Interaction of p59(fyn) kinase with the dynein light chain, tctex-1, and colocalization during cytokinesis

The protein tyrosine kinase p59(fyn) (Fyn) plays important roles in both lymphocyte Ag receptor signaling and cytokinesis of proB cells. We utilized yeast two-hybrid cloning to identify the product of the tctex-1 gene as a protein that specifically interacts with Fyn, but not with other Src family kinases. Tctex-1 was recently identified as a component of the dynein cytoskeletal motor complex. The capacity of a Tctex-1-glutathione S- transferase fusion protein to effectively bind Fyn from cell lysates confirmed the authenticity of this interaction. Tctex-1 binding required the first 19 amino acids of Fyn and integrity of two lysine residues within this sequence that were previously shown to be important for Fyn interactions with the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) of lymphocyte Ag receptors. Expression of tctex-1 mRNA and protein was observed in all lymphoma lines analyzed, and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy localized the protein to the perinuclear region. Analysis of a T cell hybridoma revealed prominent colocalization of Tctex-1 and Fyn at the cleavage furrow and mitotic spindles in cells undergoing cytokinesis. Our results provide a unique insight into a mechanism by which Tctex-1 might mediate specific recruitment of Fyn to the dynein complex in lymphocytes, which may be a critical event in mediating the previously defined role of Fyn in cytokinesis.