First Author | Pappu R | Year | 1999 |
Journal | Science | Volume | 286 |
Issue | 5446 | Pages | 1949-54 |
PubMed ID | 10583957 | Mgi Jnum | J:58805 |
Mgi Id | MGI:1350454 | Doi | 10.1126/science.286.5446.1949 |
Citation | Pappu R, et al. (1999) Requirement for B cell linker protein (BLNK) in B cell development. Science 286(5446):1949-54 |
abstractText | Linker proteins function as molecular scaffolds to localize enzymes with substrates. In B cells, B cell linker protein (BLNK) links the B cell receptor (BCR)-activated Syk kinase to the phosphoinositide and mitogen-activated kinase pathways. To examine the in vivo role of BLNK, mice deficient in BLNK were generated. B cell development in BLNK-/- mice was blocked at the transition from B220+CD43+ progenitor B to B220+CD43- precursor B cells. Only a small percentage of immunoglobulin M++ (IgM++), but not mature IgMloIgDhi, B cells were detected in the periphery. Hence, BLNK is an essential component of BCR signaling pathways and is required to promote B cell development. |