Epinephrine inhibits PI3Kα via the Hippo kinases

Cell Rep. 2023 Dec 26;42(12):113535. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113535. Epub 2023 Dec 4.

Abstract

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase p110α is an essential mediator of insulin signaling and glucose homeostasis. We interrogated the human serine, threonine, and tyrosine kinome to search for novel regulators of p110α and found that the Hippo kinases phosphorylate p110α at T1061, which inhibits its activity. This inhibitory state corresponds to a conformational change of a membrane-binding domain on p110α, which impairs its ability to engage membranes. In human primary hepatocytes, cancer cell lines, and rodent tissues, activation of the Hippo kinases MST1/2 using forskolin or epinephrine is associated with phosphorylation of T1061 and inhibition of p110α, impairment of downstream insulin signaling, and suppression of glycolysis and glycogen synthesis. These changes are abrogated when MST1/2 are genetically deleted or inhibited with small molecules or if the T1061 is mutated to alanine. Our study defines an inhibitory pathway of PI3K signaling and a link between epinephrine and insulin signaling.

Keywords: CP: Metabolism; CP: Molecular biology; Hippo kinases; PI3K signaling; epinephrine signaling; glucose metabolism; glycogen metabolism; insulin sensitivity; liver.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Colforsin / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Epinephrine / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Gene Deletion
  • Hippo Signaling Pathway / drug effects
  • Hippo Signaling Pathway / genetics
  • Humans
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Phosphatidylinositols / chemistry
  • Phosphatidylinositols / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases* / chemistry
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases* / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases* / metabolism

Substances

  • Epinephrine
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • phosphoinositide 3-phosphate
  • Phosphatidylinositols
  • Colforsin
  • Insulin