beta-TrCP-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of PHLPP1 are negatively regulated by Akt

PHLPP1 belongs to a novel family of Ser/Thr protein phosphatases that serve as tumor suppressors by negatively regulating Akt signaling. Our recent studies have demonstrated that loss of PHLPP expression occurs at high frequency in colorectal cancer. In this study, we identified PHLPP1 as a proteolytic target of a beta-TrCP-containing Skp-Cullin 1-F-box protein (SCF) complex (SCF(beta-TrCP)) E3 ubiquitin ligase in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Overexpression of wild-type but not DeltaF-box mutant beta-TrCP leads to decreased expression and increased ubiquitination of PHLPP1, whereas knockdown of endogenous beta-TrCP has the opposite effect. In addition, we show that the beta-TrCP-mediated degradation requires phosphorylation of PHLPP1 by casein kinase I and glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta), and activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway suppresses the degradation of PHLPP1 by inhibiting the GSK-3beta activity. Furthermore, expression of a degradation-deficient PHLPP1 mutant in colon cancer cells results in a more effective dephosphorylation of Akt and inhibition of cell growth. Taken together, our findings demonstrate a key role for beta-TrCP in controlling the level of PHLPP1, and activation of Akt negatively regulates this degradation process.