Inhibitory NK receptors with ligand specificity for MHC class I recruit Src homology 2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-1 (SHP-1) phosphatase and prevent autocytotoxicity. Activation of SHP-1 depends upon Src kinase-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic domain of the inhibitory receptor. In this study we demonstrate, by quantitative temporal analysis, that talin, Lck, and SHP-1 are recruited to the synapse within 1 min in both cytolytic and noncytolytic conjugates. Polarization of talin and Lck rapidly disappears in the noncytolytic interactions but persists in cytolytic interactions, where protein kinase C-θ, Src homology 2 domain-containing leukocyte protein of 76 kDa, and lysosomes are recruited within 5 min. At 1 min SHP-1 clusters in the periphery of the cytolytic synapse, whereas it clusters in the center of the noncytolytic synapse. Lck has multifocal distribution in both synapses consistent with the shared requirement for early tyrosine phosphorylation. Our studies indicate that the spatial location of SHP-1 in the synapse distinguishes noncytolytic from cytolytic interactions within the first minute.