TBK1

Fig1. TBK1 protein structure and interaction partners. (Austin P Runde, 2022)

What is TBK1 protein?

TBK1 (TANK binding kinase 1) gene is a protein coding gene which situated on the long arm of chromosome 12 at locus 12q14. TBK, also known as IkappaB kinase (IKK)-related kinase NAK, belong to the serine/threonine IKK kinase family and is thought to play a role in NF-kappa-B (NF-kappaB) activation. The NF-kappaB complex of proteins is inhibited by I-kappa-B (IKB) proteins,Which inactivate NF-kappaB by trapping it in the cytoplasm. The protein encoded by this gene is similar to IKB kinases and can mediate NF-kappaB activation in response to certain growth factors. For example, the protein can form a complex with the IKB protein TANK and TRAF2 and release the NF-kappaB inhibition caused by TANK. The TBK1 protein is consisted of 729 amino acids and its molecular mass is approximately 83.6 kDa.

What is the function of TBK1 protein?

TBK1, also known as NAK or NFkB-activating kinase, is an upstream protein kinase that can phosphorylate and activate the IkB kinases. Activation of IkB kinases allows the phosphorylation of IkB protein which is then degraded via the ubiquitination pathway. This mechanism allows the activation of the NFkB transcriptional complex. TBK1 is a specific upstream regulator of IkB kinases and can also interact and the IkB protein TANK. TBK1 is a component of the virus-activated kinase that phosphorylate IRF3 and IRF7 allowing their dimerization and translocation to the nucleus, where they induce transcription of interferon.

TBK1 Related Signaling Pathway

TBK1 protein is involved in the regulation of multiple signaling pathways. It mainly includes immune regulation, apoptosis and cell proliferation. In immune regulation, TBK1 is involved in the activation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) and RIG-I receptor (RLR) signaling pathways, or interacts with the transcription factor NF-κB to regulate inflammation and immune responses. In apoptosis, TBK1 is involved in regulating the signaling pathway of members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family, regulating cell death and survival, and promoting the formation of autophagosomes through phosphorylation of Beclin-1. In addition, TBK1 is involved in cell cycle regulation and DNA damage repair during cell proliferation.

Fig2. TBK1-mediated signaling pathways. TBK1 activation is stimulated by pathogenic infections and inflammatory cytokines via corresponding receptors bridged by adaptor partners. (Austin P Runde, 2022)

TBK1 Related Diseases

Diseases associated with TBK1 protein mainly include immune-related diseases and tumors. In immune-related diseases, mutations or abnormal activation of TBK1 protein may lead to immune system disorders, triggering autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, TBK1 protein also plays an important role in antiviral immunity, such as in infections such as influenza virus, Dengue virus and Ebola virus, TBK1 affects the host immune response by regulating the production of type I interferon. In the process of tumor development, the abnormal activation of TBK1 protein may promote the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of tumor cells, thus participating in the occurrence and progression of tumors, including breast cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, etc. It has also been linked to neurodegenerative diseases.

Bioapplications of TBK1

Researchers are developing drugs that target TBK1 as a new strategy to treat inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, and infections. fostamatinib, which is approved to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ulcerative colitis, inhibits multiple tyrosine kinases, including TBK1. In addition, the TBK1 signaling pathway has also been used as a target for immune checkpoint therapy to improve immunotherapy responsiveness.