Phosphorylation of the selective autophagy receptor TAX1BP1 by canonical and noncanonical IκB kinases promotes its lysosomal localization and clearance of MAVS aggregates

TAX1BP1 is a selective autophagy receptor which inhibits NF-{kappa}B and RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) signaling to prevent excessive inflammation and maintain homeostasis. Selective autophagy receptors such as p62/SQSTM1 and OPTN are phosphorylated by the noncanonical I{kappa}B kinase TBK1 to stimulate their selective autophagy function. However, it is unknown if TAX1BP1 is regulated by TBK1 or other kinases under basal conditions or during RNA virus infection. Here, we found that the noncanonical I{kappa}B kinases TBK1 and IKKi phosphorylate TAX1BP1 to regulate its basal turnover, whereas the canonical I{kappa}B kinase IKK and the core autophagy factor ATG9 play essential roles in RNA virus-mediated TAX1BP1 autophagosomal degradation. TAX1BP1 phosphorylation by canonical and noncanonical I{kappa}B kinases promotes its localization to lysosomes resulting in its degradation. Furthermore, TAX1BP1 plays a critical role in the clearance of MAVS aggregates, and phosphorylation of TAX1BP1 augments its MAVS aggrephagy function. Together, our data support a model whereby I{kappa}B kinases license TAX1BP1 selective autophagy function to inhibit MAVS and RLR signaling. Author SummaryThe RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) pathway induces type I interferon (IFN) and proinflammatory cytokines in response to RNA virus infection. MAVS is a mitochondrial adaptor protein in the RLR pathway that forms prion-like aggregates upon activation; however, how MAVS aggregates are cleared to restore homeostasis is unclear. Autophagy is a lysosomal degradation pathway important for the clearance of potentially cytotoxic protein aggregates that could induce inflammation and/or cell death. TAX1BP1 is a selective autophagy receptor that inhibits RLR signaling, but the precise mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we found that TAX1BP1 is a substrate for multi-site phosphorylation by canonical and noncanonical I{kappa}B kinases which triggered its lysosomal localization and degradation. We also found that TAX1BP1 was critical for the clearance of MAVS aggregates in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Overall, our data suggest that phosphorylation serves a key regulatory function for TAX1BP1 to inhibit RLR signaling.