CHK2-FOXK axis promotes transcriptional control of autophagy programs

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved catabolic process, which plays a vital role in removing misfolded proteins and clearing damaged organelles to maintain internal environment homeostasis. Here, we uncovered the checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2)-FOXK (FOXK1 and FOXK2) axis playing an important role in DNA damage-mediated autophagy at the transcriptional regulation layer. Mechanistically, following DNA damage, CHK2 phosphorylates FOXK and creates a 14-3-3γ binding site, which, in turn, traps FOXK proteins in the cytoplasm. Because FOXK functions as the transcription suppressor of ATGs, DNA damage-mediated FOXKs' cytoplasmic trapping induces autophagy. In addition, we found that a cancer-derived FOXK mutation induces FOXK hyperphosphorylation and enhances autophagy, resulting in chemoresistance. Cotreatment with cisplatin and chloroquine overcomes the chemoresistance caused by FOXK mutation. Overall, our study highlights a mechanism whereby DNA damage triggers autophagy by increasing autophagy genes via CHK2-FOXK-mediated transcriptional control, and misregulation of this pathway contributes to chemoresistance.