Phosphorylation of the compartmentalized PKA substrate TAF15 regulates RNA-protein interactions.

Spatiotemporal-controlled second messengers alter molecular interactions of central signaling nodes for ensuring physiological signal transmission. One prototypical second messenger molecule which modulates kinase signal transmission is the cyclic-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). The main proteinogenic cellular effectors of cAMP are compartmentalized protein kinase A (PKA) complexes. Their cell-type specific compositions precisely coordinate substrate phosphorylation and proper signal propagation which is indispensable for numerous cell-type specific functions. Here we present evidence that TAF15, which is implicated in the etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, represents a novel nuclear PKA substrate. In cross-linking and immunoprecipitation experiments (iCLIP) we showed that TAF15 phosphorylation alters the binding to target transcripts related to mRNA maturation, splicing and protein-binding related functions. TAF15 appears to be one of multiple PKA substrates that undergo RNA-binding dynamics upon phosphorylation. We observed that the activation of the cAMP-PKA signaling axis caused a change in the composition of a collection of RNA species that interact with TAF15. This observation appears to be a broader principle in the regulation of molecular interactions, as we identified a significant enrichment of RNA-binding proteins within endogenous PKA complexes. We assume that phosphorylation of RNA-binding domains adds another layer of regulation to binary protein-RNAs interactions with consequences to RNA features including binding specificities, localization, abundance and composition.

Toll-Like Receptor 3 Mediates Aortic Stenosis Through a Conserved Mechanism of Calcification.

BACKGROUND: Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is characterized by a phenotypic switch of valvular interstitial cells to bone-forming cells. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are evolutionarily conserved pattern recognition receptors at the interface between innate immunity and tissue repair. Type I interferons (IFNs) are not only crucial for an adequate antiviral response but also implicated in bone formation. We hypothesized that the accumulation of endogenous TLR3 ligands in the valvular leaflets may promote the generation of osteoblast-like cells through enhanced type I IFN signaling. METHODS: Human valvular interstitial cells isolated from aortic valves were challenged with mechanical strain or synthetic TLR3 agonists and analyzed for bone formation, gene expression profiles, and IFN signaling pathways. Different inhibitors were used to delineate the engaged signaling pathways. Moreover, we screened a variety of potential lipids and proteoglycans known to accumulate in CAVD lesions as potential TLR3 ligands. Ligand-receptor interactions were characterized by in silico modeling and verified through immunoprecipitation experiments. Biglycan (Bgn), Tlr3, and IFN-α/ß receptor alpha chain (Ifnar1)-deficient mice and a specific zebrafish model were used to study the implication of the biglycan (BGN)-TLR3-IFN axis in both CAVD and bone formation in vivo. Two large-scale cohorts (GERA [Genetic Epidemiology Research on Adult Health and Aging], n=55 192 with 3469 aortic stenosis cases; UK Biobank, n=257 231 with 2213 aortic stenosis cases) were examined for genetic variation at genes implicated in BGN-TLR3-IFN signaling associating with CAVD in humans. RESULTS: Here, we identify TLR3 as a central molecular regulator of calcification in valvular interstitial cells and unravel BGN as a new endogenous agonist of TLR3. Posttranslational BGN maturation by xylosyltransferase 1 (XYLT1) is required for TLR3 activation. Moreover, BGN induces the transdifferentiation of valvular interstitial cells into bone-forming osteoblasts through the TLR3-dependent induction of type I IFNs. It is intriguing that Bgn-/-, Tlr3-/-, and Ifnar1-/- mice are protected against CAVD and display impaired bone formation. Meta-analysis of 2 large-scale cohorts with >300 000 individuals reveals that genetic variation at loci relevant to the XYLT1-BGN-TLR3-interferon-α/ß receptor alpha chain (IFNAR) 1 pathway is associated with CAVD in humans. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies the BGN-TLR3-IFNAR1 axis as an evolutionarily conserved pathway governing calcification of the aortic valve and reveals a potential therapeutic target to prevent CAVD.