Med14 phosphorylation shapes genomic response to GLP-1 agonist [snRNA-seq]

Under feeding conditions, increases in circulating glucose concentrations trigger the release of glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) from intestinal L cells. GLP-1 promotes insulin secretion and pancreatic beta cell viability in part via triggering of the beta cell GLP-1 receptor and subsequent induction of the cAMP signaling pathway, leading to the protein kinase A (PKA) mediated phosphorylation of CREB and induction of CREB target genes. By contrast with the acute effects of this pathway on immediate early CREB target genes, which attenuate the cAMP-CREB response, sustained exposure of beta cells to GLP-1 agonist (exenatide-4; Ex-4) or adenyl cyclase activator (Forskolin; FSK) stimulates the expression of beta cell specific CREB target genes with delayed kinetics. In a proteomic screen for transcriptional co-regulators that mediate the long-term effects of GLP-1, we identified Med14, a backbone subunit of the Mediator complex. Exposure to either Ex-4 or FSK stimulates Med14 phosphorylation at Ser983, corresponding to a conserved PKA recognition site (RRXS) that is located within an intrinsically disordered region of Med14. Phosphorylation of Med14 is essential for maintenance of enhancers that drive induction of beta cell-specific and diabetes-linked genes. Mutation of Med14 at Ser983 to alanine decreased beta cell numbers and repressed growth factor signaling in primary mouse islets. Our work reveals how phosphorylation of a general transcription factor in response to GLP-1 analogs triggers a broad genomic response with salutary effects on beta cell function.