CD28 ligation induces tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2 but not Fak in Jurkat T cells

Protein tyrosine kinases are critical for the function of CD28 in T cells. We examined whether the tyrosine kinases Pyk2 and Fak (members of the focal adhesion kinase family) are involved in CD28 signaling. We found that ligating CD28 in Jurkat T cells rapidly increases the tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2 but not of Fak. Paxillin, a substrate for Pyk2 and Fak, was not tyrosine-phosphorylated after CD28 ligation. CD28-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2 was markedly reduced in the absence of external Ca2+. Previous studies have shown that the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) induces tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2. In this report, the concurrent ligation of CD28 and TCR increased tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2; however, the extent of phosphorylation by both receptors was equivalent to the sum of that induced by each receptor alone. The Syk/Zap inhibitor piceatannol blocked CD28, and TCR induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2, suggesting that Syk/Zap is involved in Pyk2 phosphorylation. In contrast, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin blocked TCR- but not CD28-induced phosphorylation of Pyk2, suggesting that CD28 and TCR activate distinct pathways to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2. Notably, depleting phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-sensitive protein kinase C did not block CD28- and CD3-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2. These data provide evidence for the involvement of Pyk2 in the CD28 signaling cascade and suggest that neither Fak nor paxillin is involved in the signaling pathways of CD28.     

Phosphorylation of T cell membrane proteins by activators of protein kinase C

Activation of the enzyme protein kinase C (PKC) plays an important role in T cell activation. We investigated the phosphorylation of CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8, CD28 (Tp44), CD43 (sialophorin, gp115), and LFA-1 after incubation of human PBMC with the (PKC) activator PMA. These proteins were chosen for their role in transmembrane signal transduction (CD2, CD3, CD5, CD28, CD43), cell-cell interaction and adhesion (CD2, CD4, CD8, and LFA-1), or involvement in immunodeficiency states (CD43, CD7). CD5, CD7, CD43, and the alpha-chain of LFA-1 were found to be constitutively phosphorylated. PMA induced rapid hyperphosphorylation of CD5, CD7, and CD43, but not of the LFA-1 alpha-chain, and induced the phosphorylation of CD3, CD4, CD8 and of the LFA-1 beta-chain. PMA did not cause the phosphorylation of CD2 and CD28. PMA-induced phosphorylation was partially inhibited by the PKC inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride. Finally, the T cell activator Con A, which binds to the CD3/TCR complex was shown to induce a profile of protein phosphorylation similar to that observed with PMA. We conclude that PKC-mediated phosphorylation of T cell Ag may represent an important regulatory mechanism that governs the process of T cell activation.     

CD44-mediated elongated T cell spreading requires Pyk2 activation by Src family kinases, extracellular calcium, phospholipase C and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase

The proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2, Pyk2, is a focal adhesion related kinase expressed in T cells that is tyrosine phosphorylated and activated by integrin, chemokine or T cell receptor stimulation. Ligation of the cell adhesion molecule CD44 also induces Pyk2 phosphorylation and T cell spreading, and this is negatively regulated by the protein tyrosine phosphatase CD45. Here, we identify the activation requirements for Pyk2 and demonstrate its requirement for CD44-mediated elongated T cell spreading. Upon CD44-mediated cell spreading, Pyk2 was recruited to CD44 clusters in both CD45⁺ and CD45⁻ T cells, yet was more strongly phosphorylated in T cells lacking CD45. In these cells, Pyk2 phosphorylation was dependent on Src family kinase activity and required actin polymerisation, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and phospholipase C activity as well as extracellular calcium. Inhibition of any of these events prevented Pyk2 phosphorylation and T cell spreading. Transfection of a truncated form of Pyk2 lacking the kinase domain, PRNK, inhibited CD44-mediated cell spreading, demonstrating an important role for Pyk2. However, inhibition of microtubule turnover by Taxol prevented elongated T cell spreading but did not affect Pyk2 phosphorylation, indicating that microtubule reorganisation is downstream, or independent, of Pyk2 phosphorylation. Together this demonstrates that multiple factors are required for CD44-induced Pyk2 activation, which plays a critical role in CD44-mediated elongated T cell spreading.     

The tyrosine kinase Pyk2 regulates Arf1 activity by phosphorylation and inhibition of the Arf-GTPase-activating protein ASAP1

Proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase structurally related to focal adhesion kinase, has been implicated in the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades and ion channels, the induction of apoptosis, and in the modulation of the cytoskeleton. In order to understand how Pyk2 signaling mediates these diverse cellular functions, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screening using the C-terminal part of Pyk2 that contains potential protein-protein interaction sites as bait. A prominent binder of Pyk2 identified by this method was the Arf-GTPase-activating protein ASAP1. Pyk2-ASAP1 interaction was confirmed in pull-down as well as in co-immunoprecipitation experiments, and contact sites were mapped to the proline-rich regions of Pyk2 and the SH3 domain of ASAP1. Pyk2 directly phosphorylates ASAP1 on tyrosine residues in vitro and increases ASAP1 tyrosine phosphorylation when co-expressed in HEK293T cells. Phosphorylation of tyrosine 308 and 782 affects the phosphoinositide binding profile of ASAP1, and fluorimetric Arf-GTPase assays with purified proteins revealed an inhibition of ASAP1 GTPase-activating protein activity by Pyk2-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation. We therefore provide evidence for a functional interaction between Pyk2 and ASAP1 and a regulation of ASAP1 and hence Arf1 activity by Pyk2-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation.     

Herpes simplex virus-1 up-regulates IL-15 gene expression in monocytic cells through the activation of protein tyrosine kinase and PKC zeta/lambda signaling pathways

IL-15 plays a seminal role in innate immunity through enhancing the cytotoxic function as well as cytokine production by NK and T cells. We have previously shown that exposure of PBMC as well as monocytic cells to different viruses results in immediate up-regulation of IL-15 gene expression and subsequent NK cell activation as an innate immune response of those cells to these viruses. However, no signaling pathway involved in this up-regulation has been identified. Here we show for the first time that HSV-1-induced up-regulation of IL-15 gene expression is independent of viral infectivity/replication. IL-15 gene is up-regulated by HSV-1 in human monocytes, but not in CD3+ T cells. HSV-1 induces the phosphorylation of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein kinase C (PKC) for inducing IL-15 expression in monocytic cells. Inhibitors for PTKs reduced HSV-1-induced PTK activity, DNA binding activity of NF-kB as well as IL-15 gene expression. In contrast, an inhibitor for membrane-bound tyrosine kinases had no effect on these events. Experiments using PKC inhibitors revealed that phosphorylation of PKC zeta/lambda (PKC zeta/lambda), DNA binding activity of NF-kB and HSV-1-induced up-regulation of IL-15 were all decreased. Furthermore, we found that HSV-1-induced IL-15 up-regulation was also dependent on PTKs regulation of PKC phosphorylation. Thus, we conclude that IL-15 up-regulation in HSV-1-treated monocytic cells is dependent on the activity of both PTKs and PKC zeta/lambda.     

Lipopolysaccharide induces actin reorganization and tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2 and paxillin in monocytes and macrophages

The bacterial endotoxin LPS is a potent stimulator of monocyte and macrophage activation and induces adhesion of monocytes. Morphological changes in response to LPS have not been characterized in detail, however, nor have the signaling pathways mediating LPS-induced adhesion been elucidated. We have found that LPS rapidly induced adhesion and spreading of peripheral blood monocytes, and that this was inhibited by the Src family kinase inhibitor PP1 and the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002. LPS also stimulated actin reorganization, leading to the formation of filopodia, lamellipodia, and membrane ruffles in Bac1 mouse macrophages. Proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2), a tyrosine kinase related to focal adhesion kinase, and paxillin, a cytoskeletal protein that interacts with Pyk2, were both tyrosine phosphorylated in response to LPS in monocytes and macrophages. Both tyrosine phosphorylation events were inhibited by PP1 and LY294002. Adhesion also stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2 and paxillin in monocytes, and this was further enhanced by LPS. Finally, Pyk2 and paxillin colocalized within membrane ruffles in LPS-stimulated cells. These results indicate that LPS stimulation of monocytes and macrophages results in rapid morphological changes and suggest that Pyk2 and/or paxillin play a role in this response.     

RAFTK/Pyk2-mediated cellular signalling

Intracellular signal transduction following extracellular ligation by a wide variety of surface molecules involves the activation and tyrosine phosphorylation of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs). Tyrosine phosphorylation, controlled by the coordinated actions of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) and tyrosine kinases, is a critical regulatory mechanism for various physiological processes, including cell growth, differentiation, metabolism, cell cycle regulation and cytoskeleton function. The focal adhesion PTK family consists of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and the RAFTK/Pyk2 kinase (also known as CAK-beta and CADTK). RAFTK/Pyk2 can be activated by a variety of extracellular signals that elevate intracellular calcium concentration, and by stress signals. RAFTK/Pyk2 is expressed mainly in the central nervous system and in cells derived from hematopoietic lineages, while FAK is widely expressed in various tissues and links transmembrane integrin receptors to intracellular pathways. This review describes the role of RAFTK/Pyk2 in various signalling cascades and details the differential signalling by FAK and RAFTK/Pyk2.     

Tyrosine phosphorylation of the human T cell antigen receptor zeta-chain: activation via CD3 but not CD2

TCR stimulation by Ag or anti-receptor antibodies in murine T cells results in the activation of two independent protein kinases, protein kinase C (PKC) and a protein tyrosine kinase. Similarly, stimulation of murine Thy-1 or Ly-6 with mAb also results in activation of both of these kinase pathways. Tyrosine phosphorylation in all cases occurs on the TCR zeta-chain. It is known that Ag and anti-receptor antibodies activate PKC in human T cells. In this study we demonstrate that mitogen or anti-CD3 antibodies activate tyrosine phosphorylation of the human TCR-zeta-chain. PMA, which activates PKC, does not result in zeta-chain tyrosine phosphorylation. Stimulation of human T cells by antibodies that bind the CD2 molecule is an alternate mode of inducing T cell proliferation. These antibodies surprisingly do not induce tyrosine phosphorylation of the zeta-chain. Thus, different methods of cellular activation can result in distinguishable patterns of receptor-mediated biochemical signaling events.     

Pervanadate-induced reverse translocation and tyrosine phosphorylation of phorbol ester-stimulated protein kinase C betaII are mediated by Src-family tyrosine kinases in porcine neutrophils

Protein kinase C (PKC), upon activation, translocates from the cytosol to the plasma membrane. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a potent PKC activator, is known to induce irreversible translocation of PKC to the plasma membrane, in contrast to the reversible translocation resulting from physiological stimuli and subsequent rapid return to the cytosol (reverse translocation). However, we have previously shown that tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) inhibitors induce reverse translocation of PMA-stimulated PKCbetaII in porcine polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). In the present study, we showed that pervanadate, a potent PTPase inhibitor, also induces tyrosine phosphorylation of PMA-stimulated PKCbetaII in porcine PMNs. Furthermore, PP2, a specific inhibitor of Src-family tyrosine kinases (PTKs), was found to inhibit both pervanadate-induced reverse translocation and tyrosine phosphorylation of PMA-stimulated PKCbetaII, suggesting that these two pervanadate-induced responses are mediated by Src-family PTKs. Our findings provide novel insight into the relationship between the subcellular localization and tyrosine phosphorylation of PKC.     

Tyrosine phosphorylation of a novel 100-kDa protein coupled to CD28 in resting human T cells is enhanced by a signal through TCR/CD3 complex

For T cell activation, two signals are required, i.e., a T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3-mediated main signal and a CD28-mediated costimulatory signal. CD28 binds to its ligand (CD80 or CD86) and transduces the most important costimulatory signal. The cytoplasmic domain of the CD28 molecule, composed of 41 amino acids, does not contain any intrinsic enzyme activity. The cytoplasmic domain of CD28 is remarkably conserved among species and is associated with a number of signaling molecules that affect the main signal. We report here that a tyrosine phosphorylated 100-kDa protein (ppl00) was coupled to the CD28 cytoplasmic domain in Jurkat and human peripheral T cells. The pp100 was distinguished from other CD28 associated molecules such as Vav, STAT5, PI 3-kinase, Valosin-containing protein (VCP), Nucleolin, Gab2 (Grb2-associated binding protein 2), and STAT6. The tyrosine phosphorylation of pp100 coprecipitated with CD28 was enhanced by CD3 stimulation by the specific antibody, tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor and PKC activator. Tyrosine phosphorylation of pp100 was attenuated by the prior addition of PKC inhibitor. These findings indicate that pp100 is a novel tyrosine phosphorylated protein coupled to CD28 under continuous control of tyrosine phosphatases and might play a role in T cell activation augmented by a TCR/CD3-mediated main signal.     

Inhibition of CD3-linked phospholipase C by phorbol ester and by cAMP is associated with decreased phosphotyrosine and increased phosphoserine contents of PLC-gamma 1.

The mechanisms by which phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and cAMP attenuate the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns 4,5-P2) induced by ligation of the T-cell antigen receptor complex (TCR) was studied in the human Jurkat T-cell line. It has previously been shown that stimulation of Jurkat cells with antibodies to CD3, components of the TCR, elicits a rapid and transient phosphorylation of phospholipase C (PLC)-gamma 1, the predominant PLC isozyme in Jurkat cells, at multiple tyrosine residues and that such tyrosine phosphorylation leads to activation of PLC-gamma 1. Prior incubation of Jurkat cells with PMA or forskolin, which increases intracellular cAMP concentrations, prevented tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 as well as the hydrolysis of PtdIns 4,5-P2 induced by ligation of CD3. Dose-response curves of PMA and of forskolin for the inhibition of PLC-gamma 1 tyrosine phosphorylation and of PtdIns 4,5-P2 hydrolysis were similar. These results suggest that the inhibition of PtdIns 4,5-P2 hydrolysis by PMA and cAMP is attributable to reduced tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1. Treatment of Jurkat cells with PMA or forskolin stimulated the phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 at serine 1248. PMA treatment also elicited the phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 at an unidentified serine site. Phosphopeptide map analysis indicated that the sites of PLC-gamma 1 phosphorylated in Jurkat cells treated with PMA and forskolin are the same as those phosphorylated in vitro by protein kinase C (PKC) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), respectively. Stimulation of Jurkat cells with antibodies to CD3 also elicited phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 at serine 1248 and at the unidentified serine site phosphorylated in PLC-gamma 1 from PMA-treated cells. Thus, phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 by PKC or PKA at serine 1248 may modulate the interaction of PLC-gamma 1 with the protein tyrosine kinase or the protein tyrosine phosphatase; this altered interaction may, at least in part, be responsible for the decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 seen in PMA- and forskolin-treated Jurkat cells. Furthermore, in the absence of PMA, activation of PKC by diacylglycerol provides a negative feedback signal responsible for reducing the phosphotyrosine contents of PLC-gamma 1.     

Pyk2- and Src-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of PDK1 regulates focal adhesions

3-Phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) is a signal integrator that activates the AGC superfamily of serine/threonine kinases. PDK1 is phosphorylated on tyrosine by oxidants, although its regulation by agonists that stimulate G-protein-coupled receptor signaling pathways and the physiological consequences of tyrosine phosphorylation in this setting have not been fully identified. We found that angiotensin II stimulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of PDK1 in vascular smooth muscle in a calcium- and c-Src-dependent manner. The calcium-activated tyrosine kinase Pyk2 acts as a scaffold for Src-dependent phosphorylation of PDK1 on Tyr9, which permits phosphorylation of Tyr373 and -376 by Src. This critical function of Pyk2 is further supported by the observation that Pyk2 and tyrosine-phosphorylated PDK1 colocalize in focal adhesions after angiotensin II stimulation. Importantly, infection of smooth muscle cells with a Tyr9 mutant of PDK1 inhibits angiotensin II-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin and focal adhesion formation. These observations identify a novel interaction between PDK1 and Pyk2 that regulates the integrity of focal adhesions, which are major compartments for integrating signals for cell growth, apoptosis, and migration.     

Control of TCR-mediated activation of beta 1 integrins by the ZAP-70 tyrosine kinase interdomain B region and the linker for activation of T cells adapter protein

One of the earliest functional responses of T lymphocytes to extracellular signals that activate the Ag-specific CD3/TCR complex is a rapid, but reversible, increase in the functional activity of integrin adhesion receptors. Previous studies have implicated the tyrosine kinase zeta-associated protein of 70 kDa (ZAP-70) and the lipid kinase phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, in the activation of beta(1) integrins by the CD3/TCR complex. In this report, we use human ZAP-70-deficient Jurkat T cells to demonstrate that the kinase activity of ZAP-70 is required for CD3/TCR-mediated increases in beta(1) integrin-mediated adhesion and activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. A tyrosine to phenylalanine substitution at position 315 in the interdomain B of ZAP-70 inhibits these responses, whereas a similar substitution at position 292 enhances these downstream signals. These mutations in the ZAP-70 interdomain B region also specifically affect CD3/TCR-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of residues 171 and 191 in the cytoplasmic domain of the linker for activation of T cells (LAT) adapter protein. CD3/TCR signaling to beta(1) integrins is defective in LAT-deficient Jurkat T cells, and can be restored with expression of wild-type LAT. Mutant LAT constructs with tyrosine to phenylalanine substitutions at position 171 and/or position 191 do not restore CD3/TCR-mediated activation of beta(1) integrins in LAT-deficient T cells. Thus, these studies demonstrate that the interdomain B region of ZAP-70 regulates beta(1) integrin activation by the CD3/TCR via control of tyrosine phosphorylation of tyrosine residues 171 and 191 in the LAT cytoplasmic domain.     

Novel putative protein tyrosine phosphatases identified by the polymerase chain reaction

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) are a family of enzymes that specifically dephosphorylate phosphotyrosyl residues in selected protein substrates. To more fully understand the regulatory role of protein tyrosine phosphorylation and dephosphorylation in cellular signal transduction, characterization of PTPases is essential. Using the polymerase chain reaction and degenerate oligonucleotide primers corresponding to conserved amino acid sequences within the catalytic domain of PTPases, we have identified 11 PTPase-related human liver cDNA sequences. Five of these have not been described previously. These results indicate that, like protein tyrosine kinases, PTPases may also comprise a gene family with a large number of members.     

Cutting edge: functional role for proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 in NK cell-mediated natural cytotoxicity

Protein tyrosine kinase activation is one of the first biochemical events in the signaling pathway leading to activation of NK cell cytolytic machinery. Here we investigated whether proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2), the nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase belonging to the focal adhesion kinase family, could play a role in NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Our results demonstrate that binding of NK cells to sensitive target cells or ligation of beta2 integrins results in a rapid induction of Pyk2 phosphorylation and activation. By contrast, no detectable Pyk2 tyrosine phosphorylation is found upon CD16 stimulation mediated by either mAb or interaction with Ab-coated P815 cells. A functional role for Pyk2 in natural but not Ab-mediated cytotoxicity was demonstrated by the use of recombinant vaccinia viruses encoding the kinase dead mutant of Pyk2. Finally, we provide evidence that Pyk2 is involved in the beta2 integrin-triggered extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation, supporting the hypothesis that Pyk2 plays a role in the natural cytotoxicity by controlling extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation.     

Differential regulation of CXCR4-mediated T-cell chemotaxis and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation by the membrane tyrosine phosphatase,CD45

The chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its cognate ligand, stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha (CXCL12), regulate lymphocyte trafficking and play an important role in host immune surveillance. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in CXCL12-induced and CXCR4-mediated chemotaxis of T-lymphocytes are not completely elucidated. In the present study, we examined the role of the membrane tyrosine phosphatase CD45, which regulates antigen receptor signaling in CXCR4-mediated chemotaxis and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation in T-cells. We observed a significant reduction in CXCL12-induced chemotaxis in the CD45-negative Jurkat cell line (J45.01) as compared with the CD45-positive control (JE6.1) cells. Expression of a chimeric protein containing the intracellular phosphatase domain of CD45 was able to partially restore CXCL12-induced chemotaxis in the J45.01 cells. However, reconstitution of CD45 into the J45.01 cells restored the CXCL12-induced chemotaxis to about 90%. CD45 had no significant effect on CXCL12 or human immunodeficiency virus gp120-induced internalization of the CXCR4 receptor. Furthermore, J45.01 cells showed a slight enhancement in CXCL12-induced MAP kinase activity as compared with the JE6.1 cells. We also observed that CXCL12 treatment enhanced the tyrosine phosphorylation of CD45 and induced its association with the CXCR4 receptor. Pretreatment of T-cells with the lipid raft inhibitor, methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, blocked the association between CXCR4 and CD45 and markedly abolished CXCL12-induced chemotaxis. Comparisons of signaling pathways induced by CXCL12 in JE6.1 and J45.01 cells revealed that CD45 might moderately regulate the tyrosine phosphorylation of the focal adhesion components the related adhesion focal tyrosine kinase/Pyk2, focal adhesion kinase, p130Cas, and paxillin. CD45 has also been shown to regulate CXCR4-mediated activation and phosphorylation of T-cell receptor downstream effectors Lck, ZAP-70, and SLP-76. Our results show that CD45 differentially regulates CXCR4-mediated chemotactic activity and MAPK activation by modulating the activities of focal adhesion components and the downstream effectors of the T-cell receptor.     

Protein tyrosine phosphatases: from structure to function

In the past few years, a diverse family of receptor-like and nontransmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) have been identified and characterized at the level of primary structure. Progress is now being made towards defining physiological processes in which the activity of PTPases is important. One thing seems clear: the PTPases cannot be regarded simply as antagonists of the protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs)--rather, they have the potential to act both positively and negatively in mediating cellular signalling responses.     

Identification and characterization of a novel Pyk2/related adhesion focal tyrosine kinase-associated protein that inhibits alpha-synuclein phosphorylation

alpha-Synuclein is a presynaptic protein involved in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease. Pyk2/related adhesion focal tyrosine kinase (RAFTK) tyrosine kinase is an upstream regulator of Src family kinases in the central nervous system that is involved in alpha-synuclein phosphorylation. The present study reports the cloning and characterization of a novel adaptor protein, Pyk2/RAFTK-associated protein (PRAP), that specifically binds to Pyk2/RAFTK and inhibits alpha-synuclein tyrosine phosphorylation. PRAP contains a coiled-coil domain, a pleckstrin homology domain, and a SH3 domain; the SH3 domain binds to the proline-rich domain of Pyk2/RAFTK. PRAP was observed to be present throughout the brain, including substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons, in which it localized to the cytoplasm. PRAP was found to function as a substrate for Src family kinases, such as c-Src or Fyn, but not for Pyk2/RAFTK. Hyperosmotic stress induced phosphorylation of tyrosine 125 of alpha-synuclein via Pyk2/RAFTK, which acted through Src family kinases. Such phosphorylation was inhibited by PRAP expression, suggesting that PRAP negatively regulates alpha-synuclein phosphorylation following cell stress. In conclusion, PRAP functions as a downstream target for Pyk2/RAFTK and plays a role in alpha-synuclein phosphorylation.