Src homology 2 (SH2) domain found in B-cell linker (BLNK) protein and SH2 domain-containing leukocyte protein of 76 kDa (SLP-76)
BLNK (also known as SLP-65 or BASH) is an important adaptor protein expressed in B-lineage cells. BLNK consists of a N-terminal sterile alpha motif (SAM) domain and a C-terminal SH2 domain. BLNK is a cytoplasmic protein, but a part of it is bound to the plasma membrane through an N-terminal leucine zipper motif and transiently bound to a cytoplasmic domain of Iga through its C-terminal SH2 domain upon B cell antigen receptor (BCR)-stimulation. A non-ITAM phosphotyrosine in Iga is necessary for the binding with the BLNK SH2 domain and/or for normal BLNK function in signaling and B cell activation. Upon phosphorylation BLNK binds Btk and PLCgamma2 through their SH2 domains and mediates PLCgamma2 activation by Btk. BLNK also binds other signaling molecules such as Vav, Grb2, Syk, and HPK1. BLNK has been shown to be necessary for BCR-mediated Ca2+ mobilization, for the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases such as ERK, JNK, and p38 in a chicken B cell line DT40, and for activation of transcription factors such as NF-AT and NF-kappaB in human or mouse B cells. BLNK is involved in B cell development, B cell survival, activation, proliferation, and T-independent immune responses. BLNK is structurally homologous to SLP-76. SLP-76 and (linker for activation of T cells) LAT are adaptor/linker proteins in T cell antigen receptor activation and T cell development. BLNK interacts with many downstream signaling proteins that interact directly with both SLP-76 and LAT. New data suggest functional complementation of SLP-76 and LAT in T cell antigen receptor function with BLNK in BCR function. In general SH2 domains are involved in signal transduction. They typically bind pTyr-containing ligands via two surface pockets, a pTyr and hydrophobic binding pocket, allowing proteins with SH2 domains to localize to tyrosine phosphorylated sites.
Jiyao W et al.(2023). "The conserved domain database in 2023.",