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The adaptor protein Bcl10 is a critically important mediator of T cell receptor (TCR)-to-NF-κB signaling. Bcl10 degradation is a poorly understood biological phenomenon suggested to reduce TCR activation of NF-κB. Here we have shown that TCR engagement triggers the degradation of Bcl10 in primary effector T cells but not in naive T cells. TCR engagement promoted K63 polyubiquitination of Bcl10, causing Bcl10 association with the autophagy adaptor p62. Paradoxically, p62 binding was required for both Bcl10 signaling to NF-κB and gradual degradation of Bcl10 by autophagy. Bcl10 autophagy was highly selective, as shown by the fact that it spared Malt1, a direct Bcl10 binding partner. Blockade of Bcl10 autophagy enhanced TCR activation of NF-κB. Together, these data demonstrate that selective autophagy of Bcl10 is a pathway-intrinsic homeostatic mechanism that modulates TCR signaling to NF-κB in effector T cells. This homeostatic process may protect T cells from adverse consequences of unrestrained NF-κB activation, such as cellular senescence., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

T cell activation requires engagement of the T cell receptor (TCR) at the interface of conjugates formed with antigen-presenting cells. TCR engagement is accompanied by a redistribution of specific signaling molecules to the cytoplasmic region of the TCR complex. In this study, immunocytochemistry and live cell fluorescence imaging demonstrate that T cell MEK kinase 2 (MEKK2) is translocated to the T cell/antigen-presenting cell interface in response to antigen activation. MEKK2 translocation occurs more rapidly as the antigen concentration is increased. Biochemical activation of MEKK2 follows TCR stimulation, and expression of a dominant-negative MEKK2 inhibits TCR-mediated conjugate stabilization and ERK and p38 MAP kinase phosphorylation. Live cell fluorescence imaging thus enables characterization of signal transducers that are dynamically translocated following TCR engagement.