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

BC Mbom, KA Siemers, MA Ostrowski… - Molecular biology of …, 2014 - Am Soc Cell Biol
BC Mbom, KA Siemers, MA Ostrowski, WJ Nelson, AIM Barth
Molecular biology of the cell, 2014Am Soc Cell Biol
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 …
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.
Am Soc Cell Biol