beta-Arrestin Promotes Wnt-induced Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-related Protein 6 (Lrp6) Phosphorylation via Increased Membrane Recruitment of Amer1 Protein

Journal: JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY 289, 1128-1141
Authors: Kriz, V., Pospichalova, V., Masek, J., Kilander, MBC., Slavik, J., Tanneberger, K., Schulte, G., Machala, M., Kozubik, A., Behrens, J., Bryja, V.
Year: 2014

Abstract

beta-Arrestin is a scaffold protein that regulates signal transduction by seven transmembrane-spanning receptors. Among other functions it is also critically required for Wnt/beta-catenin signal transduction. In the present study we provide for the first time a mechanistic basis for the beta-arrestin function in Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. We demonstrate that beta-arrestin is required for efficient Wnt3a-induced Lrp6 phosphorylation, a key event in downstream signaling. beta-Arrestin regulates Lrp6 phosphorylation via a novel interaction with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P-2)-binding protein Amer1/WTX/Fam123b. Amer1 has been shown very recently to bridge Wnt-induced and Dishevelled-associated PtdIns(4,5)P-2 production to the phosphorylation of Lrp6. Using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching we show here that beta-arrestin is required for the Wnt3a-induced Amer1 membrane dynamics and downstream signaling. Finally, we show that beta-arrestin interacts with PtdIns kinases PI4KII alpha and PIP5KI beta. Importantly, cells lacking beta-arrestin showed higher steady-state levels of the relevant PtdInsP and were unable to increase levels of these PtdInsP in response to Wnt3a. In summary, our data show that beta-arrestins regulate Wnt3a-induced Lrp6 phosphorylation by the regulation of the membrane dynamics of Amer1. We propose that beta-arrestins via their scaffolding function facilitate Amer1 interaction with PtdIns(4,5)P-2, which is produced locally upon Wnt3a stimulation by beta-arrestin- and Dishevelled-associated kinases.