The role of SLP-76 and LAT in lymphocyte development

SLP-76 and LAT are two recently identified adapter proteins that are involved in the signal transduction cascade initiated by engagement of the TCR. The role of these two molecules in thymocyte development has become clearer following studies of gene targeted mice. The data indicate that SLP-76 and LAT are each critical for the expansion and differentiation of double-negative thymocytes and that SLP-76 is essential for allelic exclusion at the TCRβ locus.