SCF/{beta}-TrCP promotes glycogen synthase kinase 3-dependent degradation of the Nrf2 transcription factor in a Keap1-independent manner

Patricia Rada, Ana I. Rojo, Sudhir Chowdhry, Michael McMahon, John D. Hayes, Antonio Cuadrado

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    649 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Regulation of transcription factor Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor 2) involves redox-sensitive proteasomal degradation via the E3 ubiquitin ligase Keap1/Cul3. However, Nrf2 is controlled by other mechanisms that have not yet been elucidated. We now show that glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) phosphorylates a group of Ser residues in the Neh6 domain of mouse Nrf2 that overlap with an SCF/ß-TrCP destruction motif (DSGIS, residues 334 to 338) and promotes its degradation in a Keap1-independent manner. Nrf2 was stabilized by GSK-3 inhibitors in Keap1-null mouse embryo fibroblasts. Similarly, an Nrf2(?ETGE) mutant, which cannot be degraded via Keap1, accumulated when GSK-3 activity was blocked. Phosphorylation of a Ser cluster in the Neh6 domain of Nrf2 stimulated its degradation because a mutant Nrf2(?ETGE 6S/6A) protein, lacking these Ser residues, exhibited a longer half-life than Nrf2(?ETGE). Moreover, Nrf2(?ETGE 6S/6A) was insensitive to ß-TrCP regulation and exhibited lower levels of ubiquitination than Nrf2(?ETGE). GSK-3ß enhanced ubiquitination of Nrf2(?ETGE) but not that of Nrf2(?ETGE 6S/6A). The Nrf2(?ETGE) protein but not Nrf2(?ETGE 6S/6A) coimmunoprecipitated with ß-TrCP, and this association was enhanced by GSK-3ß. Our results show for the first time that Nrf2 is targeted by GSK-3 for SCF/ß-TrCP-dependent degradation. We propose a "dual degradation" model to describe the regulation of Nrf2 under different pathophysiological conditions.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1121-1133
    Number of pages13
    JournalMolecular and Cellular Biology
    Volume31
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Mar 2011

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