IntroductionAggregation of high-affinity IgE receptors (Fc⑀RI) on mast cells results in biochemical events that eventually lead to the release of histamine. The earliest detectable intracellular change is the phosphorylation of proteins on tyrosine residues. 1 Because Fc⑀RI lacks enzymatic activity, cytosolic protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) are essential for these receptor-induced phosphorylations. The cytoplasmic PTK Syk is essential for Fc⑀RI-mediated signaling in mast cells. 2,3 Thus, the expression of Syk reconstitutes Fc⑀RI-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-␥ (PLC-␥), calcium mobilization, and histamine release in a Syk-negative variant of the RBL-2H3 cells. 2 Similarly, mast cells derived from Syk Ϫ/Ϫ embryos fail to degranulate or to synthesize or release leukotrienes and cytokines after Fc⑀RI aggregation. 3 Further analysis of cells from these Syk Ϫ/Ϫ mice demonstrates that Syk is also essential for signaling from other immune receptors, such as Fc␥ receptor, T-cell receptor, and B-cell receptor. [4][5][6] Intracellular signaling depends on protein-protein interactions, one example of which is the binding of molecules by their SH2 (Src homology 2 region) domains to specific phosphotyrosine sequences. For example, the aggregation of Fc⑀RI results in SH2 domain-mediated binding of the cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase Syk to the phosphorylated tyrosines in the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activating motif (ITAM) of Fc⑀RI␥. [7][8][9] In B cells, mutational studies indicate that both SH2 domains of Syk are required for B-cell receptor-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk and PLC-␥, the generation of inositol 1,4,5 triphosphate, and calcium mobilization. 10 Structural studies reveal that the Nterminal SH2 domain of Syk or ZAP-70, the other member of this family of protein tyrosine kinases, binds to the C-terminal pYxxL of the ITAM, whereas the C-terminal SH2 domain binds to the N-terminal pYxxL. 11,12 Antibody-mediated aggregation of a chimeric transmembrane protein that has the intracellular domain of Fc⑀RI␥ results in tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk and its activation. 13 Similarly, antibody-mediated clustering of a chimeric transmembrane protein fused with Syk causes tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-␥, leukotriene synthesis, degranulation, and expression of cytokine genes. 14 In vitro, the binding of Syk to diphosphorylated peptides based on the ITAM of ␥ or  subunits of Fc⑀RI results in a conformational change and increase in its kinase activity, suggesting the functional importance of the SH2 domain-mediated association of Syk with Fc⑀RI. 15,16 By fluorescent microscopy, ZAP-70 is diffusely located throughout the cell but accumulates at the plasma membrane after cellular activation. 17 In RBL-2H3 mast cells, Fc⑀RI aggregation results in the translocation of green fluorescent protein-tagged tandem SH2 domains of Syk from the cytosol to the plasma membrane and to the detergent-insoluble microdomains. 18 Therefore, these findings suggest that the Fc⑀RI␥-ITAM-mediated recruitment of...