3.6.2 The JAK–STAT pathway

Another important protein kinase pathway is the JAK–STAT pathway. Cytokines (Section 2.2), are frequently used for signalling between cells of the immune system. Cytokine-induced signal transduction cascades are often direct pathways to the nucleus for switching on sets of genes. Janus kinases (JAKs, named after the two-faced Roman god) are a particular group of tyrosine kinases that associate with cytokine receptors. When cytokines such as α-interferon bind to their receptor, JAKs (denoted as JAK1, Tyk2, etc.) associated with different receptor units cross-phosphorylate each other on tyrosine residues (Figure 41). The receptors are then phosphorylated by JAKs, creating phosphotyrosine-docking sites for SH2-containing proteins, in this case a specific group of proteins called STATs (signal transducers and activators of transcription).

Figure 41 The JAK/STAT pathway. (a) The different components of the JAK/STAT pathway are in their inactive state. (b) Cytokines such as α -interferon induce dimerization of their tyrosine kinase-associated receptors. (c) JAKs cross-phosphorylate each other on tyrosine residues. Activated JAKs phosphorylate both α-interferon receptor subunits on tyrosine residues, (d) which then act as docking sites for STAT proteins. (e) STATs become phosphorylated by JAKs, which then allows the formation of STAT dimers via their SH2 domains. (f) STAT dimers translocate to the nucleus and initiate transcription of target genes.

Box 4 Detecting protein–protein interactions using the MAPPIT system

The mammalian protein–protein interaction trap (MAPPIT) system uses the principle, instead of the genes of interest being fused to transcriptional activator domains, they are fused to components of the JAK–STAT signalling pathway (Figure 42). Using recombinant DNA technology, the bait protein domain is fused to a mutant erythropoietin (Epo) receptor, which has JAK binding sites but lacks STAT binding sites. The prey protein is fused to a protein fragment that has several potential STAT binding sites. If there is no interaction between bait and prey, JAKs cross-phosphorylate each other on stimulation with Epo, but STAT is not recruited as there are no available docking sites on the receptor. If there is an interaction between bait and prey, the protein fragment becomes tyrosine-phosphorylated by JAKs on receptor activation, enabling STAT to bind to it. STAT is then in the vicinity of JAK, which can access and phosphorylate the STAT. Then STAT can dimerize, translocate to the nucleus and induce transcription of a reporter gene which can be easily quantified.

Figure 42 The basic principle of a mammalian protein–protein interaction trap (MAPPIT). Absent STAT-binding tyrosine residues in the erythropoietin (Epo) receptor are indicated as white bands whereas present tyrosine residues are represented as yellow bands. A positive interaction between bait and prey proteins results in the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues in the protein fragment by JAK, which then act as docking sites for STAT. The end result is the formation of STAT dimers, which induce transcription of a reporter gene.

In turn, the STATs are phosphorylated by the JAKs, which causes the STATs to dissociate from the receptor and instead bind to each other by means of their SH2 domains. STAT dimers translocate directly to the nucleus, where they bind to other gene regulatory proteins and to response elements in target genes.

The JAK–STAT pathway has recently become the basis for the development of techniques for the study of protein–protein interactions (Section 1.5).

Now that we have described the major protein kinases, we can look at them all together, and see what features they have in common. Figure 43 is a dendrogram showing how the various subgroups of protein kinases in humans are related to each other both functionally and structurally. Despite their different subcellular localizations, activation mechanisms and substrates, protein kinases have remarkable similarity of structure within their kinase domain.

Figure 43 Dendrogram representing the relationships between protein kinases. Currently known human protein kinases have been represented according to the sequence similarity of their protein kinase domain. Note, for example, that the kinase domain of the MAP kinase ERK is closely related to that of cyclin-dependent kinases, but not to that of MEK1/2, its upstream activator. Most, but not all, of the protein kinases discussed in this chapter are shown here. Remember that the lipid kinases, such as PI 3-kinase, are not protein kinases, so are not represented here.