Regulating RIPK1: another way in which ULK1 contributes to survival |
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Authors: | Wenxian Wu |
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Affiliation: | Institute of Molecular Medicine I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University , Düsseldorf, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4059-5945 |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACT The mammalian ULK1 is the central initiating kinase of bulk and selective macroautophagy/autophagy processes. In the past, both autophagy-relevant and non-autophagy-relevant substrates of this Ser/Thr kinase have been reported. Here, we describe our recent finding that ULK1 also regulates TNF signaling pathways. We find that inhibition of autophagy or specifically ULK1 increases TNF-induced cell death. This autophagy-independent pro-survival function of ULK1 is mediated via the phosphorylation of RIPK1 at Ser357. RIPK1 is the central mediator of pro-inflammatory or pro-death signaling pathways induced by TNF, and ULK1-dependent phosphorylation regulates RIPK1 activation and distribution to different intracellular signaling complexes. Our results indicate that ULK1 exerts a cyto-protective function not only by initiating autophagy, but also by controlling RIPK1-mediated cell death. |
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Keywords: | Autophagy necroptosis necrosome RIPK1 TNF ULK1 |
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