PUBLICATION

MNK2 deficiency potentiates β-cell regeneration via translational regulation

Authors
Karampelias, C., Watt, K., Mattsson, C.L., Ruiz, Á.F., Rezanejad, H., Mi, J., Liu, X., Chu, L., Locasale, J.W., Korbutt, G.S., Rovira, M., Larsson, O., Andersson, O.
ID
ZDB-PUB-220615-2
Date
2022
Source
Nature Chemical Biology   18(9): 942-953 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Andersson, Olov, Karampelias, Christos, Mattsson, Charlotte
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E*/chemistry
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E*/genetics
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E*/metabolism
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4G*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics
  • Zebrafish/metabolism
PubMed
35697798 Full text @ Nat. Chem. Biol.
Abstract
Regenerating pancreatic β-cells is a potential curative approach for diabetes. We previously identified the small molecule CID661578 as a potent inducer of β-cell regeneration, but its target and mechanism of action have remained unknown. We now screened 257 million yeast clones and determined that CID661578 targets MAP kinase-interacting serine/threonine kinase 2 (MNK2), an interaction we genetically validated in vivo. CID661578 increased β-cell neogenesis from ductal cells in zebrafish, neonatal pig islet aggregates and human pancreatic ductal organoids. Mechanistically, we found that CID661578 boosts protein synthesis and regeneration by blocking MNK2 from binding eIF4G in the translation initiation complex at the mRNA cap. Unexpectedly, this blocking activity augmented eIF4E phosphorylation depending on MNK1 and bolstered the interaction between eIF4E and eIF4G, which is necessary for both hypertranslation and β-cell regeneration. Taken together, our findings demonstrate a targetable role of MNK2-controlled translation in β-cell regeneration, a role that warrants further investigation in diabetes.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping