The B lymphocyte adaptor molecule of 32 kD (Bam32) regulates B cell antigen receptor signaling and cell survival

The B lymphocyte-associated adaptor protein 32 kD in size (Bam32) is expressed at high levels in germinal center (GC) B cells. It has an NH₂-terminal src homology 2 (SH2) domain which binds phospholipase C (PLC)γ2, and a COOH-terminal pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. Thus, Bam32 may function to integrate protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathways in B cells. To further define the role Bam32 plays in B cells, we generated Bam32-deficient DT40 cells. These Bam32^-/- cells exhibited lower levels of B cell antigen receptor (BCR)-induced calcium mobilization with modest decreases in tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C (PLC)γ2. Moreover, BCR-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways was impaired in Barn32^-/- cells but not the activation of Akt-related pathways. Activation of downstream transcription factors such as nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT) and nuclear factor of κ binding (NF-κB) was also impaired in Barn32^-/- cells. Furthermore, Barn32^-/- cells were more susceptible to BCR-induced death. Taken together, these findings suggest that Bam32 functions to regulate BCR-induced signaling and cell survival most likely in germinal centers.