Regulation of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta and downstream Wnt signaling by axin

The Axin scaffold protects the kinase GSK3β from cross-pathway inhibition

Multiple signaling pathways regulate the kinase GSK3β by inhibitory phosphorylation at Ser9, which then occupies the GSK3β priming pocket and blocks substrate binding. Since this mechanism should affect GSK3β activity toward all primed substrates, it is unclear why Ser9 phosphorylation does not affect other GSK3β-dependent pathways, such as Wnt signaling. We used biochemical reconstitution and cell culture assays to evaluate how Wnt-associated GSK3β is insulated from cross-activation by other signals. We found that the Wnt-specific scaffold protein Axin allosterically protects GSK3β from phosphorylation at Ser9 by upstream kinases, which prevents accumulation of pS9-GSK3β in the Axin•GSK3β complex. Scaffold proteins that protect bound proteins from alternative pathway reactions could provide a general mechanism to insulate signaling pathways from improper crosstalk.

Function of glycogen synthase kinase3 in embryogenesis of Dermanyssus gallinae

In the life cycle of Dermanyssus gallinae, the embryo is a developmental stage that does not require blood meals, but needs glucose to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through glycolysis or oxidative phosphorylation, providing energy for embryonic development. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3), belonging to the serine/threonine kinase family, is a key enzyme involved in glycogen metabolism in many eukaryotes, but not be described in D. gallinae. The present study was conducted to explore the role of Dg-GSK3 in the embryogenesis of D. gallinae. The results of qPCR showed that Dg-GSK3 mRNA was expressed in different development stages of D. gallinae embryos. RNA interference (RNAi) was performed on the female mites and eggs by immersion, and it was found that lowering GSK3 expression level could significantly decrease the female egg laying rate and egg hatching rate (P < 0.05). Some eggs became shrunken and shriveled in appearance. The fecundity of female D. gallinae obtained from the rDg-GSK3-immunized group of chickens (2.56 ± 0.35 eggs per mite, P < 0.0001) decreased significantly from that of the control group (3.49 ± 0.35). The oviposition rate of rDg-GSK3-immunized group (75.94 ± 7.28 %, P = 0.0003）was significantly lower that of the control group (89.69 ± 2.63 %). In conclusion, Dg-GSK3 is a crucial gene during the embryogenesis of D. gallinae, which can affect both the female fecundity and the egg hatching, which help us understand the function of GSK3 gene in the embryogenesis of mites.

Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Interaction Domain Enhances Phosphorylation of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein

A structural protein of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), nucleocapsid (N) protein is phosphorylated by glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3 on the serine/arginine (SR) rich motif located in disordered regions. Although phosphorylation by GSK-3β constitutes a critical event for viral replication, the molecular mechanism underlying N phosphorylation is not well understood. In this study, we found the putative alpha-helix L/FxxxL/AxxRL motif known as the GSK-3 interacting domain (GID), found in many endogenous GSK-3β binding proteins, such as Axins, FRATs, WWOX, and GSKIP. Indeed, N interacts with GSK-3β similarly to Axin, and Leu to Glu substitution of the GID abolished the interaction, with loss of N phosphorylation. The N phosphorylation is also required for its structural loading in a virus-like particle (VLP). Compared to other coronaviruses, N of Sarbecovirus lineage including bat RaTG13 harbors a CDK1-primed phosphorylation site and Gly-rich linker for enhanced phosphorylation by GSK-3β. Furthermore, we found that the S202R mutant found in Delta and R203K/G204R mutant found in the Omicron variant allow increased abundance and hyper-phosphorylation of N. Our observations suggest that GID and mutations for increased phosphorylation in N may have contributed to the evolution of variants.

Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β Involvement in Neuroinflammation and Neurodegenerative Diseases

BACKGROUND

GSK-3β activity has been strictly related to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Alzheimer's disease is the most studied neurodegenerative disease, but GSK-3β seems to be involved in almost all neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, Huntington's disease and the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review is to help researchers both working on this research topic or not to have a comprehensive overview on GSK-3β in the context of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

METHOD

Literature has been searched using PubMed and SciFinder databases by inserting specific keywords. A total of more than 500 articles have been discussed.

RESULTS

First of all, the structure and regulation of the kinase were briefly discussed and then, specific GSK-3β implications in neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases were illustrated also with the help of figures, to conclude with a comprehensive overview on the most important GSK-3β and multitarget inhibitors. For all discussed compounds, the structure and IC50 values at the target kinase have been reported.

CONCLUSION

GSK-3β is involved in several signaling pathways both in neurons as well as in glial cells and immune cells. The fine regulation and interconnection of all these pathways are at the base of the rationale use of GSK-3β inhibitors in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. In fact, some compounds are now under clinical trials. Despite this, pharmacodynamic and ADME/Tox profiles of the compounds were often not fully characterized and this is deleterious in such a complex system.

An early global role for Axin is required for correct patterning of the anterior-posterior axis in the sea urchin embryo

Activation of Wnt/β-catenin (cWnt) signaling at the future posterior end of early bilaterian embryos is a highly conserved mechanism for establishing the anterior-posterior (AP) axis. Moreover, inhibition of cWnt at the anterior end is required for development of anterior structures in many deuterostome taxa. This phenomenon, which occurs around the time of gastrulation, has been fairly well characterized, but the significance of intracellular inhibition of cWnt signaling in cleavage-stage deuterostome embryos for normal AP patterning is less well understood. To investigate this process in an invertebrate deuterostome, we defined Axin function in early sea urchin embryos. Axin is ubiquitously expressed at relatively high levels in early embryos and functional analysis revealed that Axin suppresses posterior cell fates in anterior blastomeres by blocking ectopic cWnt activation in these cells. Structure-function analysis of sea urchin Axin demonstrated that only its GSK-3β-binding domain is required for cWnt inhibition. These observations and results in other deuterostomes suggest that Axin plays a crucial conserved role in embryonic AP patterning by preventing cWnt activation in multipotent early blastomeres, thus protecting them from assuming ectopic cell fates.

Summary: Axin function is required in the early sea urchin embryo to regulate nuclear β-catenin levels and prevent ectopic cell fates in multipotent early blastomeres, and to ensure correct anterior-posterior axis patterning.

Circular RNAs in nucleus pulposus cell function and intervertebral disc degeneration

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a common cause of low back pain, which inflicts more global disability than any other condition. Although IDD was deemed to be a natural process that comes with ageing, a growing body of evidence suggested that both genetic and environmental factors could modify the development of IDD. In this connection, aberrant function of nucleus pulposus cells has been implicated in IDD pathogenesis. Circular RNAs are a novel class of endogenous non-coding RNAs that play crucial regulatory roles in diverse cellular processes. Recently, deregulation of circRNAs in nucleus pulposus cells was found to functionally participate in IDD development. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the deregulation of circRNAs in IDD in relation to their actions on nucleus pulposus cell functions, including cell proliferation, apoptosis and extracellular matrix synthesis/degradation. The potential clinical utilities of circRNAs as therapeutic targets for the management of IDD are also discussed.

Axin Family of Scaffolding Proteins in Development: Lessons from C. elegans

Scaffold proteins serve important roles in cellular signaling by integrating inputs from multiple signaling molecules to regulate downstream effectors that, in turn, carry out specific biological functions. One such protein, Axin, represents a major evolutionarily conserved scaffold protein in metazoans that participates in the WNT pathway and other pathways to regulate diverse cellular processes. This review summarizes the vast amount of literature on the regulation and functions of the Axin family of genes in eukaryotes, with a specific focus on Caenorhabditis elegans development. By combining early studies with recent findings, the review is aimed to serve as an updated reference for the roles of Axin in C. elegans and other model systems.

Molecular cloning and transcriptional and functional analysis of glycogen synthase kinase-3β in Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari, Ixodidae)

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3), which belongs to the serine/threonine kinase family, regulates glycogen metabolism, Wnt signaling, hormonal regulation, and embryonic development in many eukaryotes. Here, we cloned a complete open reading frame (ORF) of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) from Haemaphysalis longicornis and characterized its transcriptional and functional status. The ORF of GSK-3β possesses 1242 nucleotides encoding a mature protein of 413 amino acid residues. GSK-3β nucleotide and protein sequences are highly conserved among different vertebrate and invertebrate animals, with identity between 47.8–100% and 63.2–88.7%, respectively. Sequence comparison showed one signature domain between the residues of 51 and 335 amino acids, which was identified as a protein kinase (serine/threonine). RT-PCR showed GSK-3β mRNA present in all developmental stages of H. longicornis. Interestingly, a higher transcript level was observed in nymph and 7-day-old eggs compared with others by real-time PCR, indicating a role of GSK-3β in the early stages of life. The functional status of GSK-3β was characterized by RNA interference (RNAi) and caused significant (p < 0.05) reduction in feeding and reproduction, as well as an abnormality in eggs and hatching. Taken together, our results suggest that GSK-3β may be an important candidate for a multiple antigen vaccine for controlling the tick population.

Destruction complex dynamics: Wnt/β-catenin signaling alters Axin-GSK3β interactions in vivo

The central regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is the Axin/APC/GSK3β destruction complex (DC), which, under unstimulated conditions, targets cytoplasmic β-catenin for degradation. How Wnt activation inhibits the DC to permit β-catenin-dependent signaling remains controversial, in part because the DC and its regulation have never been observed in vivo Using bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) methods, we have now analyzed the activity of the DC under near-physiological conditions in Drosophila By focusing on well-established patterns of Wnt/Wg signaling in the developing Drosophila wing, we have defined the sequence of events by which activated Wnt receptors induce a conformational change within the DC, resulting in modified Axin-GSK3β interactions that prevent β-catenin degradation. Surprisingly, the nucleus is surrounded by active DCs, which principally control the degradation of β-catenin and thereby nuclear access. These DCs are inactivated and removed upon Wnt signal transduction. These results suggest a novel mechanistic model for dynamic Wnt signal transduction in vivo.

The Interplay of SIRT1 and Wnt Signaling in Vascular Calcification

Vascular calcification is a major health risk and is highly correlated with atherosclerosis, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. The development of vascular calcification is an active and complex process linked with a multitude of signaling pathways, which regulate promoters and inhibitors of osteogenesis, the balance of which become deregulated in disease conditions. SIRT1, a protein deacetylase, known to be protective in inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation within the vessel wall, has been shown as a possible key player in modulating the cell-fate determining canonical Wnt signaling pathways. Suppression of SIRT1 has been reported in patients suffering with cardiovascular pathologies, suggesting that the sustained acetylation of osteogenic factors could contribute to their activation and in turn, lead to the progression of calcification. There is clear evidence of the synergy between β-Catenin and elevated Runx2, and with Wnt signaling being β-Catenin dependent, further understanding is needed as to how these molecular pathways converge and interact, in order to provide novel insight into the mechanism by which smooth muscle cells switch to an osteogenic differentiation programme. Therefore, this review will describe the current concepts of pathological soft tissue mineralization, with a focus on the contribution of SIRT1 as a regulator of Wnt signaling and its targets, discussing SIRT1 as a potential target for manipulation and therapy.

Human steroid sulfatase induces Wnt/β-catenin signaling and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by upregulating Twist1 and HIF-1α in human prostate and cervical cancer cells

Steroid sulfatase (STS) catalyzes the hydrolysis of estrone sulfate and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) to their unconjugated biologically active forms. Although STS is considered a therapeutic target for estrogen-dependent diseases, the cellular functions of STS remain unclear. We found that STS induces Wnt/β-catenin s Delete ignaling in PC-3 and HeLa cells. STS increases levels of β-catenin, phospho-β-catenin, and phospho-GSK3β. Enhanced translocation of β-catenin to the nucleus by STS might activate transcription of target genes such as cyclin D1, c-myc, and MMP-7. STS knockdown by siRNA resulted in downregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. β-Catenin/TCF-mediated transcription was also enhanced by STS. STS induced an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as it reduced the levels of E-cadherin, whereas levels of mesenchymal markers such as N-cadherin and vimentin were enhanced. We found that STS induced Twist1 expression through HIFα activation as HIF-1α knockdown significantly blocks the ability of STS to induce Twist1 transcription. Furthermore, DHEA, but not DHEAS is capable of inducing Twist1. Treatment with a STS inhibitor prevented STS-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling and Twist1 expression. Interestingly, cancer cell migration, invasion, and MMPs expression induced by STS were also inhibited by a STS inhibitor. Taken together, these results suggest that STS induces Wnt/β-catenin signaling and EMT by upregulating Twist1 and HIF-1α. The ability of STS to induce the Wnt/β-catenin signaling and EMT has profound implications on estrogen-mediated carcinogenesis in human cancer cells.

Molecular specification of germ layers in vertebrate embryos

In order to generate the tissues and organs of a multicellular organism, different cell types have to be generated during embryonic development. The first step in this process of cellular diversification is the formation of the three germ layers: ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm. The ectoderm gives rise to the nervous system, epidermis and various neural crest-derived tissues, the endoderm goes on to form the gastrointestinal, respiratory and urinary systems as well as many endocrine glands, and the mesoderm will form the notochord, axial skeleton, cartilage, connective tissue, trunk muscles, kidneys and blood. Classic experiments in amphibian embryos revealed the tissue interactions involved in germ layer formation and provided the groundwork for the identification of secreted and intracellular factors involved in this process. We will begin this review by summarising the key findings of those studies. We will then evaluate them in the light of more recent genetic studies that helped clarify which of the previously identified factors are required for germ layer formation in vivo, and to what extent the mechanisms identified in amphibians are conserved across other vertebrate species. Collectively, these studies have started to reveal the gene regulatory network (GRN) underlying vertebrate germ layer specification and we will conclude our review by providing examples how our understanding of this GRN can be employed to differentiate stem cells in a targeted fashion for therapeutic purposes.

The increase in maternal expression of axin1 and axin2 contribute to the zebrafish mutant ichabod ventralized phenotype

β-Catenin is a central effector of the Wnt pathway and one of the players in Ca(+)-dependent cell-cell adhesion. While many wnts are present and expressed in vertebrates, only one β-catenin exists in the majority of the organisms. One intriguing exception is zebrafish that carries two genes for β-catenin. The maternal recessive mutation ichabod presents very low levels of β-catenin2 that in turn affects dorsal axis formation, suggesting that β-catenin1 is incapable to compensate for β-catenin2 loss and raising the question of whether these two β-catenins may have differential roles during early axis specification. Here we identify a specific antibody that can discriminate selectively for β-catenin1. By confocal co-immunofluorescent analysis and low concentration gain-of-function experiments, we show that β-catenin1 and 2 behave in similar modes in dorsal axis induction and cellular localization. Surprisingly, we also found that in the ich embryo the mRNAs of the components of β-catenin regulatory pathway, including β-catenin1, are more abundant than in the Wt embryo. Increased levels of β-catenin1 are found at the membrane level but not in the nuclei till high stage. Finally, we present evidence that β-catenin1 cannot revert the ich phenotype because it may be under the control of a GSK3β-independent mechanism that required Axin's RGS domain function.

Activity-dependent regulation of dendritic growth and maintenance by glycogen synthase kinase 3β

Activity-dependent dendritic development represents a crucial step in brain development, but its underlying mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. Here we report that glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) regulates dendritic development in an activity-dependent manner. We find that GSK3β in somatodendritic compartments of hippocampal neurons becomes highly phosphorylated at serine-9 upon synaptogenesis. This phosphorylation-dependent GSK3β inhibition is mediated by neurotrophin signalling and is required for dendritic growth and arbourization. Elevation of GSK3β activity leads to marked shrinkage of dendrites, whereas its inhibition enhances dendritic growth. We further show that these effects are mediated by GSK3β regulation of surface GABAA receptor levels via the scaffold protein gephyrin. GSK3β activation leads to gephyrin phosphorylation to reduce surface GABAA receptor clusters, resulting in neuronal hyperexcitability that causes dendrite shrinkage. These findings thus identify GSK3β as a key player in activity-dependent regulation of dendritic development by targeting the excitatory-inhibitory balance of the neuron.

Polarized regulation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β is important for glioma cell invasion

Glioma malignancy greatly depends on its aggressive invasion. The establishment of cell polarity is an important initial step for cell migration, which is essential for cell-directional translocation. However, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying cell polarity formation in glioma cell invasion remains limited. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) has a critical role in the formation of cell polarity. We therefore investigated whether localized GSK-3β, a subtype of GSK-3, is important for glioma cell invasion. We reported here that the localized phosphorylation of GSK-3β at the Ser9 (pSer9-GSK-3β) was critical for glioma cell invasion. Scratching glioma cell monolayer up-regulated pSer9-GSK-3β specifically at the wound edge. Inhibition of GSK-3 impaired the cell polarity and reduced the directional persistence of cell migration. Consistently, down-regulation of GSK-3α and 3β by specific small interfering RNAs inhibited glioma cell invasion. Over-expressing wild-type or constitutively active forms of GSK-3β also inhibited the cell invasion. These results indicated the polarized localization of GSK-3 regulation in cell migration might be also important for glioma cell migration. Further, EGF regulated both GSK-3α and 3β, but only pSer9-GSK-3β was enriched at the leading edge of scratched glioma cells. Up- or down-regulation of GSK-3β inhibited EGF-stimulated cell invasion. Moreover, EGF specifically regulated GSK-3β, but not GSK-3α, through atypical PKC pathways. Our results indicated that GSK-3 was important for glioma cell invasion and localized inhibition of GSK-3β was critical for cell polarity formation.

Modeling the effect of APC truncation on destruction complex function in colorectal cancer cells

In colorectal cancer cells, APC, a tumor suppressor protein, is commonly expressed in truncated form. Truncation of APC is believed to disrupt degradation of β—catenin, which is regulated by a multiprotein complex called the destruction complex. The destruction complex comprises APC, Axin, β—catenin, serine/threonine kinases, and other proteins. The kinases and , which are recruited by Axin, mediate phosphorylation of β—catenin, which initiates its ubiquitination and proteosomal degradation. The mechanism of regulation of β—catenin degradation by the destruction complex and the role of truncation of APC in colorectal cancer are not entirely understood. Through formulation and analysis of a rule-based computational model, we investigated the regulation of β—catenin phosphorylation and degradation by APC and the effect of APC truncation on function of the destruction complex. The model integrates available mechanistic knowledge about site-specific interactions and phosphorylation of destruction complex components and is consistent with an array of published data. We find that the phosphorylated truncated form of APC can outcompete Axin for binding to β—catenin, provided that Axin is limiting, and thereby sequester β—catenin away from Axin and the Axin-recruited kinases and . Full-length APC also competes with Axin for binding to β—catenin; however, full-length APC is able, through its SAMP repeats, which bind Axin and which are missing in truncated oncogenic forms of APC, to bring β—catenin into indirect association with Axin and Axin-recruited kinases. Because our model indicates that the positive effects of truncated APC on β—catenin levels depend on phosphorylation of APC, at the first 20-amino acid repeat, and because phosphorylation of this site is mediated by , we suggest that is a potential target for therapeutic intervention in colorectal cancer. Specific inhibition of is predicted to limit binding of β—catenin to truncated APC and thereby to reverse the effect of APC truncation.

We asked the question, how can the effects of APC truncation, a very common mutation in colorectal cancer, be understood and reversed? We addressed this question by formulating a computational model for destruction complex function that incorporates site-specific details about protein-protein interactions and protein phosphorylation and examined the differences in predicted behaviors when APC is full length, as in normal cells, and truncated, as in colorectal cancer cells. Our model offers an explanation for how and why destruction complex function is altered by APC truncation. The model indicates that phosphorylation of the first 20-amino acid repeat in APC (which is usually the only 20-amino acid repeat that remains in truncated forms of APC) together with the absence of SAMP repeats (missing entirely because of truncation) allows truncated APC to act as a diversion sink. In other words, phosphorylated APC can outcompete Axin for binding to , provided Axin is limiting, and thereby prevent from associating with Axin and the Axin-associated kinases and , which initiate phosphorylation-dependent degradation of . Thus, the model identifies inhibition of APC phosphorylation, which is mediated by , as a potential means by which the oncogenic effect of APC truncation could be reversed.

Toggling a conformational switch in Wnt/β-catenin signaling: regulation of Axin phosphorylation. The phosphorylation state of Axin controls its scaffold function in two Wnt pathway protein complexes

The precise orchestration of two opposing protein complexes - one in the cytoplasm (β-catenin destruction complex) and the other at the plasma membrane (LRP6 signaling complex) - is critical for controlling levels of the transcriptional co-factor β-catenin, and subsequent activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signal transduction pathway. The Wnt pathway component Axin acts as an essential scaffold for the assembly of both complexes. How the β-catenin destruction and LRP6 signaling complexes are modulated following Wnt stimulation remains controversial. A recent study in Science by He and coworkers reveals an underlying logic for Wnt pathway control in which Axin phosphorylation toggles a switch between the active and inactive states. This mini-review focuses on this and two other recent studies that provide insight into the initial signaling events triggered by Wnt exposure. We emphasize regulation of the β-catenin destruction and LRP6 signaling complexes and propose a framework for future work in this area.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and its dysregulation in glioblastoma multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most frequently occurring and devastating human brain malignancy, retaining almost universal mortality and a median survival of only 14 months, even with recent advances in multimodal treatments. Gliomas are characterised as being both highly resistant to chemo- and radiotherapy and highly invasive, rendering conventional interventions palliative. The continual dismal prognosis for GBM patients identifies an urgent need for the evolutionary development of new treatment modalities. This includes molecular targeted therapies as many signaling molecules and associated pathways have been implicated in the development and survival of malignant gliomas including the protein kinase, glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β). Here we review the activity and function of GSK-3β in a number of signaling pathways and its role in gliomagenesis.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dibutyl phthalate disrupt dorsal-ventral axis determination via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in zebrafish embryos

The canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is critical during early teleost development for establishing the dorsal-ventral axis. Within this pathway, GSK-3β, a key regulatory kinase in the Wnt pathway, regulates β-catenin degradation and thus the ability of β-catenin to enter nuclei, where it can activate expression of genes that have been linked to the specification of the dorsal-ventral axis. In this study, we describe the morphological abnormalities that resulted in zebrafish embryos when axis determination was disrupted by environmental contaminants. These abnormalities were linked to abnormal nuclear accumulation of β-catenin. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the developmental abnormalities and altered nuclear β-catenin accumulation occurred when embryos were exposed to commercial GSK-3β inhibitors. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to commercially available GSK-3 inhibitors (GSK-3 Inhibitor IX and 1-azakenpaullone), or common environmental contaminants (dibutyl phthalate or the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons phenanthrene and fluorene) from the 2 to 8-cell stage through the mid-blastula transition (MBT). These embryos displayed morphological abnormalities at 12.5 h post-fertilization (hpf) that were comparable to embryos exposed to lithium chloride (LiCl) (300 mM LiCl for 10 min, prior to the MBT), a classic disruptor of embryonic axis determination. Whole-mount immunolabeling and laser scanning confocal microscopy were used to localize β-catenin. The commercial GSK-3 Inhibitors as well as LiCl, dibutyl phthalate, fluorene and phenanthrene all induced an increase in the levels of nuclear β-catenin throughout the embryo, indicating that the morphological abnormalities were a result of disruption of Wnt/β-catenin signaling during dorsal-ventral axis specification. The ability of environmental chemicals to directly or indirectly target GSK-3β was assessed. Using Western blot analysis, the ability of these chemicals to affect enzymatic inhibitory phosphorylation at serine 9 on GSK-3β was examined, but no change in the serine phosphorylation state of GSK-3β was detected in exposed embryos. Furthermore, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dibutyl phthalate had no direct effect on the in vitro kinase activity of GSK-3β. While developmental abnormalities resulting from these axis-disrupting contaminants were linked to β-catenin accumulation in nuclei, the details of the disruption of this signaling pathway remain unknown. Since phenanthrene and fluorene as well as other hydrocarbons have been shown to disrupt axial development in sea urchin embryos, and since axis determination and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway are highly conserved, we propose that these environmental contaminants may impact embryo development through a similar mechanism across phyla.

WW domain-containing oxidoreductase promotes neuronal differentiation via negative regulation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β

WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX), a putative tumour suppressor, is suggested to be involved in the hyperphosphorylation of Alzheimer's Tau. Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that has an important role in microtubule assembly and stability. Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) has a vital role in Tau hyperphosphorylation at its microtubule-binding domains. Hyperphosphorylated Tau has a low affinity for microtubules, thus disrupting microtubule stability. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that WWOX contains two potential GSK3β-binding FXXXLI/VXRLE motifs. Immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation and molecular modelling showed that WWOX interacts physically with GSK3β. We demonstrated biochemically that WWOX can bind directly to GSK3β through its short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase/reductase domain. Moreover, the overexpression of WWOX inhibited GSK3β-stimulated S396 and S404 phosphorylation within the microtubule domains of Tau, indicating that WWOX is involved in regulating GSK3β activity in cells. WWOX repressed GSK3β activity, restored the microtubule assembly activity of Tau and promoted neurite outgrowth in SH-SY5Y cells. Conversely, RNAi-mediated knockdown of WWOX in retinoic acid (RA)-differentiated SH-SY5Y cells inhibited neurite outgrowth. These results suggest that WWOX is likely to be involved in regulating GSK3β activity, reducing the level of phosphorylated Tau, and subsequently promoting neurite outgrowth during neuron differentiation. In summary, our data reveal a novel mechanism by which WWOX promotes neuronal differentiation in response to RA.

Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) regulates multiple signaling pathways by enhancing glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) activity

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is essential for many signaling pathways and cellular processes. As Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) functions in many of the same processes, we investigated a role for APC in the regulation of GSK-3-dependent signaling. We find that APC directly enhances GSK-3 activity. Furthermore, knockdown of APC mimics inhibition of GSK-3 by reducing phosphorylation of glycogen synthase and by activating mTOR, revealing novel roles for APC in the regulation of these enzymes. Wnt signaling inhibits GSK-3 through an unknown mechanism, and this results in both stabilization of β-catenin and activation of mTOR. We therefore hypothesized that Wnts may regulate GSK-3 by disrupting the interaction between APC and the Axin-GSK-3 complex. We find that Wnts rapidly induce APC dissociation from Axin, correlating with β-catenin stabilization. Furthermore, Axin interaction with the Wnt co-receptor LRP6 causes APC dissociation from Axin. We propose that APC regulates multiple signaling pathways by enhancing GSK-3 activity, and that Wnts induce APC dissociation from Axin to reduce GSK-3 activity and activate downstream signaling. APC regulation of GSK-3 also provides a novel mechanism for Wnt regulation of multiple downstream effectors, including β-catenin and mTOR.

GSK-3 Inhibitors: Preclinical and Clinical Focus on CNS

Inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) activity via pharmacological intervention has become an important strategy for treating neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. The known GSK-3 inhibitors are of diverse chemotypes and mechanisms of action and include compounds isolated from natural sources, cations, synthetic small-molecule ATP-competitive inhibitors, non-ATP-competitive inhibitors, and substrate-competitive inhibitors. Here we describe the variety of GSK-3 inhibitors with a specific emphasis on their biological activities in neurons and neurological disorders. We further highlight our current progress in the development of non-ATP-competitive inhibitors of GSK-3. The available data raise the hope that one or more of these drug design approaches will prove successful at stabilizing or even reversing the aberrant neuropathology and cognitive deficits of certain central nervous system disorders.

Lithium suppresses astrogliogenesis by neural stem and progenitor cells by inhibiting STAT3 pathway independently of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta

Transplanted neural stem and progenitor cells (NSCs) produce mostly astrocytes in injured spinal cords. Lithium stimulates neurogenesis by inhibiting GSK3b (glycogen synthetase kinase 3-beta) and increasing WNT/beta catenin. Lithium suppresses astrogliogenesis but the mechanisms were unclear. We cultured NSCs from subventricular zone of neonatal rats and showed that lithium reduced NSC production of astrocytes as well as proliferation of glia restricted progenitor (GRP) cells. Lithium strongly inhibited STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) activation, a messenger system known to promote astrogliogenesis and cancer. Lithium abolished STAT3 activation and astrogliogenesis induced by a STAT3 agonist AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-beta-D-ribofuranoside), suggesting that lithium suppresses astrogliogenesis by inhibiting STAT3. GSK3β inhibition either by a specific GSK3β inhibitor SB216763 or overexpression of GID5-6 (GSK3β Interaction Domain aa380 to 404) did not suppress astrogliogenesis and GRP proliferation. GSK3β inhibition also did not suppress STAT3 activation. Together, these results indicate that lithium inhibits astrogliogenesis through non-GSK3β-mediated inhibition of STAT. Lithium may increase efficacy of NSC transplants by increasing neurogenesis and reducing astrogliogenesis. Our results also may explain the strong safety record of lithium treatment of manic depression. Millions of people take high-dose (>1 gram/day) lithium carbonate for a lifetime. GSK3b inhibition increases WNT/beta catenin, associated with colon and other cancers. STAT3 inhibition may reduce risk for cancer.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 is essential for β-arrestin-2 complex formation and lithium-sensitive behaviors in mice

Lithium is the first-line therapy for bipolar disorder. However, its therapeutic target remains controversial. Candidates include inositol monophosphatases, glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), and a β-arrestin-2/AKT/protein phosphatase 2A (β-arrestin-2/AKT/PP2A) complex that is known to be required for lithium-sensitive behaviors. Defining the direct target(s) is critical for the development of new therapies and for elucidating the molecular pathogenesis of this major psychiatric disorder. Here, we show what we believe to be a new link between GSK-3 and the β-arrestin-2 complex in mice and propose an integrated mechanism that accounts for the effects of lithium on multiple behaviors. GSK-3β (Gsk3b) overexpression reversed behavioral defects observed in lithium-treated mice and similar behaviors observed in Gsk3b+/- mice. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation of striatial tissue from WT mice revealed that lithium disrupted the β-arrestin-2/Akt/PP2A complex by directly inhibiting GSK-3. GSK-3 inhibitors or loss of one copy of the Gsk3b gene reduced β-arrestin-2/Akt/PP2A complex formation in mice, while overexpression of Gsk3b restored complex formation in lithium-treated mice. Thus, GSK-3 regulates the stability of the β-arrestin-2/Akt/PP2A complex, and lithium disrupts the complex through direct inhibition of GSK-3. We believe these findings reveal a new role for GSK-3 within the β-arrestin complex and demonstrate that GSK-3 is a critical target of lithium in mammalian behaviors.

Nucleolar targeting of the fbw7 ubiquitin ligase by a pseudosubstrate and glycogen synthase kinase 3

E3 ubiquitin ligases catalyze protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and their activity is tightly controlled. One level of regulation involves subcellular localization, and the Fbw7 tumor suppressor exemplifies this type of control. Fbw7 is the substrate-binding component of an SCF ubiquitin ligase that degrades critical oncoproteins. Alternative splicing produces three Fbw7 protein isoforms that occupy distinct compartments: Fbw7α is nucleoplasmic, Fbw7β is cytoplasmic, and Fbw7γ is nucleolar. We found that cancer-associated Fbw7 mutations that disrupt substrate binding prevent Fbw7γ nucleolar localization, implicating a substrate-like interaction in nucleolar targeting. We identified EBNA1-binding protein 2 (Ebp2) as the critical nucleolar factor that directly mediates Fbw7 nucleolar targeting. Ebp2 binds to Fbw7 like a substrate, and this is mediated by an Ebp2 degron that is phosphorylated by glycogen synthase kinase 3. However, despite these canonical substrate-like interactions, Fbw7 binding is largely uncoupled from Ebp2 turnover in vivo. Ebp2 thus acts like a pseudosubstrate that directly recruits Fbw7 to nucleoli.

Critical scaffolding regions of the tumor suppressor Axin1 are natively unfolded

The Wnt pathway tumor-suppressor protein Axin coordinates the formation of a critical multiprotein destruction complex that serves to downregulate β-catenin protein levels, thereby preventing target gene activation. Given the lack of structural information on some of the major functional parts of Axin, it remains unresolved how the recruitment and positioning of Wnt pathway kinases, such as glycogen synthase kinase 3β, are coordinated to bring about β-catenin phosphorylation. Using various biochemical and biophysical methods, we demonstrate here that the central region of Axin that is implicated in binding glycogen synthase kinase 3β and β-catenin is natively unfolded. Our results support a model in which the unfolded nature of these critical scaffolding regions in Axin facilitates dynamic interactions with a kinase and its substrate, which in turn act upon each other.

Axin downregulates TCF-4 transcription via beta-catenin, but not p53, and inhibits the proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells

Background

We previously reported that overexpression of Axin downregulates T cell factor-4 (TCF-4) transcription. However, the mechanism(s) by which Axin downregulates the transcription and expression of TCF-4 is not clear. It has been reported that β-catenin promotes and p53 inhibits TCF-4 transcription, respectively. The aim of this study was to investigate whether β-catenin and/or p53 is required for Axin-mediated downregulation of TCF-4.

Results

Axin mutants that lack p53/HIPK2 and/or β-catenin binding domains were expressed in lung cancer cells, BE1 (mutant p53) and A549 (wild type p53). Expression of Axin or AxinΔp53 downregulates β-catenin and TCF-4, and knock-down of β-catenin upregulates TCF-4 in BE1 cells. However, expression of AxinΔβ-ca into BE1 cells did not downregulate TCF-4 expression. These results indicate that Axin downregulates TCF-4 transcription via β-catenin. Although overexpression of wild-type p53 also downregulates TCF-4 in BE1 cells, cotransfection of p53 and AxinΔβ-ca did not downregulate TCF-4 further. These results suggest that Axin does not promote p53-mediated downregulation of TCF-4. Axin, AxinΔp53, and AxinΔβ-ca all downregulated β-catenin and TCF-4 in A549 cells. Knock-down of p53 upregulated β-catenin and TCF-4, but cotransfection of AxinΔβ-ca and p53 siRNA resulted in downregulation of β-catenin and TCF-4. These results indicate that p53 is not required for Axin-mediated downregulation of TCF-4. Knock-down or inhibition of GSK-3β prevented Axin-mediated downregulation of TCF-4. Furthermore, expression of Axin and AxinΔp53, prevented the proliferative and invasive ability of BE1 and A549, expression of AxinΔβ-ca could only prevented the proliferative and invasive ability effectively.

Conclusions

Axin downregulates TCF-4 transcription via β-catenin and independently of p53. Axin may also inhibits the proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells via β-catenin and p53.

WNT2 regulates DNA synthesis in mouse granulosa cells through beta-catenin

WNTs are secreted extracellular signaling molecules that transduce their signals by binding to G protein-coupled receptors of the frizzled (FZD) family. They control diverse developmental processes, such as cell fate specification, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and apoptosis. Although WNT signaling has been shown to be essential for development of the ovary, its mechanistic role in folliculogenesis within the adult ovary has not been studied extensively. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the regulation and function of WNT2 signaling in mouse granulosa cells. Immunostaining identified WNT2 as being expressed in granulosa cells throughout folliculogenesis, but with varying signal strength: in sequential sections, WNT2 immunoreactivity was strongest in healthy antral follicles but weak in atretic follicles. Knockdown of WNT2 expression using transfected short interfering RNA decreased DNA synthesis in granulosa cells, whereas WNT2 overexpression using a recombinant viral vector enhanced it. WNT2 knockdown led to accumulation of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK3B) in the cytoplasm but reduced the expression of beta-catenin. Conversely, WNT2 overexpression reduced the expression of GSK3B in the cytoplasm and induced beta-catenin translocation from the membrane into the nucleus. Beta-catenin knockdown also inhibited DNA synthesis in granulosa cells and neutralized the effect of WNT2 overexpression. WNT2/beta-catenin signaling had a slight effect on the apoptosis of granulosa cells. Taken together, the data indicate that WNT2 regulates beta-catenin localization in granulosa cells, and WNT2/beta-catenin signaling contributes to regulating their proliferation.

A noncatalytic domain of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is essential for activity

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) isoforms, GSK-3alpha and GSK-3beta, are serine/threonine kinases involved in numerous cellular processes and diverse diseases, including Alzheimer disease, cancer, and diabetes. GSK-3 isoforms function redundantly in some settings, while, in others, they exhibit distinct activities. Despite intensive investigation into the physiological roles of GSK-3 isoforms, the basis for their differential activities remains unresolved. A more comprehensive understanding of the mechanistic basis for GSK-3 isoform-specific functions could lead to the development of isoform-specific inhibitors. Here, we describe a structure-function analysis of GSK-3alpha and GSK-3beta in mammalian cells. We deleted the noncatalytic N and C termini in both GSK-3 isoforms and generated point mutations of key regulatory residues. We examined the effect of these mutations on GSK-3 activity toward Tau, activity in Wnt signaling, interaction with Axin, and GSK-3alpha/beta Tyr(279/216) phosphorylation. We found that the N termini of both GSK-3 isoforms were dispensable, whereas progressive C-terminal deletions resulted in protein misfolding exhibited by deficient activity, impaired ability to interact with Axin, and a loss of Tyr(279/216) phosphorylation. Our data predict that small molecules targeting the divergent C terminus may lead to isoform-specific GSK-3 inhibition through destabilization of the GSK-3 structure.

The neuron-specific isoform of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta is required for axon growth

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) has become an important target for the treatment of mood disorders and neurodegenerative disease. It comprises three enzymes, GSK-3alpha, beta and the neuron-specific isoform, beta2. GSK-3 regulates axon growth by phosphorylating microtubule-associated proteins including Tau. A genetic polymorphism that leads to an increase in the ratio of GSK-3beta1 to GSK-3beta2 interacts with Tau haplotypes to modify disease risk in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. We have examined the roles of each isoform of GSK-3 in neurons. Silencing of GSK-3beta2 inhibited retinoic acid-induced neurite outgrowth in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and axon growth in rat cortical neurons. Inhibition of neurite outgrowth was prevented by co-expression of GSK-3beta2 but not by co-expression of GSK-3alpha or GSK-3beta1. Ectopic expression GSK-3beta2 enhanced the effects of retinoic acid on neurite length and induced neurite formation in the absence of retinoic acid. GSK-3beta2 phosphorylated Tau at a subset of those sites phosphorylated by GSK-3beta1. In addition, Axin, which regulates responses to Wnt signals, associated more readily with GSK-3beta1 than with GSK-3beta2. Our results suggest that GSK-3 inhibitors that target the Axin-binding site in GSK-3 will preserve the beneficial effects of GSK-3beta2 on axon growth.

Validating GSK3 as an in vivo target of lithium action

Lithium is widely used to treat bipolar disorder, but its mechanism of action in this disorder is unknown. Lithium directly inhibits GSK3 (glycogen synthase kinase 3), a critical regulator of multiple signal transduction pathways. Inhibition of GSK3 provides a compelling explanation for many of the known effects of lithium, including effects on early development and insulin signalling/glycogen synthesis. However, lithium also inhibits inositol monophosphatase, several structurally related phosphomonoesterases, phosphoglucomutase and the scaffolding function of beta-arrestin-2. It is not known which of these targets is responsible for the behavioural or therapeutic effects of lithium in vivo. The present review discusses basic criteria that can be applied to model systems to validate a proposed direct target of lithium. In this context, we describe a set of simple behaviours in mice that are robustly affected by chronic lithium treatment and are similarly affected by structurally diverse GSK3 inhibitors and by removing one copy of the Gsk3b gene. These observations, from several independent laboratories, support a central role for GSK3 in mediating behavioural responses to lithium.

In vivo analysis in Drosophila reveals differential requirements of contact residues in Axin for interactions with GSK3beta or beta-catenin

Proper regulation of the Wingless/Wnt signaling pathway is essential for normal development. The scaffolding protein Axin plays a key role in this process through interactions with Drosophila Shaggy and Armadillo. In the current studies, we used a yeast two-hybrid assay to identify ten amino acids in Axin that are critical for in vitro interaction with Shaggy and two for interaction with Armadillo. We then generated five Axin variants in which individual putative contact amino acids were mutated and compared their activity, as assayed by rescue of axin null mutant flies, to that of Axin lacking the entire Shaggy (AxinDeltaSgg) or Armadillo (AxinDeltaArm) binding domain. Although we expected these mutants to function identically to Axin in which the entire binding domain was deleted, we instead observed a spectrum of phenotypic rescue. Specifically, two point mutants within the Shaggy binding domain showed loss of activity similar to that of AxinDeltaSgg and dominantly interfered with complex function, whereas a third mutant allele, AxinK446E, retained most function. Two Axin point mutants within the Armadillo binding domain were weak alleles and retained most function. These findings demonstrate the importance of in vivo verification of the role of specific amino acids within a protein.

Identification of targets of the Wnt pathway destruction complex in addition to beta-catenin

The proteasomal degradation of beta-catenin mediated by the glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) and destruction complex is the central step in the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. However, that there are branches of Wnt signaling pathways that do not depend on beta-catenin/Tcf-mediated transcription activation has long been understood. In this study, we hypothesized that there are many more GSK3 and destruction complex-dependent proteolytic target proteins that mediate Wnt signaling in the cell. To test this hypothesis, we have developed and carried out a screen for such candidate proteins using an in vitro expression cloning technique and biochemical reconstitution of Wnt signaling in Xenopus egg cytoplasmic extracts. Forty-two proteins have been identified as potential candidates for GSK3-regulated phosphorylation, proteasomal degradation, or both, of which 12 are strong candidates for Wnt-pathway-regulated degradation. Some of them have been reported to interact with beta-catenin and implicated in the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, and other targets identified include proteins with various cellular functions such as RNA processing, cytoskeletal dynamics, and cell metabolism. Thus, we propose that Wnt/GSK3/destruction complex signaling regulates multiple target proteins to control a broad range of cellular activities in addition to beta-catenin-mediated transcription activation.

N-cadherin interacts with axin and LRP5 to negatively regulate Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, osteoblast function, and bone formation

Wnt signaling plays an important role in the regulation of bone formation and bone mass. The mechanisms that regulate canonical Wnt signaling in osteoblasts are not fully understood. We show here a novel mechanism by which the adhesion molecule N-cadherin interacts with the Wnt coreceptor LRP5 and regulates canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in osteoblasts. We demonstrate that N-cadherin, besides associating with beta-catenin at the membrane, forms a molecular complex with axin and LRP5 involving the LRP5 cytoplasmic tail domain. N-cadherin overexpression in osteoblasts increases N-cadherin-LRP5 interaction, causing increased beta-catenin degradation and altered TCF/LEF transcription in response to Wnt3a. This mechanism results in decreased osteoblast gene expression and osteogenesis in basal conditions and in response to Wnt3a. Consistent with a functional mechanism, silencing N-cadherin expression in control cells increases TCF/LEF transcription and enhances the response to Wnt3a. Using N-cadherin transgenic mice, we show that increased N-cadherin-LRP5 interaction resulting from targeted overexpression of N-cadherin in osteoblasts causes increased beta-catenin ubiquitination and results in cell-autonomous defective osteoblast function, reduced bone formation, and delayed bone mass acquisition. These data indicate that a previously unrecognized N-cadherin-axin-LRP5 interaction negatively regulates Wnt/beta-catenin signaling and is critical in the regulation of osteoblast function, bone formation, and bone mass.

Unexpectedly robust assembly of the Axin destruction complex regulates Wnt/Wg signaling in Drosophila as revealed by analysis in vivo

Secreted proteins in the Wnt family regulate gene expression in target cells by causing the accumulation of the transcriptional activator beta-catenin. In the absence of Wnt, a protein complex assembled around the scaffold protein Axin targets beta-catenin for destruction, thereby preventing it from transducing inappropriate signals. Loss of Axin or its binding partners APC and GSK3 results in aberrant activation of the Wnt signaling response. We have analyzed the effects of mutant forms of Drosophila Axin with large internal deletions when expressed at physiological levels in vivo, either in the presence or absence of wild type Axin. Surprisingly, even deletions that completely remove the binding sites for fly APC, GSK3 or beta-catenin, though they fail to rescue to viability, these mutant forms of Axin cause only mild developmental defects, indicating largely retained Axin function. Furthermore, two lethal Axin deletion constructs, AxinDeltaRGS and AxinDeltabeta cat(DeltaArm), can complement each other and restore viability. Our findings support a model in which the Axin complex is assembled through cooperative tripartite interactions among the binding partners, making the assembly of functional complexes surprisingly robust.

Axin and GSK3- control Smad3 protein stability and modulate TGF- signaling

The broad range of biological responses elicited by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in various types of tissues and cells is mainly determined by the expression level and activity of the effector proteins Smad2 and Smad3. It is not fully understood how the baseline properties of Smad3 are regulated, although this molecule is in complex with many other proteins at the steady state. Here we show that nonactivated Smad3, but not Smad2, undergoes proteasome-dependent degradation due to the concerted action of the scaffolding protein Axin and its associated kinase, glycogen synthase kinase 3-beta (GSK3-beta). Smad3 physically interacts with Axin and GSK3-beta only in the absence of TGF-beta. Reduction in the expression or activity of Axin/GSK3-beta leads to increased Smad3 stability and transcriptional activity without affecting TGF-beta receptors or Smad2, whereas overexpression of these proteins promotes Smad3 basal degradation and desensitizes cells to TGF-beta. Mechanistically, Axin facilitates GSK3-beta-mediated phosphorylation of Smad3 at Thr66, which triggers Smad3 ubiquitination and degradation. Thr66 mutants of Smad3 show altered protein stability and hence transcriptional activity. These results indicate that the steady-state stability of Smad3 is an important determinant of cellular sensitivity to TGF-beta, and suggest a new function of the Axin/GSK3-beta complex in modulating critical TGF-beta/Smad3-regulated processes during development and tumor progression.

Initiation of Wnt signaling: control of Wnt coreceptor Lrp6 phosphorylation/activation via frizzled, dishevelled and axin functions

Canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling has central roles in development and diseases, and is initiated by the action of the frizzled (Fz) receptor, its coreceptor LDL receptor-related protein 6 (Lrp6), and the cytoplasmic dishevelled (Dvl) protein. The functional relationships among Fz, Lrp6 and Dvl have long been enigmatic. We demonstrated previously that Wnt-induced Lrp6 phosphorylation via glycogen synthase kinase 3 (Gsk3) initiates Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. Here we show that both Fz and Dvl functions are critical for Wnt-induced Lrp6 phosphorylation through Fz-Lrp6 interaction. We also show that axin, a key scaffolding protein in the Wnt pathway, is required for Lrp6 phosphorylation via its ability to recruit Gsk3, and inhibition of Gsk3 at the plasma membrane blocks Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. Our results suggest a model that upon Wnt-induced Fz-Lrp6 complex formation, Fz recruitment of Dvl in turn recruits the axin-Gsk3 complex, thereby promoting Lrp6 phosphorylation to initiate beta-catenin signaling. We discuss the dual roles of the axin-Gsk3 complex and signal amplification by Lrp6-axin interaction during Wnt/beta-catenin signaling.

The role of GSK3 in glucose homeostasis and the development of insulin resistance

GSK3 has been implicated in the development of insulin resistance, primarily based on its role in regulation of glycogen synthesis. However, GSK3 is involved in many other important signaling cascades which may regulate glucose homeostasis and the development of insulin resistance. In addition, GSK3 is composed of two isoforms, GSK3alpha and beta, which do not completely share their physiological roles, and this raises a possibility that GSK3alpha and beta may function differently in glucose homeostasis. In this review, we will give an overview to examine potential mechanisms for the roles of GSK3 in the development of insulin resistance.

Downregulation of Wnt signaling is a trigger for formation of facultative heterochromatin and onset of cell senescence in primary human cells

Cellular senescence is an irreversible proliferation arrest of primary cells and an important tumor suppression process. Senescence is often characterized by domains of facultative heterochromatin, called senescence-associated heterochromatin foci (SAHF), which repress expression of proliferation-promoting genes. Formation of SAHF is driven by a complex of histone chaperones, HIRA and ASF1a, and depends upon prior localization of HIRA to PML nuclear bodies. However, how the SAHF assembly pathway is activated in senescent cells is not known. Here we show that expression of the canonical Wnt2 ligand and downstream canonical Wnt signals are repressed in senescent human cells. Repression of Wnt2 occurs early in senescence and independently of the pRB and p53 tumor suppressor proteins and drives relocalization of HIRA to PML bodies, formation of SAHF and senescence, likely through GSK3beta-mediated phosphorylation of HIRA. These results have major implications for our understanding of both Wnt signaling and senescence in tissue homeostasis and cancer progression.

Two functionally distinct Axin-like proteins regulate canonical Wnt signaling in C. elegans

Axin is a central component of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway that interacts with the adenomatous polyposis coli protein APC and the kinase GSK3beta to downregulate the effector beta-catenin. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, canonical Wnt signaling is negatively regulated by the highly divergent Axin ortholog PRY-1. Mutation of pry-1 leads to constitutive activation of BAR-1/beta-catenin-dependent Wnt signaling and results in a range of developmental defects. The pry-1 null phenotype is however not fully penetrant, indicating that additional factors may partially compensate for PRY-1 function. Here, we report the cloning and functional analysis of a second Axin-like protein, which we named AXL-1. We show that despite considerable sequence divergence with PRY-1 and other Axin family members, AXL-1 is a functional Axin ortholog. AXL-1 functions redundantly with PRY-1 in negatively regulating BAR-1/beta-catenin signaling in the developing vulva and the Q neuroblast lineage. In addition, AXL-1 functions independently of PRY-1 in negatively regulating canonical Wnt signaling during excretory cell development. In contrast to vertebrate Axin and the related protein Conductin, AXL-1 and PRY-1 are not functionally equivalent. We conclude that Axin function in C. elegans is divided over two different Axin orthologs that have specific functions in negatively regulating canonical Wnt signaling.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 regulation of chromatin segregation and cytokinesis in mouse preimplantation embryos

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is a highly conserved serine/threonine protein kinase implicated in diverse cellular processes. Activity of GSK-3 is essential for meiotic chromatin segregation in oocytes, yet expression and/or function of GSK-3 have not been reported in mammalian preimplantation embryos. Objectives of this study were to characterize GSK-3 protein expression/phosphorylation in mouse preimplantation embryos, to assess the effect of GSK-3 activity inhibition on early mitotic events, and to differentiate nuclear and cytoplasmic anomalies in GSK-3 inhibited embryos. Both GSK-3 isoforms were expressed during embryo development, with a differential expression of alpha versus beta. Phosphorylation of GSK-3alpha/beta at residues Y279/Y216 indicated constitutive activation throughout preimplantation development. Phosphorylation at N-terminal residues S21/S9 indicated inhibition of GSK-3alpha/beta activity that was differentially regulated during early development; both alpha and beta isoforms were phosphorylated during early divisions, whereas at the blastocyst stage, only beta was phosphorylated. Cytoplasmic microinjection of zygotes with anti-GSK-3alpha/beta antibody significantly compromised embryonic development past the two-cell stage compared to controls. Reversibility of developmental block was tested via pharmacological inhibitors of GSK-3, lithium chloride (LiCl) and alsterpaullone. Similar to immunoneutralization, significantly fewer zygotes cultured with either LiCl or alsterpaullone developed past the two-cell stage compared to controls and this mitotic block was not reversible. Inhibition of GSK-3 activity significantly compromised timing of pronuclear membrane breakdown and mitosis initiation, nuclear development, and cytokinesis. Inhibition of GSK-3 also resulted in abnormal chromatin segregation, evidenced by incomplete karyokinesis and micronuclei formation. These results suggest that GSK-3 activity is critical for early preimplantation embryonic development.

Drosophila split ends homologue SHARP functions as a positive regulator of Wnt/beta-catenin/T-cell factor signaling in neoplastic transformation

Wnt ligands have pleiotropic and context-specific roles in embryogenesis and adult tissues. Among other effects, certain Wnts stabilize the beta-catenin protein, leading to the ability of beta-catenin to activate T-cell factor (TCF)-mediated transcription. Mutations resulting in constitutive beta-catenin stabilization underlie development of several human cancers. Genetic studies in Drosophila highlighted the split ends (spen) gene as a positive regulator of Wnt-dependent signaling. We have assessed the role of SHARP, a human homologue of spen, in Wnt/beta-catenin/TCF function in mammalian cells. We found that SHARP gene and protein expression is elevated in human colon and ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinomas and mouse colon adenomas and carcinomas carrying gene defects leading to beta-catenin dysregulation. When ectopically expressed, the silencing mediator for retinoid and thyroid receptors/histone deacetylase 1-associated repressor protein (SHARP) protein potently enhanced beta-catenin/TCF transcription of a model reporter gene and cellular target genes. Inhibition of endogenous SHARP function via RNA inhibitory (RNAi) approaches antagonized beta-catenin/TCF-mediated activation of target genes. The effect of SHARP on beta-catenin/TCF-regulated genes was mediated via a functional interaction between SHARP and TCF. beta-Catenin-dependent neoplastic transformation of RK3E cells was enhanced by ectopic expression of SHARP, and RNAi-mediated inhibition of endogenous SHARP in colon cancer cells inhibited their transformed growth. In toto, our findings implicate SHARP as an important positive regulator of Wnt signaling in cancers with beta-catenin dysregulation.

beta-catenin destruction complex: insights and questions from a structural perspective

At the heart of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway is the beta-catenin destruction complex, which functions in the absence of Wnt signaling to keep the cytosolic and nuclear levels of beta-catenin very low by promoting the phosphorylation and ubiquitination of beta-catenin. Structural studies, combined with other experimental approaches, have begun to provide important insights into the mechanism of the destruction complex. We suggest a working model for the destruction complex based on the existing structural and experimental data, and focus on the questions that this model and other studies have raised about the function of the complex in both the normal and Wnt-inhibited states.

Impaired neural development caused by inducible expression of Axin in transgenic mice

Ablations of the Axin family genes demonstrated that they modulate Wnt signaling in key processes of mammalian development. The ubiquitously expressed Axin1 plays an important role in formation of the embryonic neural axis, while Axin2 is essential for craniofacial skeletogenesis. Although Axin2 is also highly expressed during early neural development, including the neural tube and neural crest, it is not essential for these processes, apparently due to functional redundancy with Axin1. To further investigate the role of Wnt signaling during early neural development, and its potential regulation by Axins, we developed a mouse model for conditional gene activation in the Axin2-expressing domains. We show that gene expression can be successfully targeted to the Axin2-expressing cells in a spatially and temporally specific fashion. High levels of Axin in this domain induce a region-specific effect on the patterning of neural tube. In the mutant embryos, only the development of midbrain is severely impaired even though the transgene is expressed throughout the neural tube. Axin apparently regulates beta-catenin in coordinating cell cycle progression, cell adhesion and survival of neuroepithelial precursors during development of ventricles. Our data support the conclusion that the development of embryonic neural axis is highly sensitive to the level of Wnt signaling.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β positively regulates the proliferation of human ovarian cancer cells

Although glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) might act as a tumor suppressor since its inhibition is expected to mimic the activation of Wnt-signaling pathway, GSK-3beta may contribute to NF-kappaB activation in cancer cells leading to increased cancer cell proliferation and survival. Here we report that GSK-3beta activity was involved in the proliferation of human ovarian cancer cell both in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of GSK-3 activity by pharmacological inhibitors suppressed proliferation of the ovarian cancer cells. Overexpressing constitutively active form of GSK-3beta induced entry into the S phase, increased cyclin D1 expression and facilitated the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, GSK-3 inhibition prevented the formation of the tumor in nude mice generated by the inoculation of human ovarian cancer cells. Our findings thus suggest that GSK-3beta activity is important for the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells, implicating this kinase as a potential therapeutic target in ovarian cancer.

Identification of mutations that disrupt phosphorylation-dependent nuclear export of cyclin D1

Although cyclin D1 is overexpressed in a significant number of human cancers, overexpression alone is insufficient to promote tumorigenesis. In vitro studies have revealed that inhibition of cyclin D1 nuclear export unmasks its neoplastic potential. Cyclin D1 nuclear export depends upon phosphorylation of a C-terminal residue, threonine 286, (Thr-286) which in turn promotes association with the nuclear exportin, CRM1. Mutation of Thr-286 to a non-phosphorylatable residue results in a constitutively nuclear cyclin D1 protein with significantly increased oncogenic potential. To determine whether cyclin D1 is subject to mutations that inhibit its nuclear export in human cancer, we have sequenced exon 5 of cyclin D1 in primary esophageal carcinoma samples and in cell lines derived from esophageal cancer. Our work reveals that cyclin D1 is subject to mutations in primary human cancer. The mutations identified specifically disrupt phosphorylation of cyclin D1 at Thr-286, thereby enforcing nuclear accumulation of cyclin D1. Through characterization of these mutants, we also define an acidic residue within the C-terminus of cyclin D1 that is necessary for recognition and phosphorylation of cyclin D1 by glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta. Finally, through construction of compound mutants, we demonstrate that cell transformation by the cancer-derived cyclin D1 alleles correlates with their ability to associate with and activate CDK4. Our data reveal that cyclin D1 is subject to mutations in primary human cancer that specifically disrupt phosphorylation-dependent nuclear export of cyclin D1 and suggest that such mutations contribute to the genesis and progression of neoplastic growth.

A self-renewal assay for cancer stem cells

Cancers of epithelial origin are responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths in the USA. Unfortunately, although chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy can sometimes shrink tumors, metastatic cancers of epithelial origin are essentially incurable. It is clear that new approaches are needed to treat these diseases. Although cancer cell lines provide invaluable information, their biological properties often differ in crucial ways from de novo cancer cells. Our laboratory has developed a novel mouse model that reliably permits individual cancer cells isolated directly from patients' tumors to be assayed. This will allow the characterization of crucial signaling pathways involved in processes such as self-renewal that are critical for tumor formation by the cancer cells within de novo tumors. These tools should lead to new insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive human breast cancer growth and invasion.

Zcchc8 is a glycogen synthase kinase-3 substrate that interacts with RNA-binding proteins

Phosphorylation of c-Myc on threonine 58 (T58) stimulates its degradation by the Fbw7-SCF ubiquitin ligase. We used a phosphorylation-specific antibody raised against the c-Myc T58 region to attempt to identify other proteins regulated by the Fbw7 pathway. We identified two predominant proteins recognized by this antibody. The first is Ebna1 binding protein 2, a nucleolar protein that, in contrast with a previous report, is likely responsible for the nucleolar staining exhibited by this antibody. The second is Zcchc8, a nuclear protein that is highly phosphorylated in cells treated with nocodazole. We show that Zcchc8 is directly phosphorylated by GSK-3 in vitro and that GSK-3 inhibition prevents Zcchc8 phosphorylation in vivo. Moreover, we found that Zcchc8 interacts with proteins involved in RNA processing/degradation. We suggest that Zcchc8 is a GSK-3 substrate with a role in RNA metabolism.