Cross-talk between Arg methylation and Ser phosphorylation modulates apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 activation in endothelial cells

We describe a novel functional interaction between ASK1 and PRMT5. We show that PRMT5 interacts with and methylates ASK1 at arginine residue 89 and thereby negatively regulates its activity by promoting the interaction between ASK1 and Akt and thus phosphorylating ASK1 at serine residue 83. Furthermore, the association between ASK1 and Akt is enhanced by VEGF stimulation, and PRMT5 is required for this association. Moreover, PRMT5-mediated ASK1 methylation impaired the H2O2-induced activity of ASK1, and this inhibitory effect of PRMT5 was abolished by replacement of arginine 89 with Trp or depletion of PRMT5 expression by RNA interference. Together the results demonstrate cross-talk between arginine methylation and serine phosphorylation in ASK1.