PARsylated transcription factor EB (TFEB) regulates the expression of a subset of Wnt target genes by forming a complex with β-catenin-TCF/LEF1

Wnt signaling is mainly transduced by beta-catenin via regulation of the beta-catenin destruction complex containing Axin, APC, and GSK3 beta. Transcription factor EB (TFEB) is a well-known master regulator of autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis processes. TFEB's nuclear localization and transcriptional activity are also regulated by various upstream signals. In this study, we found that Wnt signaling induces the nuclear localization of TFEB and the expression of Wnt target genes is regulated by TFEB-beta-catenin-TCF/LEF1 as well as beta-catenin-TCF/LEF1 complexes. Our biochemical data revealed that TFEB is a part of the beta-catenin destruction complex, and destabilization of the destruction complex by knockdown of either Axin or APC causes nuclear localization of TFEB. Interestingly, RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that about 27% of Wnt3a-induced genes were TFEB dependent. However, these TFEB mediated Wnt target genes were different from TFEB target genes involved in autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis processes. Mechanistically, we found that Tankyrase (TNKS) PARsylates TFEB with Wnt ON signaling, and the nuclear localized PARsylated TFEB forms a complex with beta-catenin-TCF/LEF1 to induce the TFEB mediated Wnt target genes. Finally, we found that in various types of cancer, the levels of TFEB mediated Wnt target genes exhibit strong correlations with the level of Axin2, which represents the activity of Wnt signaling. Overall, our data suggest that Wnt signaling induces the expression of a subset of genes that are distinct from previously known genes regulated by the beta-catenin-TCF/LEF1 complex or TFEB, by forming a transcription factor complex consisting of PARsylated TFEB and beta-catenin-TCF/LEF1.

Automated summary

Wnt signaling induces nuclear localization of TFEB, which forms a complex with beta-catenin-TCF/LEF1 to regulate the expression of a subset of genes distinct from previously known targets. Knockdown of Axin or APC destabilizes the beta-catenin destruction complex, leading to nuclear localization of TFEB. In various types of cancer, levels of TFEB mediated Wnt target genes show strong correlations with Axin2 levels.