agm-4

B-cell linker protein, also known as B-cell adapter containing a SH2 domain protein, B-cell adapter containing a Src homology 2 domain protein, Cytoplasmic adapter protein, Src homology 2 domain-containing leukocyte protein of 65 kDa, SLP-65 and BLNK, is a cytoplasm and cell membrane protein which contains oneSH2 domain. BLNK is expressed in B-cell lineage and fibroblast cell lines. Highest levels of expression is in the spleen, with lower levels in the liver, kidney, pancreas, small intestines and colon. BLNK functions as a central linker protein that bridges kinases associated with the B-cell receptor (BCR) with a multitude of signaling pathways, regulating biological outcomes of B-cell function and development. BLNK plays a role in the activation of ERK EPHB2, MAP kinase p38 and JNK. BLNK modulates AP1 activation. It is important for the activation of NF-kappa-B and NFAT. BLNK plays an important role in BCR-mediated PLCG1 and PLCG2 activation and Ca2+mobilization and is required for trafficking of the BCR to late endosomes. BLNK may be required for the RAC1-JNK pathway. It plays a critical role in orchestrating the pro-B cell to pre-B cell transition. BLNK also plays an important role in BCR-induced B-cell apoptosis.Defects in BLNK are the cause of agammaglobulinemia type 4 (AGM4) which is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by profoundly low or absent serum antibodies and low or absent circulating B cells due to an early block of B-cell development.