Autoimmunity-associated DIORA1 binds the MRCK family of serine/threonine kinases and controls cell motility

T Tilen Tršelič N Nathalie Pelo (Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital) G Gregoire Martin de Fremont (Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital) V Vaishnavi S. Iyer (Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital) E Elina Richardsdotter Andersson (Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital) V Vijole Ottosson (Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital) D David Alexander Frei (Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital) E Elisa Baas (Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital) W William A. Nyberg G Guðný Ella Thorlacius (Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital) L Lara Mentlein (Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital) S Sanjaykumar V. Boddul (Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital) I Ioana Sandu (Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital) D Diego Velasquez Pulgarin (Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital) Ákos Végvári (Division of Chemistry I, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet) C Carmen Gerlach (Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital) F Fredrik Wermeling (Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital) M Maria Sunnerhagen (Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University) B Björn Wallner (Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University) A Alexander Espinosa M Marie Wahren-Herlenius (Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital)

Abstract

Genetic association links disordered autoimmunity 1 (DIORA1) to numerous autoimmune rheumatic diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, and systemic sclerosis. However, its cellular function has remained unknown. Here, we identify the Myotonic Dystrophy Kinase-Related Cdc42-Binding Kinases (MRCK kinases) family of serine/threonine kinases—key regulators of actomyosin contractility and cell motility—as direct interactors of DIORA1. Through interaction mapping, we show that DIORA1 binds three distinct modules of MRCK kinases, including the conserved kinase inhibitory motif, C1-PH, and citron homology domains. DIORA1 knockdown in human cells altered cellular phosphorylation patterns and reduced phosphorylation of known MRCK targets. RNA-sequencing and proteomic analyses revealed upregulation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition genes and proteins, and functional analyses confirmed increased cell invasion, following knockdown of DIORA1. Together, these findings identify the autoimmunity-associated DIORA1 protein as an interactor of MRCK kinases and a regulator of cell motility.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 40
Published October 07, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (21)

T

Tilen Tršelič

N

Nathalie Pelo

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital

G

Gregoire Martin de Fremont

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital

V

Vaishnavi S. Iyer

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital

E

Elina Richardsdotter Andersson

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital

V

Vijole Ottosson

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital

D

David Alexander Frei

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital

E

Elisa Baas

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital

W

William A. Nyberg

G

Guðný Ella Thorlacius

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital

L

Lara Mentlein

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital

S

Sanjaykumar V. Boddul

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital

I

Ioana Sandu

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital

D

Diego Velasquez Pulgarin

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital

Ákos Végvári

Division of Chemistry I, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet

C

Carmen Gerlach

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital

F

Fredrik Wermeling

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital

M

Maria Sunnerhagen

Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University

B

Björn Wallner

Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University

A

Alexander Espinosa

M

Marie Wahren-Herlenius

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital