TAK1 activation of alpha-TAT1 and microtubule hyperacetylation control AKT signaling and cell growth

Nat Commun. 2018 Apr 27;9(1):1696. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-04121-y.

Abstract

Acetylation of microtubules (MT) confers mechanical stability necessary for numerous functions including cell cycle and intracellular transport. Although αTAT1 is a major MT acetyltransferase, how this enzyme is regulated remains much less clear. Here we report TGF-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) as a key activator of αTAT1. TAK1 directly interacts with and phosphorylates αTAT1 at Ser237 to critically enhance its catalytic activity, as mutating this site to alanine abrogates, whereas a phosphomimetic induces MT hyperacetylation across cell types. Using a custom phospho-αTAT1-Ser237 antibody, we screen various mouse tissues to discover that brain contains some of the highest TAK1-dependent αTAT1 activity, which, accordingly, is diminished rapidly upon intra-cerebral injection of a TAK1 inhibitor. Lastly, we show that TAK1 selectively inhibits AKT to suppress mitogenic and metabolism-related pathways through MT-based mechanisms in culture and in vivo. Collectively, our findings support a fundamental new role for TGF-β signaling in MT-related functions and disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation / drug effects
  • Acetyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Benzamides / pharmacology
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Cycle / physiology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology*
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Dioxoles / pharmacology
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / genetics
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways / drug effects
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Microtubule Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microtubules / drug effects
  • Microtubules / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Zearalenone / analogs & derivatives
  • Zearalenone / pharmacology

Substances

  • 4-(5-benzo(1,3)dioxol-5-yl-4-pyridin-2-yl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzamide
  • 7-oxozeanol
  • Benzamides
  • Dioxoles
  • Microtubule Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Zearalenone
  • Acetyltransferases
  • ATAT1 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases
  • MAP kinase kinase kinase 7