Modulation of Wnt signaling by the nuclear localization of cellular FLIP-L

J Cell Sci. 2010 Jan 1;123(Pt 1):23-8. doi: 10.1242/jcs.058602.

Abstract

Cellular FLIP (cFLIP) inhibits the apoptosis signaling initiated by death receptor ligation. We previously reported that a long form of cFLIP (cFLIP-L) enhances Wnt signaling via inhibition of beta-catenin ubiquitylation. In this report, we present evidence that cFLIP-L translocates into the nucleus, which could have a role in modulation of Wnt signaling. cFLIP-L has a functional bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS) at the C-terminus. Wild-type cFLIP-L (wt-FLIP-L) localizes in both the nucleus and cytoplasm, whereas NLS-mutated cFLIP-L localizes predominantly in the cytoplasm. cFLIP-L also has a nuclear export signal (NES) near the NLS, and leptomycin B, an inhibitor of CRM1-dependent nuclear export, increases the nuclear accumulation of cFLIP-L, suggesting that it shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm. Expression of mutant cFLIP-L proteins with a deletion or mutations in the NLS and NES confers resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis, as does wt-FLIP-L, but they do not enhance Wnt signaling, which suggests an important role of the C-terminus of cFLIP-L in Wnt-signaling modulation. When wt-FLIP-L is expressed in the cytoplasm by conjugation with exogenous NES (NES-FLIP-L), Wnt signaling is not enhanced, whereas the NES-FLIP-L increases cytoplasmic beta-catenin as efficiently as wt-FLIP-L. cFLIP-L physically interacts with the reporter plasmid for Wnt signaling, but not with the control plasmid. These results suggest a role for nuclear cFLIP-L in the modulation of Wnt signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein / immunology
  • CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cytoplasm / immunology
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism
  • Exportin 1 Protein
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Karyopherins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mutant Proteins / genetics
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Sorting Signals / genetics
  • Protein Transport / drug effects
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Karyopherins
  • Mutant Proteins
  • Protein Sorting Signals
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
  • Wnt Proteins
  • leptomycin B