Other kinases can substitute for Jak2 in signal transduction by interferon-γ

Abstract

Each cytokine which utilizes the Jak-Stat signal transduction pathway activates a distinct combination of members of the Jak and Star families. Thus, either the Jaks, the Stats, or both could contribute to the specificity of ligand action. With the use of chimeric receptors involving the interferon γ receptor (IFN-γR) complex as a model system, we demonstrate that Jak2 activation is not an absolute requirement for IFN-γ signaling. Other members of the Jak family can functionally substitute for Jak2. IFN-γ can signal through the activation of Jak family members other than Jak2 as measured by Stat1α homodimerization and major histocompatibility complex class I antigen expression. This indicates that Jaks are interchangeable and indiscriminative in the Jak-Stat signal transduction pathway. The necessity for the activation of one particular kinase during signaling can be overcome by recruiting another kinase to the receptor complex. The results may suggest that the Jaks do not contribute to the specificity of signal transduction in the Jak-Stat pathway to the same degree as Stats.