Association of B cell antigen receptor with protein tyrosine kinase Lyn.

Antigen is thought to cross-link membrane-bound immunoglobulins (Igs) of B cells, causing proliferation and differentiation or the inhibition of growth. Protein tyrosine kinases are probably involved in signal transduction for cell proliferation and differentiation. The Src-like protein tyrosine kinase Lyn is expressed preferentially in B cells. The Lyn protein and its kinase activity could be coimmunoprecipitated with IgM from detergent lysates. Cross-linking of membrane-bound IgM induced a rapid increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of at least ten distinct proteins of B cells. Thus, Lyn is physically associated with membrane-bound IgM, and is suggested to participate in antigen-mediated signal transduction.