Work

Glycogen Synthase Kinase (GSK) 3β Directly Phosphorylates Serine 212 in the Regulatory Loop and Inhibits Microtubule Affinity-regulating Kinase (MARK) 2

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: MARK/Par-1, a kinase family with diverse functions particularly in inducing cell polarity, can phosphorylate microtubule-associated proteins in their repeat domain and cause their detachment from microtubules, and thereby microtubule destabilization. Because of its role in abnormal phosphorylation of the Tau protein in Alzheimer disease, we searched for regulatory kinases. MARK family kinases can be activated by phosphorylation of a conserved threonine (Thr-208 in MARK2), and inactivated by phosphorylation of a serine (Ser-212), both in the activation loop of the catalytic domain. Activation is achieved by the kinases MARKK/TAO1 or LKB1, although the inactivating kinase was unknown. We show here that GSK3beta serves the role of the inhibitory kinase. Because GSK3beta can also phosphorylate Tau at sites outside the repeat domain, the activation of GSK3beta, and concomitant inactivation of MARK can shift the pattern of pathological phosphorylation of Tau protein in Alzheimer disease.

Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry

DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m706596200

Authors: Thomas Timm, Kiruthiga Balusamy, Xiaoyu Li, Jacek Biernat, Eckhard Mandelkow, Eva-Maria Mandelkow

Institution: Max Planck Unit for Structural Molecular Biology

Language: English

Topic: Alzheimer's disease research and treatments

Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,430