Gehring, T., Erdmann, T., Rahm, M., Grass, C., Flatley, A., O'Neill, T. J., Woods, S., Meininger, I., Karayel, O., Kutzner, K., Grau, M., Shinohara, H., Lammens, K., Feederle, R., Hauck, S. M., Lenz, G., Krappmann, D. (2019). Cell Reports 29, 873-888 e10.
DOI:10.1016/j.celrep.2019.09.040(link is external)
The CARMA1/CARD11-BCL10-MALT1 (CBM) complex bridges T and B cell antigen receptor (TCR/BCR) ligation to MALT1 protease activation and canonical nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling. Using unbiased mass spectrometry, we discover multiple serine phosphorylation sites in the MALT1 C terminus after T cell activation. Phospho-specific antibodies reveal that CBM-associated MALT1 is transiently hyper-phosphorylated upon TCR/CD28 co-stimulation. We identify a dual role for CK1α as a kinase that is essential for CBM signalosome assembly as well as MALT1 phosphorylation. Although MALT1 phosphorylation is largely dispensable for protease activity, it fosters canonical NF-κB signaling in Jurkat and murine CD4 T cells. Moreover, constitutive MALT1 phosphorylation promotes survival of activated B cell-type diffuse large B cell lymphoma (ABC-DLBCL) cells addicted to chronic BCR signaling. Thus, MALT1 phosphorylation triggers optimal NF-κB activation in lymphocytes and survival of lymphoma cells.
