Guanylate-Binding Protein 1 Regulates Infection-Induced Autophagy through TBK1 Phosphorylation

Abstract

Invading bacteria can be degraded by selective autophagy, known as xenophagy. Recent studies have shown that the recruitment of autophagy adaptor proteins such as p62 to bacteria and its regulation by activated TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) are required to overcome bacterial infection. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms behind this are not yet fully understood. Here, we show that the human guanylate-binding protein (GBP) family, especially GBP1, directs xenophagy against invading Group A Streptococcus (GAS) by promoting TBK1 phosphorylation. GBP1 exhibits a GAS-surrounding localization response to bacterially caused membrane damage mediated by the membrane damage sensor galectin-3. We found that GBP1 knockout attenuated TBK1 activation, followed by reduced p62 recruitment and lower bactericidal activity by xenophagy. Furthermore, GBP1-TBK1 interaction was detected by immunoprecipitation. Our findings collectively indicate that GBP1 contributes to GAS-targeted autophagy initiated by membrane damage detection by galectin-3 via TBK1 phosphorylation.