Nek2 phosphorylates and stabilizes β-catenin at mitotic centrosomes downstream of Plk1

Mol Biol Cell. 2014 Apr;25(7):977-91. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E13-06-0349. Epub 2014 Feb 5.

Abstract

β-Catenin is a multifunctional protein with critical roles in cell-cell adhesion, Wnt signaling, and the centrosome cycle. Whereas the regulation of β-catenin in cell-cell adhesion and Wnt signaling are well understood, how β-catenin is regulated at the centrosome is not. NIMA-related protein kinase 2 (Nek2), which regulates centrosome disjunction/splitting, binds to and phosphorylates β-catenin. Using in vitro and cell-based assays, we show that Nek2 phosphorylates the same regulatory sites in the N-terminus of β-catenin as glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), which are recognized by a specific phospho-S33/S37/T41 antibody, as well as additional sites. Nek2 binding to β-catenin appears to inhibit binding of the E3 ligase β-TrCP and prevents β-catenin ubiquitination and degradation. Thus β-catenin phosphorylated by Nek2 is stabilized and accumulates at centrosomes in mitosis. We further show that polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) regulates Nek2 phosphorylation and stabilization of β-catenin. Taken together, these results identify a novel mechanism for regulating β-catenin stability that is independent of GSK3β and provide new insight into a pathway involving Plk1, Nek2, and β-catenin that regulates the centrosome cycle.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Casein Kinase I / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Centrosome / metabolism*
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • HCT116 Cells
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mitosis*
  • NIMA-Related Kinases
  • Phosphorylation
  • Polo-Like Kinase 1
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Protein Stability
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Sequence Deletion
  • Serine / metabolism
  • Spindle Apparatus / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • Serine
  • Casein Kinase I
  • GSK3B protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • NEK2 protein, human
  • NIMA-Related Kinases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3