SMURF1 mediates damaged lysosomal homeostasis by ubiquitinating PPP3CB to promote the activation of TFEB.

The calcium-activated phosphatase PPP3/calcineurin dephosphorylates TFEB (transcription factor EB) to trigger its nuclear translocation and the activation of macroautophagic/autophagic targets. However, the detailed molecular mechanism regulating TFEB activation remains poorly understood. Here, we highlighted the importance of SMURF1 (SMAD specific E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1) in the activation of TFEB for lysosomal homeostasis. SMURF1 deficiency prevents the calcium-triggered ubiquitination of the catalytic subunit of PPP3/calcineurin in a manner consistent with defective autophagic degradation of damaged lysosomes. Mechanically, PPP3CB/CNA2 plays a bridging role in the recruitment of SMURF1 by LGALS3 (galectin 3) upon lysosome damage. Importantly, PPP3CB increases the dissociation of the N-terminal tail (NT) and C-terminal carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD) of LGALS3, which may promote the formation of open conformers in a PPP3CB dephosphorylation activity-dependent manner. In addition, PPP3CB is ubiquitinated at lysine 146 by the recruited SMURF1 in response to intracellular calcium stimulation. The K63-linked ubiquitination of PPP3CB enhances the recruitment of TFEB. Moreover, TFEB directly interacts with both PPP3CB and the regulatory subunit PPP3R1 which facilitate the conformational correction of TFEB for its activation for the transcription of TFEB-targeted genes. Altogether, our results highlighted a critical mechanism for the regulation of PPP3/calcineurin activity via its ubiquitin ligase SMURF1 in response to lysosomal membrane damage, which may account for a potential target for the treatment of stress-related diseases.