Hepatic Dyrk1b impairs systemic glucose homeostasis by modulating Wbp2 expression in a kinase activity-dependent manner.

Patients with gain-of-function mutations of Dyrk1b have higher fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels. However, the role of Dyrk1b in glucose metabolism is not fully elucidated. Herein, we found that hepatic Dyrk1b overexpression in mice impaired systemic glucose tolerance and hepatic insulin signaling. Dyrk1b overexpression in vitro attenuated insulin signaling in a kinase activity-dependent manner, and its kinase activity was required for its effect on systemic glucose homeostasis and hepatic insulin signaling in vivo. Dyrk1b ablation improved systemic glucose tolerance and hepatic insulin signaling in mice. Quantitative proteomic analyses showed that Dyrk1b downregulated WW domain-binding protein 2 (Wbp2) protein abundance. Mechanistically, Dyrk1b enhanced Wbp2 ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation. Restoration of hepatic Wbp2 partially rescued the impaired glucose homeostasis in Dyrk1b overexpression mice. In addition, Dyrk1b inhibition with AZ191 moderately improved systemic glucose homeostasis. Our study uncovers that hepatic Dyrk1b impairs systemic glucose homeostasis via its modulation of Wbp2 expression in a kinase activity-dependent manner.