MARK3-mediated phosphorylation of ARHGEF2 couples microtubules to the actin cytoskeleton to establish cell polarity.

The PAR-1-MARK pathway controls cell polarity through the phosphorylation of microtubule-associated proteins. Rho-Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor 2 (ARHGEF2), which activates Ras homolog family member A (RHOA), is anchored to the microtubule network and sequestered in an inhibited state through binding to dynein light chain Tctex-1 type 1 (DYNLT1). We showed in mammalian cells that liver kinase B1 (LKB1) activated the microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 3 (MARK3), which in turn phosphorylated ARHGEF2 at Ser151 This modification disrupted the interaction between ARHGEF2 and DYNLT1 by generating a 14-3-3 binding site in ARHGEF2, thus causing ARHGEF2 to dissociate from microtubules. Phosphorylation of ARHGEF2 by MARK3 stimulated RHOA activation and the formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions, and was required for organized cellular architecture in three-dimensional culture. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) dephosphorylated Ser151 in ARHGEF2 to restore the inhibited state. Thus, we have identified a regulatory switch controlled by MARK3 that couples microtubules to the actin cytoskeleton to establish epithelial cell polarity through ARHGEF2.

Inhibition and Allosteric Regulation of Monomeric Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase by 3-Mercaptopicolinic Acid.

For almost 40 years, it has been known that tryptophan metabolites and picolinic acid analogues act as inhibitors of gluconeogenesis. Early studies observed that 3-mercaptopicolinic acid (MPA) was a potent hypoglycemic agent via inhibition of glucose synthesis through the specific inhibition of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in the gluconeogenesis pathway. Despite prior kinetic investigation, the mechanism of the inhibition by MPA is unclear. To clarify the mechanism of inhibition exerted by MPA on PEPCK, we have undertaken structural and kinetic studies. The kinetic data in concert with crystallographic structures of PEPCK in complex with MPA and the substrates for the reaction illustrate that PEPCK is inhibited by the binding of MPA at two discrete binding sites: one acting in a competitive fashion with PEP/OAA (∼10 µM) and the other acting at a previously unidentified allosteric site (Ki ∼ 150 µM). The structural studies suggest that binding of MPA to the allosteric pocket stabilizes an altered conformation of the nucleotide-binding site that in turn reduces the affinity of the enzyme for the nucleotide.

Mechanistic insight into the microtubule and actin cytoskeleton coupling through dynein-dependent RhoGEF inhibition.

Actin-based stress fiber formation is coupled to microtubule depolymerization through the local activation of RhoA. While the RhoGEF Lfc has been implicated in this cytoskeleton coupling process, it has remained elusive how Lfc is recruited to microtubules and how microtubule recruitment moderates Lfc activity. Here, we demonstrate that the dynein light chain protein Tctex-1 is required for localization of Lfc to microtubules. Lfc residues 139-161 interact with Tctex-1 at a site distinct from the cleft that binds dynein intermediate chain. An NMR-based GEF assay revealed that interaction with Tctex-1 represses Lfc nucleotide exchange activity in an indirect manner that requires both polymerized microtubules and phosphorylation of S885 by PKA. We show that inhibition of Lfc by Tctex-1 is dynein dependent. These studies demonstrate a pivotal role of Tctex-1 as a negative regulator of actin filament organization through its control of Lfc in the crosstalk between microtubule and actin cytoskeletons.