GSK3beta positively regulates Hedgehog signaling through Sufu in mammalian cells

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Feb 9;353(2):501-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.12.058. Epub 2006 Dec 19.

Abstract

Hedgehog signaling plays important roles in embryonic patterning of multicellular organisms. This pathway is ultimately transmitted by the zinc-finger transcriptional factor Gli, of which activity is suppressed by Sufu, a negative regulator of this signaling. To clarify this regulation to more detail, we screened for Sufu-binding proteins. We identified GSK3beta as a specific binding partner of Sufu by mass spectrometric analysis. GSK3beta bound to Sufu both in vitro and in vivo. Down-regulation of GSK3beta expression by RNAi in Hedgehog-responsive cells attenuated Hedgehog signaling, suggesting that GSK3beta functions as a positive regulator of Hedgehog signaling. In addition, an in vitro kinase assay showed that GSK3beta phosphorylates Sufu and phosphorylation-mimicking mutant of Sufu showed significantly decreased ability to bind Gli1 and could not suppress the Gli-mediated expression of a reporter gene efficiently. These results strongly suggest that GSK3beta phosphorylates Sufu to positively regulate Hedgehog signaling in mammalian cells.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism*
  • Hedgehog Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*

Substances

  • GSKIP protein, human
  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Sufu protein, mouse