A TFEB nuclear export signal integrates amino acid supply and glucose availability

Nat Commun. 2018 Jul 11;9(1):2685. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-04849-7.

Abstract

How cells coordinate the response to fluctuating carbon and nitrogen availability required to maintain effective homeostasis is a key issue. Amino acid limitation that inactivates mTORC1 promotes de-phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Transcription Factor EB (TFEB), a key transcriptional regulator of lysosome biogenesis and autophagy that is deregulated in cancer and neurodegeneration. Beyond its cytoplasmic sequestration, how TFEB phosphorylation regulates its nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling, and whether TFEB can coordinate amino acid supply with glucose availability is poorly understood. Here we show that TFEB phosphorylation on S142 primes for GSK3β phosphorylation on S138, and that phosphorylation of both sites but not either alone activates a previously unrecognized nuclear export signal (NES). Importantly, GSK3β is inactivated by AKT in response to mTORC2 signaling triggered by glucose limitation. Remarkably therefore, the TFEB NES integrates carbon (glucose) and nitrogen (amino acid) availability by controlling TFEB flux through a nuclear import-export cycle.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus
  • Amino Acids / metabolism*
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta / genetics
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta / metabolism
  • HT29 Cells
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Mutation
  • Nuclear Export Signals*
  • Phosphorylation

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
  • Nuclear Export Signals
  • TFEB protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Glucose