A Conserved MST-FOXO Signaling Pathway Mediates Oxidative-Stress Responses and Extends Life Span

Maria K. Lehtinen, Zengqiang Yuan, Peter R. Boag, Yue Yang, Judit Villén, Esther B.E. Becker, Sara DiBacco, Núria de la Iglesia, Steven Gygi, T. Keith Blackwell, Azad Bonni

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

672 Scopus citations

Abstract

Oxidative stress influences cell survival and homeostasis, but the mechanisms underlying the biological effects of oxidative stress remain to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that the protein kinase MST1 mediates oxidative-stress-induced cell death in primary mammalian neurons by directly activating the FOXO transcription factors. MST1 phosphorylates FOXO proteins at a conserved site within the forkhead domain that disrupts their interaction with 14-3-3 proteins, promotes FOXO nuclear translocation, and thereby induces cell death in neurons. We also extend the MST-FOXO signaling link to nematodes. Knockdown of the C. elegans MST1 ortholog CST-1 shortens life span and accelerates tissue aging, while overexpression of cst-1 promotes life span and delays aging. The cst-1-induced life-span extension occurs in a daf-16-dependent manner. The identification of the FOXO transcription factors as major and evolutionarily conserved targets of MST1 suggests that MST kinases play important roles in diverse biological processes including cellular responses to oxidative stress and longevity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)987-1001
Number of pages15
JournalCell
Volume125
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2 2006

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A Conserved MST-FOXO Signaling Pathway Mediates Oxidative-Stress Responses and Extends Life Span'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this