Tyrosine-protein kinase Lck
Also known as: LCK
Function
Non-receptor tyrosine-protein kinase that plays an essential role in the selection and maturation of developing T-cells in the thymus and in the function of mature T-cells. Plays a key role in T-cell antigen receptor (TCR)-linked signal transduction pathways. Constitutively associated with the cytoplasmic portions of the CD4 and CD8 surface receptors. Association of the TCR with a peptide antigen-bound MHC complex facilitates the interaction of CD4 and CD8 with MHC class II and class I molecules, respectively, thereby recruiting the associated LCK protein to the vicinity of the TCR-CD3 complex. LCK then phosphorylates tyrosine residues within the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAM) of the cytoplasmic tails of the TCR-gamma chains and CD3 subunits, initiating the TCR-CD3 signaling pathway. Once stimulated, the TCR recruits the tyrosine kinase ZAP70, that becomes phosphorylated and activated by LCK. Following this, a large number of signaling molecules are recruited, ultimately leading to lymphokine production. LCK also contributes to signaling by other receptor molecules. Associates directly with the cytoplasmic tail of CD2, which leads to hyperphosphorylation and activation of LCK. Also plays a role in the IL2 receptor-linked signaling pathway that controls the T-cell proliferative response. Binding of IL2 to its receptor results in increased activity of LCK. Is expressed at all stages of thymocyte development and is required for the regulation of maturation events that are governed by both pre-TCR and mature alpha beta TCR. Phosphorylates other substrates including RUNX3, PTK2B/PYK2, the microtubule-associated protein MAPT, RHOH or TYROBP. Interacts with FYB2.
Classification
- Family (Pfam)
- PF07714 PK_Tyr_Ser-Thr, PF00017 SH2, PF00018 SH3_1
- InterPro
- Kinase-like_dom_sf, Lck_SH2, Lck_SH3, Non-receptor_tyrosine_kinases, Prot_kinase_dom, Protein_kinase_ATP_BS, Ser-Thr/Tyr_kinase_cat_dom, SH2, SH2_dom_sf, SH3-like_dom_sf, SH3_domain, Tyr_kinase_AS, Tyr_kinase_cat_dom
- Functional cluster
- Serine/Threonine Protein Kinases
Experimental structures · PDB · 57
- 1BHF X-ray 1.80A
- 1BHH X-ray 1.90A
- 1CWD X-ray 2.25A
- 1CWE X-ray 2.30A
- 1FBZ X-ray 2.40A
- 1H92 NMR
- 1IJR X-ray 2.20A
- 1KIK NMR
- 1LCJ X-ray 1.80A
- 1LCK X-ray 2.50A
- 1LKK X-ray 1.00A
- 1LKL X-ray 1.80A
- … and 45 more
A predicted model is available from AlphaFold.
Gene Ontology · 47
- GO:0005911 cell-cell junction
- GO:0005737 cytoplasm
- GO:0005829 cytosol
- GO:0070062 extracellular exosome
- GO:0001772 immunological synapse
- GO:0045121 membrane raft
- GO:0000242 pericentriolar material
- GO:0005886 plasma membrane
- GO:0005524 ATP binding
- GO:0051117 ATPase binding
- GO:0042609 CD4 receptor binding
- GO:0042610 CD8 receptor binding
- GO:0042802 identical protein binding
- GO:0004715 non-membrane spanning protein tyrosine kinase activity
- GO:0043548 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase binding
- GO:0016004 phospholipase activator activity
- GO:0043274 phospholipase binding
- GO:0001784 phosphotyrosine residue binding
- GO:1990405 protein antigen binding
- GO:0019901 protein kinase binding
- GO:0019903 protein phosphatase binding
- GO:0004722 protein serine/threonine phosphatase activity
- GO:0004713 protein tyrosine kinase activity
- GO:0042169 SH2 domain binding
- GO:0005102 signaling receptor binding
- GO:0042608 T cell receptor binding
- GO:0050853 B cell receptor signaling pathway
- GO:0160162 CD27 signaling pathway
- GO:0007169 cell surface receptor protein tyrosine kinase signaling pathway
- GO:0038094 Fc-gamma receptor signaling pathway
- GO:0030097 hemopoiesis
- GO:0035556 intracellular signal transduction
- GO:0050900 leukocyte migration
- GO:0051132 NK T cell activation
- GO:0030168 platelet activation
- GO:0034116 positive regulation of heterotypic cell-cell adhesion
- GO:2001244 positive regulation of intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway
- GO:1903039 positive regulation of leukocyte cell-cell adhesion
- GO:0050870 positive regulation of T cell activation
- GO:0050862 positive regulation of T cell receptor signaling pathway
- GO:0051249 regulation of lymphocyte activation
- GO:0051209 release of sequestered calcium ion into cytosol
- GO:0009410 response to xenobiotic stimulus
- GO:0042110 T cell activation
- GO:0031295 T cell costimulation
- GO:0030217 T cell differentiation
- GO:0050852 T cell receptor signaling pathway
Disease associations
- severe combined immunodeficiency due to LCK deficiency MONDO:0014334
Drugs targeting this protein · 7
- PAZOPANIB HYDROCHLORIDE inhibitor
- DASATINIB ANHYDROUS inhibitor
- ILORASERTIB inhibitor
- JNJ-26483327 inhibitor
- XL-228 inhibitor
- TG100-801 inhibitor
- ENMD-981693 inhibitor
Neighborhood · nearest proteins
Related proteins · sequence + function similarity
- Tyrosine-protein kinase Lck 1.00
- Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase LCK 1.00
- Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase LCK 1.00
- Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase LCK 1.00
- Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase LCK 0.98
- Tyrosine-protein kinase HCK 0.96
- Tyrosine-protein kinase Fgr 0.96
- Tyrosine-protein kinase HCK 0.96
- Tyrosine-protein kinase HCK 0.96
- Tyrosine-protein kinase Fgr 0.95
- Tyrosine-protein kinase Src-1 0.95
- Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Yrk 0.95
Co-cited proteins · studied together in the literature
- Receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase H 1 shared papers
- Tyrosine-protein kinase CSK 3 shared papers
- CD48 antigen 1 shared papers
- Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase LCK 2 shared papers
- Dual specificity protein phosphatase 22 1 shared papers
- Dual specificity protein phosphatase 22 2 shared papers
- Tyrosine-protein kinase ZAP-70 3 shared papers
- Lck-interacting transmembrane adapter 1 2 shared papers
- Tyrosine-protein kinase Fyn 6 shared papers
- Palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC2 1 shared papers
- Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor-interacting protein-like 1 1 shared papers
- T-cell surface glycoprotein CD3 epsilon chain 3 shared papers
Literature · 59 cited papers
- Proximity between LAG-3 and the T cell receptor guides suppression of T cell activation and autoimmunity. Cell · 2025
- ITPRIPL1 binds CD3epsilon to impede T cell activation and enable tumor immune evasion. Cell · 2024
- The phosphatase DUSP22 inhibits UBR2-mediated K63-ubiquitination and activation of Lck downstream of TCR signalling. Nat. Commun. · 2024
- ARAP, a novel adaptor protein, is required for TCR signaling and integrin-mediated adhesion. J. Immunol. · 2016
- The phosphatase JKAP/DUSP22 inhibits T-cell receptor signalling and autoimmunity by inactivating Lck. Nat. Commun. · 2014
- Role of herpes simplex virus VP11/12 tyrosine-based motifs in binding and activation of the Src family kinase Lck and recruitment of p85, Grb2, and Shc. J. Virol. · 2013
- Primary T-cell immunodeficiency with immunodysregulation caused by autosomal recessive LCK deficiency. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · 2012
- T cell protein tyrosine phosphatase attenuates T cell signaling to maintain tolerance in mice. J. Clin. Invest. · 2011
- DHHC2 is a protein S-acyltransferase for Lck. Mol. Membr. Biol. · 2011
- Feedback circuits monitor and adjust Basal lck-dependent events in T cell receptor signaling. Sci. Signal. · 2011
- System-wide temporal characterization of the proteome and phosphoproteome of human embryonic stem cell differentiation. Sci. Signal. · 2011
- Tyrosine phosphorylation of tau by the SRC family kinases lck and fyn. Mol. Neurodegener. · 2011
- … and 47 more in the literature graph