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Two step activation of FOXO3 by AMPK generates a coherent feed-fo.pdf (3.93 MB)

Two step activation of FOXO3 by AMPK generates a coherent feed-forward loop determining excitotoxic cell fate

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Version 2 2022-02-25, 12:40
Version 1 2019-11-22, 17:00
journal contribution
posted on 2019-11-22, 17:00 authored by David Davila, Niamh M. Connolly, Helena Bonner, Petronela Weisova, Heiko Düssmann, Caoimhín G. Concannon, Heinrich J. Huber, Jochen HM Prehn

Cerebral ischemia and excitotoxic injury induce transient or permanent bioenergetic failure, and may result in neuronal apoptosis or necrosis. We have previously shown that ATP depletion and activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) during excitotoxic injury induces neuronal apoptosis by transcription of the proapoptotic BH3 only protein, Bim. AMPK, however, also exerts pro-survival functions in neurons. The molecular switches that determine these differential outcomes are not well understood. Using an approach combining biochemistry, single cell imaging and computational modeling, we here demonstrate that excitotoxic injury activated the bim promoter in a FOXO3-dependent manner. The activation of AMPK reduced AKT activation, and led to dephosphorylation and nuclear translocation of FOXO3. Subsequent mutation studies indicated that bim gene activation during excitotoxic injury required direct FOXO3 phosphorylation by AMPK in the nucleus as a second activation step. Inhibition of this phosphorylation prevented Bim expression and protected neurons against excitotoxic and oxygen/glucose deprivation-induced injury. Systems analysis and computational modeling revealed that these two activation steps defined a coherent feedforward loop; a network motif capable of filtering any effects of short-term AMPK activation on bim gene induction. This may prevent unwanted AMPK-mediated Bim expression and apoptosis during transient or physiological bioenergetic stress.

Funding

Marie Curie IEF (PIEF-GA-2009-237765), Science Foundation Ireland (08/ IN1/ 1949), and the Health Research Board in Ireland (PHD/2007/11).

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This article is also available at http://www.nature.com/cdd/focus/computational_cell_death/index.html

Published Citation

Davila D, Connolly NMC, Bonner H, Weisova P, Dussman H, Concannon CG, Huber HJ, Prehn JHM. Two step activation of FOXO3 by AMPK generates a coherent feed-forward loop determining excitotoxic cell fate. Cell Death and Differentiation. 2012;19:1677–1688.

Publication Date

2012-01-01

PubMed ID

22539004