SPECC1L binds MYPT1/PP1β and can regulate its distribution between microtubules and filamentous actin

The subcellular localization, activity and substrate specificity of the serine/threonine protein phosphatase 1 catalytic subunit (PP1 cat ) is mediated through its dynamic association with regulatory subunits in holoenzyme complexes. While some functional overlap is observed for the three human PP1 cat isoforms, they also show distinct targeting based on relative preferences for specific regulatory subunits. A well-known example is the preferential association of MYPT1 with PP1β in the myosin phosphatase complex. In smooth muscle, MYPT1/ PP1β counteracts the muscle contraction induced by phosphorylation of the light chains of myosin by the myosin light chain kinase. This phosphatase complex is also found in non-muscle cells, where it is targeted to both myosin and non-myosin substrates and contributes to regulation of the balance of cytoskeletal structure and motility during cell migration and division. Although it remains unclear how MYPT1/PP1β traffics between microtubule- and actin-associated substrates, our identification of the microtubule- and actin-binding protein SPECC1L in both the PP1β and MYPT1 interactomes suggested that it may be the missing link. Validation of their association, together with the strong overlap that we observed for the SPECC1L and MYPT1 interactomes, suggested that they exist in a stable complex in the cell. We further showed that SPECC1L binds MYPT1 directly, and that it can impact the balance of the distribution of the MYPT1/ PP1β complex between the microtubule and filamentous actin networks.