The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)  receptor mediates mitogenic and chemotactic signals. Like other tyrosine kinase receptors, the PDGF  receptor is negatively regulated by protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). To explore whether T-cell PTP (TC-PTP) negatively regulates the PDGF  receptor, we compared PDGF  receptor tyrosine phosphorylation in wild-type and TC-PTP knockout (ko) mouse embryos. PDGF  receptors were hyperphosphorylated in TC-PTP ko embryos. Fivefold-higher ligand-induced receptor phosphorylation was observed in TC-PTP ko mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) as well. Reexpression of TC-PTP partly abolished this difference. As determined with site-specific phosphotyrosine antibodies, the extent of hyperphosphorylation varied among different autophosphorylation sites. The phospholipase C␥1 binding site Y1021, previously implicated in chemotaxis, displayed the largest increase in phosphorylation. The increase in Y1021 phosphorylation was accompanied by increased phospholipase C␥1 activity and migratory hyperresponsiveness to PDGF. PDGF  receptor tyrosine phosphorylation in PTP-1B ko MEFs but not in PTP ko MEFs was also higher than that in control cells. This increase occurred with a site distribution different from that seen after TC-PTP depletion. PDGF-induced migration was not increased in PTP-1B ko cells. In summary, our findings identify TC-PTP as a previously unrecognized negative regulator of PDGF  receptor signaling and support the general notion that PTPs display site selectivity in their action on tyrosine kinase receptors.Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are natural receptor tyrosine kinase antagonists and serve as regulators of both nonreceptor and receptor tyrosine kinases (28,29). Recent investigations indicated that each receptor tyrosine kinase associates with and is dephosphorylated by a number of tyrosine phosphatases. The dephosphorylation of the receptor by individual PTPs can be general, thereby terminating receptor signaling. Alternatively, PTPs can site selectively dephosphorylate a subset of tyrosine residues and thereby modulate signaling downstream of the receptor. By regulating the expression and activation of tyrosine phosphatases, the cell consequently might be able to modulate signaling through receptor tyrosine kinases and fine-tune its response.Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) are a family of growth factors that stimulate cell growth, survival, and motility. PDGF isoforms act by binding to two structurally related protein tyrosine kinases, the PDGF ␣ and  receptors (16). The binding of PDGF to its receptors results in receptor dimerization, promoting phosphorylation in trans between the two receptors in the complex. PDGF-AA forms ␣␣ receptor dimers, PDGF-AB forms ␣␣ and ␣ receptor dimers, and PDGF-BB forms all combinations of receptor dimers. Two more PDGF dimers, PDGF-CC and PDGF-DD, recently were identified (2, 24, 25) and shown to preferentially signal through ␣␣ receptor and  receptor dimers, respectively, but also may activate both receptor ty...