Igor Cervenka

Mitogen-activated protein kinases promote WNT/beta-catenin signaling via phosphorylation of LRP6.

ABSTRACT LDL-related protein 6 (LRP6) is a coreceptor of WNTs and a key regulator of the WNT/β-catenin pathway. Upon activation, LRP6 is phosphorylated within its intracellular PPPS/TP motifs. These phosphorylated motifs are required to recruit axin and to inhibit glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3), two basic components of the β-catenin destruction complex. On the basis of a kinome-wide small interfering RNA (siRNA) screen and confirmative biochemical analysis, we show that several proline-directed mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), such as p38, ERK1/2, and JNK1 are sufficient and required for the phosphorylation of PPPS/TP motifs of LRP6. External stimuli, which control the activity of MAPKs, such as phorbol esters and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) control the choice of the LRP6-PPPS/TP kinase and regulate the amplitude of LRP6 phosphorylation and WNT/β-catenin-dependent transcription. Our findings suggest that cells not only recruit one dedicated LRP6 kinase but rather select their LRP6 kinase depending on cell type and the external stimulus. Moreover, direct phosphorylation of LRP6 by MAPKs provides a unique point for convergence between WNT/β-catenin signaling and mitogenic pathways.

CXXC5 Is a Novel BMP4-regulated Modulator of Wnt Signaling in Neural Stem Cells

Bone morphogenetic proteins such as BMP4 are essential for proper development of telencephalic forebrain structures and induce differentiation of telencephalic neural stem cells into a variety of cellular fates, including astrocytic, neuronal, and mesenchymal cells. Little is yet understood regarding the mechanisms that underlie the spatiotemporal differences in progenitor response to BMP4. In a screen designed to identify novel targets of BMP4 signaling in telencephalic neural stem cells, we found the mRNA levels of the previously uncharacterized factor CXXC5 reproducibly up-regulated upon BMP4 stimulation. In vivo, CXXC5 expression overlapped with BMP4 adjacent to Wnt3a expression in the dorsal regions of the telencephalon, including the developing choroid plexus. CXXC5 showed partial homology with Idax, a related protein previously shown to interact with the Wnt-signaling intermediate Dishevelled (Dvl). Indeed CXXC5 and Dvl co-localized in the cytoplasm and interacted in co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Moreover, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments verified that CXXC5 and Dvl2 were located in close spatial proximity in neural stem cells. Studies of the functional role of CXXC5 revealed that overexpression of CXXC5 or exposure to BMP4 repressed the levels of the canonical Wnt signaling target Axin2, and CXXC5 attenuated Wnt3a-mediated increase in TOPflash reporter activity. Accordingly, RNA interference of CXXC5 attenuated the BMP4-mediated decrease in Axin2 levels and facilitated the response to Wnt3a in neural stem cells. We propose that CXXC5 is acting as a BMP4–induced inhibitor of Wnt signaling in neural stem cells.

Sequential activation and inactivation of Dishevelled in the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway by casein kinases.

Dishevelled (Dvl) is a key component in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Dvl can multimerize to form dynamic protein aggregates, which are required for the activation of downstream signaling. Upon pathway activation by Wnts, Dvl becomes phosphorylated to yield phosphorylated and shifted (PS) Dvl. Both activation of Dvl in Wnt/β-catenin signaling and Wnt-induced PS-Dvl formation are dependent on casein kinase 1 (CK1) δ/ϵ activity. However, the overexpression of CK1 was shown to dissolve Dvl aggregates, and endogenous PS-Dvl forms irrespective of whether or not the activating Wnt triggers the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Using a combination of gain-of-function, loss-of-function, and domain mapping approaches, we attempted to solve this discrepancy regarding the role of CK1ϵ in Dvl biology. We analyzed mutual interaction of CK1δ/ϵ and two other Dvl kinases, CK2 and PAR1, in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. We show that CK2 acts as a constitutive kinase whose activity is required for the further action of CK1ϵ. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the two consequences of CK1ϵ phosphorylation are separated both spatially and functionally; first, CK1ϵ-mediated induction of TCF/LEF-driven transcription (associated with dynamic recruitment of Axin1) is mediated via a PDZ-proline-rich region of Dvl. Second, CK1ϵ-mediated formation of PS-Dvl is mediated by the Dvl3 C terminus. Furthermore, we demonstrate with several methods that PS-Dvl has decreased ability to polymerize with other Dvls and could, thus, act as the inactive signaling intermediate. We propose a multistep and multikinase model for Dvl activation in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway that uncovers a built-in de-activation mechanism that is triggered by activating phosphorylation of Dvl by CK1δ/ϵ.

Kynurenines: Tryptophan’s metabolites in exercise, inflammation, and mental health

From stomach ache to depression Our gut hurts and we feel miserable. Such disparate phenomena are mechanistically connected, but how? Cervenka et al. review the many pathways taken by dietary tryptophan as it is metabolized into kynurenines. These metabolites distribute into homeostatic networks that integrate diverse aspects of mammalian physiology. Depending on physiological context, kynurenines influence health and disease states ranging from intestinal conditions to inflammation to cancer progression. Further, they can mediate the effects of exercise, mood, and neuronal excitability and, ultimately, communicate with the microbiota. Science, this issue p. eaaf9794 BACKGROUND The essential amino acid tryptophan is a substrate for the generation of several bioactive compounds with important physiological roles. Only a small fraction of ingested tryptophan is used in anabolic processes, whereas the large majority is metabolized along the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation. This pathway generates a range of metabolites, collectively known as kynurenines, involved in inflammation, immune response, and excitatory neurotransmission. Kynurenines have been linked to several psychiatric and mental health disorders such as depression and schizophrenia. In addition, due to the close relationship between kynurenine metabolism and inflammatory responses, kynurenines are emerging as recognized players in a variety of diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Because the levels of enzymes of the kynurenine pathway in peripheral tissues tend to be much higher than in the brain, their contribution to the kynurenine pathway can have both local and systemic consequences. Due to their characteristics, kynurenine and its metabolites have the right profile to fill the role of mediators of interorgan communication. ADVANCES Understanding how the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway is regulated in different tissues, and the diverse biological activities of its metabolites, has become of interest to many areas of science. The bioavailability of tryptophan can be affected by factors that range from gut microbiome composition to systemic inflammatory signals. Gut-resident bacteria can directly absorb tryptophan and thus limit its availability to the host organism. The resulting metabolites can have local effects on both microbiome and host cells and even mediate interspecies communication. In addition, the biochemical fate of absorbed tryptophan will be affected by cross-talk with other nutrients and even by individual fitness, because skeletal muscle has recently been shown to contribute to kynurenine metabolism. With exercise training, skeletal muscle increases the expression of kynurenine aminotransferase enzymes and shifts peripheral kynurenine metabolism toward the production of kynurenic acid. As a consequence, alleviating the accumulation of kynurenine in the central nervous system can positively affect mental health, such as reducing stress-induced depressive symptoms. The kynurenine pathway is highly regulated in the immune system, where it promotes immunosuppression in response to inflammation or infection. Kynurenine reduces the activity of natural killer cells, dendritic cells, or proliferating T cells, whereas kynurenic acid promotes monocyte extravasation and controls cytokine release. Perturbations in the kynurenine pathway have been linked to several diseases. High kynurenine levels can increase the proliferation and migratory capacity of cancer cells and help tumors escape immune surveillance. Kynurenine metabolites have been proposed as markers of type 2 diabetes and may interfere at some level with either insulin secretion or its action on target cells. Kynurenines can signal through different tissue-specific extra- and intracellular receptors in a network of events that integrates nutritional and environmental cues with individual health and fitness. OUTLOOK The modulation of tryptophan-kynurenine metabolism using lifestyle and pharmacological interventions could help prevent and treat several diseases with underlying inflammatory mechanisms, including metabolic, oncologic, and mental health disorders. In this context, and considering the substantial effect that the gut microbiome can have on preabsorptive tryptophan metabolism, it is tempting to envision the use of probiotic-based therapies. The discovery that aerobic exercise training can reduce kynurenine levels in circulation and in the central nervous system could have important implications for the development of future generations of antidepressant medications. This again stresses the many advantages of remaining physically active throughout life. Understanding the multiple levels of control of the kynurenine pathway could help predict susceptibility to disease linked to environmental and dietary signals. The kynurenine pathway generates tryptophan metabolites with diverse biological activities throughout the body. Although mainly studied in relation to the brain and mental health, the action of kynurenine metabolites on peripheral tissues might be even more profound. They serve as important mediators of interorgan and interkingdom cross-talk, connecting seemingly diverse processes such as the effects of exercise training and pathologies such as inflammatory diseases, cancer, and depression. Kynurenine metabolites are generated by tryptophan catabolism and regulate biological processes that include host-microbiome signaling, immune cell response, and neuronal excitability. Enzymes of the kynurenine pathway are expressed in different tissues and cell types throughout the body and are regulated by cues, including nutritional and inflammatory signals. As a consequence of this systemic metabolic integration, peripheral inflammation can contribute to accumulation of kynurenine in the brain, which has been associated with depression and schizophrenia. Conversely, kynurenine accumulation can be suppressed by activating kynurenine clearance in exercised skeletal muscle. The effect of exercise training on depression through modulation of the kynurenine pathway highlights an important mechanism of interorgan cross-talk mediated by these metabolites. Here, we discuss peripheral mechanisms of tryptophan-kynurenine metabolism and their effects on inflammatory, metabolic, oncologic, and psychiatric disorders.

Functional Analysis of Dishevelled-3 Phosphorylation Identifies Distinct Mechanisms Driven by Casein Kinase 1ϵ and Frizzled5

Background: Phosphorylation of Dishevelled (Dvl) by casein kinase 1ϵ (CK1ϵ) is a key event in Wnt signal transduction. Results: Dvl3 residues phosphorylated by CK1ϵ were identified by proteomics and analyzed functionally. Conclusion: Individual phosphorylation events control different aspects of Dvl biology. Significance: CK1ϵ and Fzd5, a Wnt receptor, act on Dvl via distinct mechanism, suggesting that CK1ϵ is not directly downstream of Frizzled5. Dishevelled-3 (Dvl3), a key component of the Wnt signaling pathways, acts downstream of Frizzled (Fzd) receptors and gets heavily phosphorylated in response to pathway activation by Wnt ligands. Casein kinase 1ϵ (CK1ϵ) was identified as the major kinase responsible for Wnt-induced Dvl3 phosphorylation. Currently it is not clear which Dvl residues are phosphorylated and what is the consequence of individual phosphorylation events. In the present study we employed mass spectrometry to analyze in a comprehensive way the phosphorylation of human Dvl3 induced by CK1ϵ. Our analysis revealed >50 phosphorylation sites on Dvl3; only a minority of these sites was found dynamically induced after co-expression of CK1ϵ, and surprisingly, phosphorylation of one cluster of modified residues was down-regulated. Dynamically phosphorylated sites were analyzed functionally. Mutations within PDZ domain (S280A and S311A) reduced the ability of Dvl3 to activate TCF/LEF (T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor)-driven transcription and induce secondary axis in Xenopus embryos. In contrast, mutations of clustered Ser/Thr in the Dvl3 C terminus prevented ability of CK1ϵ to induce electrophoretic mobility shift of Dvl3 and its even subcellular localization. Surprisingly, mobility shift and subcellular localization changes induced by Fzd5, a Wnt receptor, were in all these mutants indistinguishable from wild type Dvl3. In summary, our data on the molecular level (i) support previous the assumption that CK1ϵ acts via phosphorylation of distinct residues as the activator as well as the shut-off signal of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and (ii) suggest that CK1ϵ acts on Dvl via different mechanism than Fzd5.

Dishevelled is a NEK2 kinase substrate controlling dynamics of centrosomal linker proteins.

Significance Wnt signaling is an important orchestrator of embryonic development. We provide evidence that Wnt scaffolding protein Dishevelled (DVL) contributes to the dissolution of centrosomal linker, preceding separation of centrosomes. We show that DVL accumulates toward mitosis, and its centrosomal function is controlled by NEK2. Our data demonstrate that DVL is required for the removal of linker proteins from centrosome, an event necessary for the correct formation of a bipolar spindle and cell cycle transition. This surprising function of DVL creates a mechanistic basis for the novel crosstalk between Wnt signaling pathways and the centrosome cycle. Dishevelled (DVL) is a key scaffolding protein and a branching point in Wnt signaling pathways. Here, we present conclusive evidence that DVL regulates the centrosomal cycle. We demonstrate that DVL dishevelled and axin (DIX) domain, but not DIX domain-mediated multimerization, is essential for DVL’s centrosomal localization. DVL accumulates during the cell cycle and associates with NIMA-related kinase 2 (NEK2), which is able to phosphorylate DVL at a multitude of residues, as detected by a set of novel phospho-specific antibodies. This creates interfaces for efficient binding to CDK5 regulatory subunit-associated protein 2 (CDK5RAP2) and centrosomal Nek2-associated protein 1 (C-NAP1), two proteins of the centrosomal linker. Displacement of DVL from the centrosome and its release into the cytoplasm on NEK2 phosphorylation is coupled to the removal of linker proteins, an event necessary for centrosomal separation and proper formation of the mitotic spindle. Lack of DVL prevents NEK2-controlled dissolution of loose centrosomal linker and subsequent centrosomal separation. Increased DVL levels, in contrast, sequester centrosomal NEK2 and mimic monopolar spindle defects induced by a dominant negative version of this kinase. Our study thus uncovers molecular crosstalk between centrosome and Wnt signaling.

Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor γ Coactivator-1 α Isoforms Selectively Regulate Multiple Splicing Events on Target Genes.

Endurance and resistance exercise training induces specific and profound changes in the skeletal muscle transcriptome. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1 α (PGC-1α) coactivators are not only among the genes differentially induced by distinct training methods, but they also participate in the ensuing signaling cascades that allow skeletal muscle to adapt to each type of exercise. Although endurance training preferentially induces PGC-1α1 expression, resistance exercise activates the expression of PGC-1α2, -α3, and -α4. These three alternative PGC-1α isoforms lack the arginine/serine-rich (RS) and RNA recognition motifs characteristic of PGC-1α1. Discrete functions for PGC-1α1 and -α4 have been described, but the biological role of PGC-1α2 and -α3 remains elusive. Here we show that different PGC-1α variants can affect target gene splicing through diverse mechanisms, including alternative promoter usage. By analyzing the exon structure of the target transcripts for each PGC-1α isoform, we were able to identify a large number of previously unknown PGC-1α2 and -α3 target genes and pathways in skeletal muscle. In particular, PGC-1α2 seems to mediate a decrease in the levels of cholesterol synthesis genes. Our results suggest that the conservation of the N-terminal activation and repression domains (and not the RS/RNA recognition motif) is what determines the gene programs and splicing options modulated by each PGC-1α isoform. By using skeletal muscle-specific transgenic mice for PGC-1α1 and -α4, we could validate, in vivo, splicing events observed in in vitro studies. These results show that alternative PGC-1α variants can affect target gene expression both quantitatively and qualitatively and identify novel biological pathways under the control of this system of coactivators.

The connections of Wnt pathway components with cell cycle and centrosome: side effects or a hidden logic?

Abstract Wnt signaling cascade has developed together with multicellularity to orchestrate the development and homeostasis of complex structures. Wnt pathway components – such as β-catenin, Dishevelled (DVL), Lrp6, and Axin-- are often dedicated proteins that emerged in evolution together with the Wnt signaling cascade and are believed to function primarily in the Wnt cascade. It is interesting to see that in recent literature many of these proteins are connected with cellular functions that are more ancient and not limited to multicellular organisms – such as cell cycle regulation, centrosome biology, or cell division. In this review, we summarize the recent literature describing this crosstalk. Specifically, we attempt to find the answers to the following questions: Is the response to Wnt ligands regulated by the cell cycle? Is the centrosome and/or cilium required to activate the Wnt pathway? How do Wnt pathway components regulate the centrosomal cycle and cilia formation and function? We critically review the evidence that describes how these connections are regulated and how they help to integrate cell-to-cell communication with the cell and the centrosomal cycle in order to achieve a fine-tuned, physiological response.

A Transcriptomic Analysis of the Development of Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in Cancer-Cachexia in Tumor-Bearing Mice

Cancer-cachexia (CC) is a wasting condition directly responsible for 20-40% of cancer-related deaths. The mechanisms controlling development of CC-induced muscle wasting are not fully elucidated. Most investigations focus on the postcachectic state and do not examine progression of the condition. We recently demonstrated mitochondrial degenerations precede muscle wasting in time course progression of CC. However, the extent of muscle perturbations before wasting in CC is unknown. Therefore, we performed global gene expression analysis in CC-induced muscle wasting to enhance understanding of intramuscular perturbations across the development of CC. Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) was injected into the hind-flank of C57BL6/J mice at 8 wk of age with tumor allowed to develop for 1, 2, 3, or 4 wk and compared with PBS-injected control. Muscle wasting was evident at 4 wk LLC. RNA sequencing of gastrocnemius muscle samples showed widespread alterations in LLC compared with PBS animals with largest differences seen in 4 wk LLC, suggesting extensive transcriptomic alterations concurrent to muscle wasting. Commonly altered pathways included: mitochondrial dysfunction and protein ubiquitination, along with other less studied processes in this condition regulating transcription/translation and cytoskeletal structure. Current findings present novel evidence of transcriptomic shifts and altered cellular pathways in CC-induced muscle wasting.

Small molecule PGC-1α1 protein stabilizers induce adipocyte Ucp1 expression and uncoupled mitochondrial respiration

Objective The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α1 (PGC-1α1) regulates genes involved in energy metabolism. Increasing adipose tissue energy expenditure through PGC-1α1 activation is potentially beneficial for systemic metabolism. Pharmacological PGC-1α1 activators could be valuable tools in the fight against obesity and metabolic disease. Finding such compounds has been challenging partly because PGC-1α1 is a transcriptional coactivator with no known ligand-binding properties. While, PGC-1α1 activation is regulated by several mechanisms, protein stabilization is a crucial limiting step due to its short half-life under unstimulated conditions. Methods We designed a cell-based high-throughput screening system to identify PGC-1α1 protein stabilizers. Positive hits were tested for their ability to induce endogenous PGC-1α1 protein accumulation and activate target gene expression in brown adipocytes. Select compounds were analyzed for their effects on global gene expression and cellular respiration in adipocytes. Results Among 7,040 compounds screened, we highlight four small molecules with high activity as measured by: PGC-1α1 protein accumulation, target gene expression, and uncoupled mitochondrial respiration in brown adipocytes. Conclusions We identify compounds that induce PGC-1α1 protein accumulation and show that this increases uncoupled respiration in brown adipocytes. This screening platform establishes the foundation for a new class of therapeutics with potential use in obesity and associated disorders.