Phosphorylation of DPYSL2 at Thr514 by glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3β) is a regulatory mechanism with cascading effects:
Microtubule Destabilization: Phosphorylated CRMP2 loses its ability to bind tubulin, leading to impaired microtubule assembly and axonal degeneration .
Disease Links:
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD): Hyperphosphorylated CRMP2 aggregates in amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, correlating with synaptic dysfunction .
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Suppressing Thr514 phosphorylation delays motor symptom progression in SOD1 G93A mouse models .
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI): Elevated CRMP2 phosphorylation post-injury exacerbates axonal degeneration and inflammation .
High-Throughput Screening: Used in human iPSC-derived neurons to quantify CRMP2 phosphorylation changes under GSK3β inhibition (e.g., lithium or CHIR-99021) .
Therapeutic Development: Identified compounds that reduce Thr514 phosphorylation mimic lithium’s effects in attenuating neuropathic pain and hyperlocomotion .
Tubulin Interaction: Phosphorylation at Thr514 disrupts CRMP2’s binding to β-tubulin’s E-hook domain via charge repulsion, destabilizing microtubules .
Immune Cell Infiltration: In lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), DPYSL2 expression correlates with immune cell infiltration (e.g., CD4+ T cells, macrophages), though Thr514’s role here remains unexplored .