A Serine/Threonine Kinase 16-Based Phospho-Proteomics Screen Identifies WD Repeat Protein-1 As A Regulator Of Constitutive Secretion

Sci Rep. 2018 Aug 29;8(1):13049. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-31426-1.

Abstract

The plasma membrane of polarized hepatocytes is functionally divided into two domains: the apical and basolateral. Our focus is to define the molecular basis of polarized protein sorting of newly-synthesized membrane and secretory proteins in WIF-B cells, an excellent model system for polarized hepatocytes. We determined that MAL2 (myelin and lymphocyte protein 2) and its binding partner, serine/threonine kinase 16 (STK16) regulate basolateral constitutive secretion. Because STK16 is a constitutively active kinase, we reasoned that constitutively phosphorylated substrates must participate in constitutive secretion. To identify either STK16 substrates or other proteins that regulate constitutive secretion, we took a proteomics approach. Post-nuclear supernatants from cells expressing wild type or a kinase-dead (E202A) STK16 were separated on 2D gels and immunoblotted with antibodies against phospho-serine/threonine residues. Sixteen spots were identified from E202A-expressing cells that reproducibly displayed decreased immunoreactivity. From these spots, 28 proteins were identified as possible STK16 substrates. Out of these 28 possible substrates, 25% of them encode predicted STK16 phosphorylation consensus sites, with WD repeat containing protein-1 (WDR1) encoding two such sites. Based on this finding and on the finding that actin remodeling is required for hepatic secretion, we further confirmed that WDR1 is a phosphoprotein that regulates secretion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Myelin and Lymphocyte-Associated Proteolipid Proteins / metabolism
  • Phosphoproteins / analysis*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Transport*
  • Proteome / analysis*
  • Rats
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • MAL2 protein, human
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Myelin and Lymphocyte-Associated Proteolipid Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Proteome
  • Transcription Factors
  • WDR1 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • STK16 protein, human