GSK-3β acts upstream of Fyn kinase in regulation of nuclear export and degradation of NF-E2 related factor 2

NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates expression and coordinated induction of a battery of chemoprotective genes in response to oxidative and electrophilic stress. This leads to protection against oxidative stress and neoplastic diseases. Nuclear import and export of Nrf2 play a significant role in control of nuclear levels of Nrf2 and thus the expression of Nrf2 downstream genes. Tyrosine kinase Fyn phosphorylates tyrosine 568 of Nrf2 that leads to the nuclear export of Nrf2. In this study, we investigated the upstream factor(s) in regulation of Fyn and Fyn-mediated nuclear export of Nrf2. The investigations shed light on a novel mechanism of Nrf2 regulation in response to oxidative stress. We demonstrate that GSK-3β acts upstream of Fyn kinase in control of nuclear export of Nrf2. Chemical and short interfering RNA-mediated inhibition of GSK-3β led to nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 and transcriptional activation of the Nrf2 downstream gene nqo1. Chemical and short interfering RNA inhibition of GSK-3β and Fyn individually and in combination revealed that both kinases follow the same pathway to regulate nuclear export of Nrf2. We further demonstrate that hydrogen peroxide phosphorylates tyrosine 216 of GSK-3β. This leads to activation of GSK-3β. The activated GSK-3β phosphorylates Fyn at threonine residue(s). Phosphorylated Fyn accumulates in the nucleus and phosphorylates Nrf2 at tyrosine 568. This leads to nuclear export, ubiquitination, and degradation of Nrf2.