Redox signaling modulates axonal microtubule organization and induces a specific phosphorylation signature of microtubule-regulating proteins

Many life processes are regulated by physiological redox signaling, but excessive oxidative stress can damage biomolecules and contribute to disease. Neuronal microtubules are critically involved in axon homeostasis, regulation of axonal transport, and neurodegenerative processes. However, whether and how physiological redox signaling affects axonal microtubules is largely unknown. Using live cell imaging and super-resolution microscopy, we show that subtoxic concentrations of the central redox metabolite hydrogen peroxide increase axonal microtubule dynamics, alter the structure of the axonal microtubule array, and affect the efficiency of axonal transport. We report that the mitochondria-targeting antioxidant SkQ1 and the microtubule stabilizer EpoD abolish the increase in microtubule dynamics. We found that hydrogen peroxide specifically modulates the phosphorylation state of microtubule-regulating proteins, which differs from arsenite as an alternative stress inducer, and induces a largely non-overlapping phosphorylation pattern of MAP1B as a main target. Cell-wide phosphoproteome analysis revealed signaling pathways that are inversely activated by hydrogen peroxide and arsenite. In particular, hydrogen peroxide treatment was associated with kinases that suppress apoptosis and regulate brain metabolism (PRKDC, CK2, PDKs), suggesting that these pathways play a central role in physiological redox signaling and modulation of axonal microtubule organization. The results suggest that the redox metabolite and second messenger hydrogen peroxide induces rapid and local reorganization of the microtubule array in response to mitochondrial activity or as a messenger from neighboring cells by activating specific signaling cascades.