Phosphorylation-dependent dimerization and subcellular localization of islet-brain 1/c-Jun N-terminal kinase-interacting protein 1

Islet‐brain 1 [IB1; also termed c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK)‐interacting protein 1 (JIP‐1] is involved in the apoptotic signaling cascade of JNK and functions as a scaffold protein. It organizes several MAP kinases and the microtubule‐transport motor protein kinesin and relates to other signal‐transducing molecules such as the amyloid precursor protein. Here we have identified IB1/JIP‐1 using different antibodies that reacted with either a monomeric or a dimeric form of IB1/JIP‐1. By immunoelectron microscopy, differences in the subcellular localization were observed. The monomeric form was found in the cytoplasmic compartment and is associated with the cytoskeleton and with membranes, whereas the dimeric form was found in addition in nuclei. After treatment of mouse brain homogenates with alkaline phosphatase, the dimeric form disappeared and the monomeric form decreased its molecular weight, suggesting that an IB1/JIP‐1 dimerization is phosphorylation dependent and that IB1 exists in several phospho‐ forms. N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor activation induced a dephosphorylation of IB1/JIP‐1 in primary cultures of cortical neurons and reduced homodimerization. In conclusion, these data suggest that IB1/JIP‐1 monomers and dimers may differ in compartmental localization and thus function as a scaffold protein of the JNK signaling cascade in the cytoplasm or as a transcription factor in nuclei. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.