphatases may thus be a novel target for drugs designed to inhibit cell growth.     

Negative regulation of HER2 signaling by the PEST-type protein-tyrosine phosphatase BDP1

Signaling by receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) mediates a variety of complex cellular functions and in case of deregulation can contribute to pathophysiological processes. A tight and finely tuned control of RTK activity is therefore critical for the cell. We investigated the role of the PEST-type protein-tyrosine phosphatase BDP1 in the regulation of HER2, a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family of RTKs. Here we demonstrate that HER2 signaling is highly sensitive to BDP1 activity. Overexpression of BDP1 inhibited ligand-induced activation of HER2 but not that of the closely related EGFR. On the other hand, suppression of endogenous BDP1 expression increased the phosphorylation state of HER2. In addition, BDP1 was able to interfere with downstream signaling events by inhibiting the phosphorylation of the adaptor protein Gab1 and reducing mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. Supported by the finding that BDP1 is coexpressed with HER2 in breast cancer cells, we suggest that BDP1 is an important regulator of HER2 activity and thus the first protein-tyrosine phosphatase shown to be involved in HER2 signal attenuation.     

Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Selected Secretory Carrier Membrane Proteins, SCAMP1 and SCAMP3, and Association with the EGF Receptor

Secretory carrier membrane proteins (SCAMPs) are ubiquitously expressed proteins of post-Golgi vesicles. In the presence of the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor vanadate, or after overexpression in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, SCAMP1 and SCAMP3 are phosphorylated selectively on tyrosine residue(s). Phosphorylation is reversible after vanadate washout in situ or when isolated SCAMP3 is incubated with the recombinant tyrosine phosphatase PTP1B. Vanadate also causes the partial accumulation of SCAMP3, but not SCAMP1, in “patches” at or near the cell surface. A search for SCAMP kinase activities has shown that SCAMPs 1 and 3, but not SCAMP2, are tyrosine phosphorylated in EGF-stimulated murine fibroblasts overexpressing the EGF receptor (EGFR). EGF catalyzes the progressive phosphorylation of the SCAMPs up to 1 h poststimulation and may enhance colocalization of the EGFR and SCAMP3 within the cell interior. EGF also induces SCAMP–EGFR association, as detected by coimmunoprecipitation, and phosphorylation of SCAMP3 is stimulated by the EGFR in vitro. These results suggest that phosphorylation of SCAMPs, either directly or indirectly, may be functionally linked to the internalization/down-regulation of the EGFR.     

During muscle ageing the activation of the mitogenic signalling is not sufficient to guarantee cellular duplication

Satellite cells are quiescent cells that can be induced to proliferate by a variety of stimuli such as injury and exercise, providing in this way a source of new myoblasts that repopulate the damaged muscle. It is well known that, as senescence progresses, the muscle regenerative potential progressively diminishes, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this process are not yet completely defined. Many growth factors, including Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF-BB)*, have been associated to satellite cells activation, acting as potent mitogenic agents for these cells. The aim of this study is to explore if the diminished response of senescent myoblasts to growth stimuli could be due to the inability to receive and transduce hormonal signals. Herein, we demonstrate that that although PDGF-r expression is down-regulated during senescence, the receptor is fully able to be phosphorylated and to transmit the signal. Although senescent myoblasts display increased level of phosphotyrosine phosphatases (PTPs), neither the PDGF receptor (PDGF-r) phosphorylation level nor the citosolic signal transduction machinery is affected. Indeed, we demonstrated that senescent human myoblasts are able to initiate a proper mitogenic signalling cascade, since the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and phosphatydil inositole 3 kinase (PI-3K) pathways is similar in young and senescent cells. Our data underline that, despite a conserved capability to activate PDGF-r after agonist stimulation and a functional signal transduction machinery, the mitogenic signal initiated by growth factors in senescent cells does not lead to cell division, being unable to overcome the cell cycle block, likely caused by the accumulation of the inhibitor p21WAF1.     

T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase regulates bone resorption and whole-body insulin sensitivity through its expression in osteoblasts

Insulin signaling in osteoblasts contributes to whole-body glucose homeostasis in the mouse and in humans by increasing the activity of osteocalcin. The osteoblast insulin signaling cascade is negatively regulated by ESP, a tyrosine phosphatase dephosphorylating the insulin receptor. Esp is one of many tyrosine phosphatases expressed in osteoblasts, and this observation suggests that other protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) may contribute to the attenuation of insulin receptor phosphorylation in this cell type. In this study, we sought to identify an additional PTP(s) that, like ESP, would function in the osteoblast to regulate insulin signaling and thus affect activity of the insulin-sensitizing hormone osteocalcin. For that purpose, we used as criteria expression in osteoblasts, regulation by isoproterenol, and ability to trap the insulin receptor in a substrate-trapping assay. Here we show that the T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TC-PTP) regulates insulin receptor phosphorylation in the osteoblast, thus compromising bone resorption and bioactivity of osteocalcin. Accordingly, osteoblast-specific deletion of TC-PTP promotes insulin sensitivity in an osteocalcin-dependent manner. This study increases the number of genes involved in the bone regulation of glucose homeostasis.     

Cysteine-rich protein 61 (CCN1) mediates replicative senescence-associated aberrant collagen homeostasis in human skin fibroblasts

Dermal fibroblasts produce a collagen-rich extracellular matrix, which confers mechanical strength and resiliency to human skin. During aging, collagen production is reduced and collagen fragmentation is increased, which is initiated by matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1). This aberrant collagen homeostasis results in net collagen deficiency, which impairs the structural integrity and function of skin. Cysteine-rich protein 61 (CCN1), a member of the CCN family, negatively regulates collagen homeostasis, in primary human skin dermal fibroblasts. As replicative senescence is a form of cellular aging, we have utilized replicative senescent dermal fibroblasts to further investigate the connection between elevated CCN1 and aberrant collagen homeostasis. CCN1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly elevated in replicative senescent dermal fibroblasts. Replicative senescent dermal fibroblasts also expressed significantly reduced levels of type I procollagen and increased levels of MMP-1. Knockdown of elevated CCN1 in senescent dermal fibroblasts partially normalized both type I procollagen and MMP-1 expression. These data further support a key role of CCN1 in regulation of collagen homeostasis. Elevated expression of CCN1 substantially increased collagen lattice contraction and fragmentation caused by replicative senescent dermal fibroblasts. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) further revealed collagen fibril fragmentation and disorganization were largely prevented by knockdown of CCN1 in replicative senescent dermal fibroblasts, suggesting CCN1 mediates MMP-1-induced alterations of collagen fibrils by replicative senescent dermal fibroblasts. Given the ability of CCN1 to regulate both production and degradation of type I collagen, it is likely that elevated-CCN1 functions as an important mediator of collagen loss, which is observed in aged human skin.     

Expression of p16INK4A variants in senescent human fibroblasts independent of protein phosphorylation

Upregulation of the p16 tumor suppressor is a hallmark of senescence in human fibroblasts. In this study, we investigated potential protein modification of p16 in senescent human fibroblasts using 2D SDS-PAGE analysis. Three distinct p16 variants with isoelectric points of 5.2, 5.4, and 5.6, were consistently detected in normal human IMR90 fibroblasts that had undergone senescence due to forced expression of oncogenic H-ras or culture passage. Moreover, in contrast to short-term serum starvation, which induces quiescence, IMR90 fibroblasts cultured in low serum for a prolonged period exhibited senescent phenotypes and expression of the three p16 variants. All three p16 variants are unlikely phosphoproteins since they failed to react with antibodies against phospho-serine, and were resistant to the treatment with phosphatases. Functionally, co-immunoprecipitation assays using antibodies against cdk4 and/or cdk6 revealed that only the two most acidic p16 variants associated with cdk4/6. Moreover, senescence induced by the forced expression of p16 in early passage IMR90 fibroblasts or osteosarcoma U2OS cells was accompanied by expression of the two most acidic p16 variants, which also associated with cdk4/6. In summary, we report that prolonged serum starvation-induced senescence may provide an additional model for studying biochemical changes in senescence, including p16 regulation. Furthermore, induction of endogenous p16 in senescent human fibroblasts correlates with the expression of three distinct p16 variants independent of protein phosphorylation. Lastly, expression of the two cdk-bound variants is sufficient to induce senescence in human cells.     

Receptor-type protein-tyrosine phosphatase-kappa regulates epidermal growth factor receptor function

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the prototypic receptor protein tyrosine kinase, is a major regulator of growth and survival for many epithelial cell types. We report here that receptor-type protein-tyrosine phosphatase-kappa (RPTP-kappa) dephosphorylates EGFR and thereby regulates its function in human keratinocytes. Protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) inhibitors induced EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation in intact primary human keratinocytes and cell-free membrane preparations. Five highly expressed RPTPs (RPTP-beta, delta, kappa, mu, and xi) were functionally analyzed in a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell-based expression system. Full-length human EGFR expressed in CHO cells, which lack endogenous EGFR, displayed high basal (i.e. in the absence of ligand) tyrosine phosphorylation. Co-expression of RPTP-kappa, but not other RPTPs, specifically reduced basal EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation. RPTP-kappa also reduced epidermal growth factor-dependent EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation in CHO cells. Purified RPTP-kappa preferentially dephosphorylated EGFR tyrosines 1068 and 1173 in vitro. Overexpression of wild-type or catalytically inactive RPTP-kappa reduced or enhanced, respectively, basal and EGF-induced EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation in human keratinocytes. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated knockdown of RPTP-kappa increased basal and EGF-stimulated EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation and augmented downstream Erk activation in human keratinocytes. RPTP-kappa levels increased in keratinocytes as cells reached confluency, and overexpression of RPTP-kappa in subconfluent keratinocytes reduced keratinocyte proliferation. Taken together, the above data indicate that RPTP-kappa is a key regulator of EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation and function in human keratinocytes.     

The linoleic acid metabolite, 13-HpODE augments the phosphorylation of EGF receptor and SHP-2 leading to their increased association.

In previous studies with Syrian hamster embryo fibroblasts, we found that a specific lipoxygenase metabolite of linoleic acid, 13(S)-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid (HpODE), enhanced epidermal growth factor (EGF) signal transduction in a tumor suppressor gene plus phenotype (supB+); with a diminished response to 13(S)-HpODE in a tumor suppressor gene minus phenotype (supB-). This differential response was attributed to differences in the rate of EGF receptor (EGFR) dephosphorylation. To further define the molecular basis for these observations, in this report we examine the interaction of phosphorylated EGFR with the SH2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-2, a positive modulator of EGF dependent cell growth. SHP-2 associated with phosphorylated EGFR to a greater extent in supB+ cells when compared to supB-. This differential association could not be accounted for by differences between suppressor gene phenotypes in SHP-2 protein level or mutations in the molecular sequence. The addition of 13(S)-HpODE stimulated a concentration-dependent increase in EGF-dependent phosphorylation of SHP-2 and its association with EGFR. A more dramatic response was observed in the supB+ cells. Differences in SHP-2 interaction with EGFR may account, in part, for phenotypic differences in the growth rates and responsiveness to EGF between the supB+ and supB- cells. EGFR-SHP-2 association appears to play an important role in the regulation of EGFR signal transduction.     

Regulation of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling by protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are key regulators of cellular homeostasis. Based on in vitro and ex vivo studies, protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP1B) was implicated in the regulation of several RTKs, yet mice lacking PTP1B show defects mainly in insulin and leptin receptor signaling. To address this apparent paradox, we studied RTK signaling in primary and immortalized fibroblasts from PTP1B(-/-) mice. After growth factor treatment, cells lacking PTP1B exhibit increased and sustained phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR). However, Erk activation is enhanced only slightly, and there is no increase in Akt activation in PTP1B-deficient cells. Our results show that PTP1B does play a role in regulating EGFR and PDGFR phosphorylation but that other signaling mechanisms can largely compensate for PTP1B deficiency. In-gel phosphatase experiments suggest that other PTPs may help to regulate the EGFR and PDGFR in PTP1B(-/-) fibroblasts. This and other compensatory mechanisms prevent widespread, uncontrolled activation of RTKs in the absence of PTP1B and probably explain the relatively mild effects of PTP1B deletion in mice.     

Angiotensin II induces focal adhesion kinase/paxillin phosphorylation and cell migration in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

In the present study, we demonstrated that Ang II provokes a transitory enhancement of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin phosphorylation in human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC). Moreover, Ang II induces a time- and dose-dependent augmentation in cell migration, but does not affect HUVEC proliferation. The effect of Ang II on FAK and paxillin phosphorylation was markedly attenuated in cells pretreated with wortmannin and LY294002, indicating that phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) plays an important role in regulating FAK activation. Similar results were observed when HUVEC were pretreated with genistein, a non-selective tyrosine kinases inhibitor, or with the specific inhibitor PP2 for Src family kinases, demonstrating the involvement of protein tyrosine kinases, and particularly Src family of tyrosine kinases, in the downstream signalling pathway of Ang II receptors. Furthermore, FAK and paxillin phosphorylation was markedly blocked after treatment of HUVEC with AG1478, a selective inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) phosphorylation. Pretreatment of cells with inhibitors of PI3K, Src family tyrosine kinases, and EGFR also decreased HUVEC migration. In conclusion, these results suggest that Ang II mediates an increase in FAK and paxillin phosphorylation and induces HUVEC migration through signal transduction pathways dependent on PI3K and Src tyrosine kinase activation and EGFR transactivation.     

Protein tyrosine phosphatase regulation in fibroblasts from patients with an insulin receptor gene mutation

Tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor is the initial event following receptor binding to insulin, and it induces further tyrosine phosphorylation of various intracellular molecules. This signaling is countered by protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases), which reportedly are associated with insulin resistance that can be reduced by regulation of PTPases. Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and leukocyte antigen-related PTPase (LAR) are the PTPases implicated most frequently in insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus. Here, we show that PTP1B and LAR are expressed in human fibroblasts, and we examine the regulation of PTPase activity in fibroblasts from patients with an insulin receptor gene mutation as an in vitro model of insulin resistance. Total PTPase activity was significantly lower in the cytosolic and membrane fractions of fibroblasts with mutations compared with controls (p<0.05). Insulin stimulation of fibroblasts with mutations resulted in a significantly smaller increase in PTP1B activity compared with stimulation of wild-type fibroblasts (p<0.05). This indicates that insulin receptor gene mutations blunt increases in PTPase activity in response to insulin, possibly via a negative feedback mechanism. Our data suggest that the PTPase activity in patients with insulin receptor gene mutation and severe insulin resistance may differ from that in ordinary type 2 diabetes.     

Signal characteristics of G protein-transactivated EGF receptor.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase recently was identified as providing a link to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in response to G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists in Rat-1 fibroblasts. This cross-talk pathway is also established in other cell types such as HaCaT keratinocytes, primary mouse astrocytes and COS-7 cells. Transient expression of either Gq- or Gi-coupled receptors in COS-7 cells allowed GPCR agonist-induced EGFR transactivation, and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-generated signals involved the docking protein Gab1. The increase in SHC tyrosine phosphorylation and MAPK stimulation through both Gq- and Gi-coupled receptors was reduced strongly upon selective inhibition of EGFR function. Inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase did not affect GPCR-induced stimulation of EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation, but inhibited MAPK stimulation, upon treatment with both GPCR agonists and low doses of EGF. Furthermore, the Src tyrosine kinase inhibitor PP1 strongly interfered with LPA- and EGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and MAPK activation downstream of EGFR. Our results demonstrate an essential role for EGFR function in signaling through both Gq- and Gi-coupled receptors and provide novel insights into signal transmission downstream of EGFR for efficient activation of the Ras/MAPK pathway.     

Disruption of the availability of amino acids induces a rapid reduction of serine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 in vivo and in vitro

Insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) plays a pivotal role in insulin signal transduction. It has been shown that the amino acids modulate insulin signaling at the level of IRS-1. Here we show that an amino acid unbalanced diet causes a reduction in serine phosphorylation as well as an elevation in insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 in rat muscle. In fibroblasts and myotube cells, the effect of amino acid deprivation on IRS-1 phosphorylation was evident only when cells were pretreated with reagents causing hyperphosphorylation of serines of IRS-1. But, the target kinases of these reagents were not inactivated by amino acid deprivation, suggesting that amino acid deprivation activates serine/threonine phosphatase(s) of IRS-1. The phosphatases regulated by mammalian target of rapamycin do not appear to participate in the dephosphorylation either. These results suggest that amino acid deprivation dephosphorylates IRS-1 through unidentified serine/threonine phosphatases and thereby potentiates insulin signaling.     

The unique amino-terminal domain of p56lck regulates interactions with tyrosine protein phosphatases in T lymphocytes.

The catalytic activity of p56lck is repressed by phosphorylation of a conserved carboxy-terminal tyrosine residue (tyrosine 505). Accumulating data show that this phosphorylation is mediated by the tyrosine protein kinase p50csk and that it is reversed by the transmembrane tyrosine protein phosphatase CD45. Recent studies have indicated that dephosphorylation of tyrosine 505 in resting T cells is necessary for the initiation of antigen-induced T-cell activation. To better understand this phenomenon, we have characterized the factors regulating tyrosine 505 phosphorylation in an antigen-specific T-cell line (BI-141). As is the case for other T-cell lines, Lck molecules from unstimulated BI-141 cells exhibited a pronounced dephosphorylation of the inhibitory carboxyl-terminal tyrosine. This state could be corrected by incubation of cells with the tyrosine protein phosphatase inhibitor pervanadate, suggesting that it reflected the unrestricted action of tyrosine protein phosphatases. In structure-function analyses, mutation of the site of Lck myristylation (glycine 2) partially restored phosphorylation at tyrosine 505 in BI-141 cells. Since the myristylation-defective mutant also failed to stably associate with cellular membranes, this effect was most probably the consequence of removal of p56lck from the vicinity of membrane phosphatases like CD45. Deletion of the unique domain of Lck, or its replacement by the equivalent sequence from p59fyn, also increased the extent of tyrosine 505 phosphorylation in vivo. This effect was unrelated to changes in Lck membrane association and therefore was potentially related to defects in crucial protein-protein interactions at the membrane. In contrast, deletion of the SH3 or SH2 domain, or mutation of the phosphotransfer motif (lysine 273) or the site of autophosphorylation (tyrosine 394), had no impact on phosphate occupancy at tyrosine 505. In combination, these results indicated that the hypophosphorylation of the inhibitory tyrosine of p56(lck) in T lymphocytes is likely the result of the predominant action of tyrosine protein phosphatases. Moreover, they showed that both the amino-terminal myristylation signal and the unique domain of p56(lck) play critical roles in this process.