A mouse model for functional dissection of TAB1 O-GlcNAcylation

Background: O-GlcNAcylation is a posttranslational modification associated with various physiological and pathophysiological processes including diabetes, cancer, neurodegeneration and inflammation. However, the biological mechanisms underlying the role of specific O-GlcNAc sites and their link to phenotypes remain largely unexplored due to lack of suitable in vivo models. TGF-β activated kinase-1 binding protein-1 (TAB1) is a scaffolding protein required for TGF-β activated kinase-1 (TAK1) mediated signalling. A single O-GlcNAc site has been identified on human TAB1 that modulates TAK1-mediated cytokine release in cells. Methods: Here, we report the generation of the Tab1 ^S393A mouse model using a constitutive knock-in strategy. The Tab1 ^S393A mice carry a Ser393Ala (S393A) mutation that leads to loss of O-GlcNAcylation site on TAB1. Results: We did not observe any obvious phenotype in Tab1 ^S393A mice. Loss of O-GlcNAcylation on TAB1 has no consequences on TAB1 protein level or on TAB1-TAK1 interaction. Conclusions: The homozygous Tab1 ^S393A mice are viable and develop with no obvious abnormalities, providing a powerful tool to further investigate the role of O-GlcNAc on TAB1 in the inflammatory response in the context of a whole organism.