Intramolecular masking of nuclear import signal on NF-AT4 by casein kinase I and MEKK1

T cell activation requires the import of NF-AT transcription factors to the nucleus, a process promoted by calcineurin-dependent dephosphorylation and inhibited by poorly understood protein kinases. Here, we report the identification of two protein kinases that oppose NF-AT4 nuclear import. Casein kinase I alpha directly binds and phosphorylates NF-AT4, resulting in the inhibiton of NF-AT4 nuclear translocation. MEKK1 indirectly suppresses NF-AT4 nuclear import by stabilizing the interaction between NF-AT4 and CKI alpha. CKI alpha thus acts to establish an intramolecular masking of the nuclear location signal on NF-AT4, while MEKK1 augments this mechanism, and may further provide a link to signal transduction pathways regulating NF-AT4.