Kinesin-2 and IFT-A act as a complex promoting nuclear localization of β-catenin during Wnt signalling

Nat Commun. 2018 Dec 13;9(1):5304. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-07605-z.

Abstract

Wnt/Wg-signalling is critical signalling in all metazoans. Recent studies suggest that IFT-A proteins and Kinesin-2 modulate canonical Wnt/Wg-signalling independently of their ciliary role. Whether they function together in Wnt-signalling and their mechanistic role in the pathway remained unresolved. Here we demonstrate that Kinesin-2 and IFT-A proteins act as a complex during Drosophila Wg-signalling, affecting pathway activity in the same manner, interacting genetically and physically, and co-localizing with β-catenin, the mediator of Wnt/Wg-signalling on microtubules. Following pathway activation, Kinesin-2/IFT-A mutant cells exhibit high cytoplasmic β-catenin levels, yet fail to activate Wg-targets. In mutant tissues in both, Drosophila and mouse/MEFs, nuclear localization of β-catenin is markedly reduced. We demonstrate a conserved, motor-domain dependent function of the Kinesin-2/IFT-A complex in promoting nuclear translocation of β-catenin. We show that this is mediated by protecting β-catenin from a conserved cytoplasmic retention process, thus identifying a mechanism for Kinesin-2/IFT-A in Wnt-signalling that is independent of their ciliary role.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / genetics
  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / physiology
  • Animals
  • Armadillo Domain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Drosophila / embryology*
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Kinesins / genetics
  • Kinesins / metabolism*
  • Protein Transport / physiology
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Wings, Animal / embryology*
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / physiology
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Armadillo Domain Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • rempA protein, Drosophila
  • kinesin 2 protein, Drosophila
  • Kinesins