Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) catalyzes the conversion of
l-tyrosine into
l-DOPA, which is the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of
catecholamines, such as
dopamine, in dopaminergergic neurons. Low
dopamine levels and death of the dopaminergic neurons are hallmarks of
Parkinson's disease (PD), where α-
synuclein is also a key player. TH is highly regulated, notably by phosphorylation of several Ser/Thr residues in the N-terminal tail. However, the functional role of TH phosphorylation at the Ser-31 site (THSer(P)-31) remains unclear. Here, we report that THSer(P)-31 co-distributes with the Golgi complex and synaptic-like vesicles in rat and human dopaminergic cells. We also found that the TH microsomal fraction content decreases after inhibition of
cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) and ERK1/2. The cellular distribution of an overexpressed phospho-null mutant, TH1-S31A, was restricted to the
soma of
neuroblastoma cells, with decreased association with the microsomal fraction, whereas a phospho-mimic mutant, TH1-S31E, was distributed throughout the
soma and neurites. TH1-S31E associated with
vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) and α-
synuclein in
neuroblastoma cells, and endogenous THSer(P)-31 was detected in VMAT2- and α-
synuclein-immunoprecipitated mouse brain samples. Microtubule disruption or co-transfection with α-
synuclein A53T, a PD-associated mutation, caused TH1-S31E accumulation in the cell
soma. Our results indicate that Ser-31 phosphorylation may regulate TH subcellular localization by enabling its transport along microtubules, notably toward the projection terminals. These findings disclose a new mechanism of TH regulation by phosphorylation and reveal its interaction with key players in PD, opening up new research avenues for better understanding
dopamine synthesis in physiological and pathological states.