Drosophila SOCS36E negatively regulates JAK/STAT pathway signaling via two separable mechanisms

Mol Biol Cell. 2013 Sep;24(18):3000-9. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E13-05-0275. Epub 2013 Jul 24.

Abstract

Conserved from humans to Drosophila, the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling cascade is essential for multiple developmental and homeostatic processes, with regulatory molecules controlling pathway activity also highly conserved. We characterize the Drosophila JAK/STAT pathway regulator SOCS36E and show that it functions via two independent mechanisms. First, we show that Drosophila Elongin B/C and Cullin-5 act via the SOCS-box of SOCS36E to reduce pathway activity specifically in response to ligand stimulation--a process that involves endocytic trafficking and lysosomal degradation of the Domeless (Dome) receptor. Second, SOCS36E also suppresses both stimulated and basal pathway activity via an Elongin/Cullin-independent mechanism that is mediated by the N-terminus of SOCS36E, which is required for the physical interaction of SOCS36E with Dome. Although some human SOCS proteins contain N-terminal kinase-inhibitory domains, we do not identify such a region in SOCS36E and propose a model wherein the N-terminal of SOCS36E blocks access to tyrosine residues in Dome. Our biochemical analysis of a SOCS-family regulator from a lower organism highlights the fundamental conserved roles played by regulatory mechanisms in signal transduction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drosophila Proteins / chemistry
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Janus Kinases / metabolism*
  • Lysosomes / metabolism
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Stability
  • Proteolysis
  • Receptors, Interleukin / metabolism
  • STAT Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / chemistry
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / metabolism*
  • src Homology Domains

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Mutant Proteins
  • Receptors, Interleukin
  • STAT Transcription Factors
  • Socs36E protein, Drosophila
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins
  • dome protein, Drosophila
  • Janus Kinases