Traf2- and Nck-interacting kinase (TNIK) is a serine/threonine kinase highly expressed in the brain and enriched in the postsynaptic density of glutamatergic synapses in the mammalian brain. Accumulating genetic evidence and functional data have implicated TNIK as a risk factor for psychiatric disorders. However, the endogenous substrates of TNIK in neurons are unknown. Here, we describe a novel selective small molecule inhibitor of the TNIK kinase family. Using this inhibitor, we report the identification of endogenous neuronal TNIK substrates by immunoprecipitation with a phosphomotif antibody followed by mass spectrometry. Phosphorylation consensus sequences were defined by phosphopeptide sequence analysis. Among the identified substrates were members of the delta-catenin family including p120-catenin, δ -catenin, and armadillo repeat gene deleted in velo-cardio-facial syndrome (ARVCF), each of which is linked to psychiatric or neurologic disorders. Using p120-catenin as a representative substrate, we show TNIK-induced p120-catenin phosphorylation in cells requires intact kinase activity and phosphorylation of TNIK at T181 and T187 in the activation loop. Addition of the small molecule TNIK inhibitor or knocking down TNIK by two shRNAs reduced endogenous p120-catenin phosphorylation in cells. Together, using a TNIK inhibitor and phosphomotif antibody, we identify endogenous substrates of TNIK in neurons, define consensus sequences for TNIK, and suggest signaling pathways by which TNIK influences synaptic development and function linked to psychiatric and neurologic disorders.
Traf2和Nck相互作用激酶(TNIK)是一种
丝氨酸/苏
氨酸激酶,在哺乳动物大脑中高度表达,并富集于谷
氨酸能突触的突触后密度中。不断积累的遗传证据和功能数据表明,TNIK 是精神疾病的一个风险因素。然而,TNIK 在神经元中的内源性底物尚不清楚。在这里,我们描述了 TNIK 激酶家族的一种新型选择性小分子
抑制剂。利用这种
抑制剂,我们报告了通过
磷酸同源
抗体免疫沉淀和质谱分析鉴定神经元内源性 TNIK 底物的结果。
磷酸化共识序列是通过
磷酸肽序列分析确定的。鉴定出的底物包括δ-catenin家族成员,包括p120-catenin、δ-catenin和犰狳重复
基因缺失心面部综合征(AR
VCF),其中每一种都与精神或神经系统疾病有关。以 p120-catenin 为代表底物,我们发现 TNIK 在细胞中诱导 p120-catenin
磷酸化需要完整的激酶活性以及 TNIK 在活化环中 T181 和 T187 处的
磷酸化。加入小分子 TNIK
抑制剂或用两种 shRNA 敲除 TNIK 会降低细胞中内源性 p120-catenin
磷酸化。通过使用 TNIK
抑制剂和
磷酸肌酸抗体,我们确定了 TNIK 在神经元中的内源性底物,定义了 TNIK 的共识序列,并提出了 TNIK 影响与精神和神经疾病相关的突触发育和功能的信号通路。