Opposing actions of the synapse-associated protein of 97-kDa molecular weight (SAP97) and Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) on Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Neuroscience. 2016 Jun 21:326:22-30. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.03.048. Epub 2016 Mar 26.

Abstract

It has been suggested that synapse-associated protein of 97-kDa molecular weight (SAP97) is a susceptibility factor for childhood and adult neuropsychiatric disorders. SAP97 is a scaffolding protein that shares direct and indirect binding partners with the Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) gene product, a gene with strong association with neuropsychiatric disorders. Here we investigated the possibility that these two proteins converge upon a common molecular pathway. Since DISC1 modifies Wnt/β-catenin signaling via changes in glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) phosphorylation, we asked if SAP97 impacts Wnt/β-catenin signaling and GSK3β phosphorylation. We find that SAP97 acts as inhibitor of Wnt signaling activity and can suppress the stimulatory effects of DISC1 on β-catenin transcriptional activity. Reductions in SAP97 abundance also decrease GSK3β phosphorylation. In addition, we find that over expression of DISC1 leads to an increase in the abundance of SAP97, by inhibiting its proteasomal degradation. Our findings suggest that SAP97 and DISC1 contribute to maintaining Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity within a homeostatic range by regulating GSK3β phosphorylation.

Keywords: DISC1; SAP97; Wnt; autism; schizophrenia; β-catenin.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Discs Large Homolog 1 Protein
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta / metabolism*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • DISC1 protein, human
  • DLG1 protein, human
  • Discs Large Homolog 1 Protein
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • GSK3B protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta