The determination of the crystal structure of GSK-3β provided further insight into the molecular nature of the regulation of GSK-3 and its predilection for primed, pre-phosphorylated, substrates (Dajani et al.,
2001; ter Haar et al.,
2001). GSK-3 shares common features with other protein kinases and has a small N-terminal lobe mostly consisting of β-sheets and a large C-terminal lobe essentially formed of α-helices (Noble et al.,
2005). The ATP-binding pocket is located between the two lobes and is so highly conserved between the two isoforms that discrimination between the two protein kinases by an ATP analog-based inhibitor is highly unlikely (Bain et al.,
2007).
GSK-3 is one of only a handful of the over 500 known protein kinases that has a strong (500- to 1000-fold) preference for substrates that are already primed by phosphorylation at a proximal serine/threonine to the GSK-3 target residue (Thomas et al.,
1999). The phosphorylated residue within the presumptive substrate slots into to a “phosphate-binding” pocket that comprises three crucial basic residues – Lys205, Arg96, and Arg180 (Bax et al.,
2001; Dajani et al.,
2001; ter Haar et al.,
2001). These three residues are conserved in all GSK-3 homologs identified to date, suggesting conservation of the priming phosphate-binding site and the substrate specificity of GSK-3 in all organisms. Binding of the priming phosphate of the substrate to this pocket on GSK-3 induces a conformational change, aligning the substrate for subsequent phosphorylation.
The majority of GSK-3 substrates exhibit an absolute requirement for prior phosphorylation by another kinase at a “priming” residue located C-terminal to the site of subsequent phosphorylation by GSK-3 (Fiol et al.,
1987). GSK-3-catalyzed phosphorylation of these substrates occurs at the fourth (Fiol et al.,
1990) or fifth (Cole et al.,
2006) serine or threonine residue N-terminal to the primed site (pS/T
1XXXpS/T
2), where the first pS/T
1 (Ser or Thr) is the target residue, X is any amino acid (but often Pro), and the last pS/T
2 is the site for priming phosphorylation. Thus, the primed Ser/Thr is recognized by the positively charged “binding pocket” on GSK-3 which facilitates the correct orientation of the substrate within the active site of the kinase. Several protein kinases have been shown to act as priming enzymes for GSK-3 phosphorylation, including CDK-5 (Sengupta et al.,
1997; Noble et al.,
2003; Li et al.,
2006), PAR-1 (Nishimura et al.,
2004), casein kinase-1 (Amit et al.,
2002), casein kinase-2 (Picton et al.,
1982; DePaoli-Roach et al.,
1983), PKA (Singh et al.,
1995), and PKC (Liu et al.,
2003). In the case of several substrates, the residue phosphorylated by GSK-3 acts to prime an additional Ser/Thr residue N-terminal to it. This can lead to a zippering effect where multiple residues become phosphorylated by GSK-3. Certain substrates apparently dodge the requirement for prior phosphorylation including c-Jun (Boyle et al.,
1991), c-Myc (Saksela et al.,
1992), histone H1.5 (Happel et al.,
2009), and MARK2/PAR-1 (Kosuga et al.,
2005; Timm et al.,
2008). In these cases, acidic residues or peptide conformations may substitute for the effect of the priming phosphate.
To prove that an
in vitro identified protein is an
in vivo physiological substrate of GSK-3 the target has to meet several criteria (Frame and Cohen,
2001). These include phosphorylation of the protein at the appropriate residues by the protein kinase
in vitro and under conditions known to modulate that kinase
in vivo and selective reduction in those phosphorylation sites upon treatment with a specific inhibitor of the protein kinase (or via gene knockout/RNAi). To date, over 100 cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins have been identified as substrates of GSK-3 although not all of these meet the Frame and Cohen criteria as
bona fide targets (reviewed in Doble and Woodgett,
2003; Jope and Johnson,
2004; Kockeritz et al.,
2006; Sutherland,
2011; see Table ).
With respect to biological processes, GSK-3 substrates may be classified into several groups of proteins/transcriptional factors/regulatory enzymes that have roles in processes such as metabolism, cellular architecture, gene expression, neurobiological processes, synaptogenesis, neurodevelopment, axonal growth and polarity, immune response, circadian rhythms, and neuronal/cellular survival (reviewed in Frame and Cohen,
2001; Doble and Woodgett,
2003; Jope and Johnson,
2004; Kockeritz et al.,
2006; Sutherland,
2011; see Table ).
GSK-3 substrates related to circadian rhythms
Circadian (from the Latin
circa diem meaning “about a day”) rhythms occur with a periodicity of about 24

h and enable organisms to adapt and anticipate environmental changes. Circadian control provides an evolutionary advantage to organisms in adapting their behavior and physiology to the appropriate time of day (reviewed in Wijnen and Young,
2006; Sahar and Sassone-Corsi,
2009). Feeding behavior, sleep-wake cycles, hormonal levels, and body temperature are just a few examples of physiological circadian rhythms. Dysregulation of the cycle is associated with the onset and development of numerous human diseases, including sleep disorders, depression, and dementia.
From a molecular standpoint, circadian rhythms are regulated by transcriptional and post-translational feedback loops generated by a set of interplaying “clock” proteins. The positive limb of the mammalian clock machinery is comprised of CLOCK and BMAL1, which are transcription factors that heterodimerize through their PAS domains and induce the expression of clock-controlled genes by binding to their promoters at E-boxes. Cryptochromes (Cry 1, Cry2) and Period genes (Per1, Per2, Per3) are clock-controlled genes that encode proteins that form the negative limb of the circadian machinery. PER and CRY proteins are classically thought to translocate into the nucleus to inhibit CLOCK:BMAL1 mediated transcription, thereby closing the negative feedback loop (reviewed in Sahar and Sassone-Corsi,
2009).
GSK-3 is expressed in the primary center of circadian rhythm regulation – the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of hypothalamus (Iitaka et al.,
2005). GSK-3αmRNA is found at higher levels in the mouse SCN than GSK-3β (Iwahana et al.,
2004). The expression of both GSK-3αprotein and the phosphorylated form of GSK-3 have a daily rhythm on the SCN, with peak expression of GSK-3α at ZT5 (Iwahana et al.,
2004). Lithium treatment reduces the expression of GSK-3α in the SCN at CT5 and CT 11 (Iwahana et al.,
2004).
Lithium has been shown to lengthen the period of circadian rhythms in a wide range of experimental systems, including unicellular organisms, insects, mice, and humans (Abe et al.,
2000; Iwahana et al.,
2004; reviewed in Engelmann,
1988). The GSK-3 ortholog in
Drosophila, Shaggy (Sgg), plays a central role in determining circadian period length in flies (Martinek et al.,
2001). For example, mutation of GSK-3 in
Drosophila causes period lengthening (Martinek et al.,
2001). Sgg (GSK-3) phosphorylates Timeless and regulates nuclear translocation of the Period/Timeless heterodimer (Martinek et al.,
2001).
GSK-3 has also been demonstrated to phosphorylate and regulate the stability of “core” circadian rhythm genes in mammals. GSK-3 together with another serine kinase, DYRK1A, phosphorylates CRY2 at Ser 557 and 553 (respectively) resulting in degradation of CRY2 (Harada et al.,
2005; Kurabayashi et al.,
2010). GSK-3 phosphorylates BMAL1 (Ser17/Thr21) and these events control the stability of the proteins and the amplitude of circadian oscillation (Sahar et al.,
2010). Moreover, GSK-3 has been found to phosphorylate Rev-erbα (Yin et al.,
2006), as well as Clock (Spengler et al.,
2009). GSK-3 interacts with Per2
in vitro and
in vivo, phosphorylates Per2
in vitro and promotes nuclear translocation of Per2 (Iitaka et al.,
2005; Kaladchibachi et al.,
2007). Overexpression of GSK-3 caused a ~2

h advance in the phase of mPER2 (Iitaka et al.,
2005). Genetic depletion of two alleles of GSK-3β in combination with deletion of one allele of GSK-3α in synchronized oscillating mouse embryonic fibroblasts (3/4 GSK-3α/β KO MEFs) resulted in a significant delay in the period of endogenous clock mechanism, particularly in the cycling period of Per 2 (Kaladchibachi et al.,
2007). In contrast, one study revealed that siRNA knockdown of GSK-3β or treatment with GSK-3 inhibitors (CHIR 99021 and 1-azakenpaullone) shortened the circadian rhythm (Hirota et al.,
2008); however, the same study observed prominent period lengthening by lithium in another experimental system (Hirota et al.,
2008). Nevertheless, pharmacological inactivation of GSK-3 by a related molecule (kenpaullone) induced a phase delay in Per2 transcription (Kaladchibachi et al.,
2007).