Functional differentiation
of the two isoforms of the protein-serine/threonine
kinase, glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), is an unsettled area of
research. The isoforms are highly similar in structure and are largely
redundant, though there is also evidence for specific roles. Identification
of isoform-specific protein interactors may elucidate the differences
in function and provide insight into isoform-selective regulation.
We therefore sought to identify novel GSK-3 interaction partners and
to examine differences in the interactomes of the two isoforms using
both affinity purification and proximity-dependent biotinylation (BioID)
mass spectrometry methods. While the interactomes of the two isomers
are highly similar in HEK293 cells, BioID in HeLa cells yielded a
variety of preys that are preferentially associated with one of the
two isoforms. DCP1B, which favored GSK-3α, and MISP, which favored
GSK-3β, were evaluated for reciprocal interactions. The differences
in interactions between isoforms may help in understanding the distinct
functions and regulation of the two isoforms as well as offer avenues
for the development of isoform-specific strategies.