Glycogen synthase kinase 3ß functions as a positive effector in the WNK signaling pathway

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 13; no. 3; p. e0193204
• Main Authors: Sato, Atsushi, Shibuya, Hiroshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.03.2018; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Biology and life sciences; Cellular signal transduction; Genetic aspects; Physiological aspects; Protein kinases; Research and Analysis Methods; Japan
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193204

The with no lysine (WNK) protein kinase family is conserved among many species. Some mutations in human WNK gene are associated with pseudohypoaldosteronism type II, a form of hypertension, and hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 2A. In kidney, WNK regulates the activity of STE20/SPS1-related, proline alanine-rich kinase and/or oxidative-stress responsive 1, which in turn regulate ion co-transporters. The misregulation of this pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of pseudohypoaldosteronism type II. In the neural system, WNK is involved in the specification of the cholinergic neuron, but the pathogenesis of hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 2A is still unknown. To better understand the WNK pathway, we isolated WNK-associated genes using Drosophila. We identified Glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK3ß)/Shaggy (Sgg) as a candidate gene that was shown to interact with the WNK signaling pathway in both Drosophila and mammalian cells. Furthermore, GSK3ß was involved in neural specification downstream of WNK. These results suggest that GSK3ß/Sgg functions as a positive effector in the WNK signaling pathway.