The tumor suppressor kinase DAPK3 drives tumor-intrinsic immunity through the STING-IFN-β pathway

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Mariko Takahashi
  • Chan-Wang J Lio
  • Anaamika Campeau
  • Martin Steger
  • Ferhat Ay
  • Mann, Matthias
  • David J Gonzalez
  • Mohit Jain
  • Sonia Sharma

Evasion of host immunity is a hallmark of cancer; however, mechanisms linking oncogenic mutations and immune escape are incompletely understood. Through loss-of-function screening of 1,001 tumor suppressor genes, we identified death-associated protein kinase 3 (DAPK3) as a previously unrecognized driver of anti-tumor immunity through the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway of cytosolic DNA sensing. Loss of DAPK3 expression or kinase activity impaired STING activation and interferon (IFN)-β-stimulated gene induction. DAPK3 deficiency in IFN-β-producing tumors drove rapid growth and reduced infiltration of CD103+CD8α+ dendritic cells and cytotoxic lymphocytes, attenuating the response to cancer chemo-immunotherapy. Mechanistically, DAPK3 coordinated post-translational modification of STING. In unstimulated cells, DAPK3 inhibited STING K48-linked poly-ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation. After cGAMP stimulation, DAPK3 was required for STING K63-linked poly-ubiquitination and STING-TANK-binding kinase 1 interaction. Comprehensive phospho-proteomics uncovered a DAPK3-specific phospho-site on the E3 ligase LMO7, critical for LMO7-STING interaction and STING K63-linked poly-ubiquitination. Thus, DAPK3 is an essential kinase for STING activation that drives tumor-intrinsic innate immunity and tumor immune surveillance.

Original languageEnglish
JournalNature Immunology
Volume22
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)485-496
Number of pages12
ISSN1529-2908
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2021
Externally publishedYes

ID: 259827245