The ubiquitin ligase HERC1 regulates cell migration via RAF-dependent regulation of MKK3/p38 signaling

Sci Rep. 2020 Jan 21;10(1):824. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-57756-7.

Abstract

Protein modifications by phosphorylation or ubiquitylation have been selected throughout evolution as efficient regulatory mechanisms of cellular processes. Cell migration is a complex, highly coordinated process where these mechanisms must participate in an integrated manner to transmit signaling during migration. In this study, we show that the ubiquitin ligase HERC1 regulates the p38 signaling pathway, and that this regulation is mediated by the MAPK kinase MKK3. Moreover, we demonstrate a crosstalk between RAF and MKK3/p38 pathways where RAF acts upstream of MKK3. Mechanistically, HERC1 regulates the protein levels of C-RAF and MKK3. Thus, HERC1 ubiquitylates C-RAF, targeting it for proteasomal degradation, and RAF proteins regulate MKK3 mRNA levels. Accordingly, HERC1 knockdown induces C-RAF stabilization and activation of RAF proteins; in turn, this activation increases MKK3, which phosphorylates and activates p38. The importance of these observations is demonstrated by HERC1 regulation of cell migration through regulation of p38 signaling via a RAF-dependent mechanism. Thus, HERC1 plays an essential role as a regulator of crosstalk between RAF/MKK3/p38 signaling pathways during cell migration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Cell Movement / genetics*
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 3 / metabolism*
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / physiology*
  • Ubiquitination
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • HERC1 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf
  • Raf1 protein, human
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 3
  • MAP2K3 protein, human
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex