14-3-3 binding maintains the Parkinson's associated kinase LRRK2 in an inactive state

Abstract

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is an essential regulator in cellular signaling and a major contributor to Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis. 14-3-3 proteins are critical modulators of LRRK2 activity, yet the structural basis of their interaction has remained unclear. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the LRRK2:14-3-3₂ autoinhibitory complex, revealing how a 14-3-3 dimer stabilizes an autoinhibited LRRK2 monomer through dual-site anchoring. The dimer engages both phosphorylated S910/S935 sites and the COR-A/B subdomains within the Roc-COR GTPase region. This spatial configuration constrains LRR domain mobility, reinforces the inactive conformation, and likely impedes LRRK2 dimerization and oligomer formation. Structure-guided mutagenesis studies show that PD-associated mutations at the COR:14-3-3₂ interface and within the GTPase domain weaken 14-3-3 binding and impair its inhibitory effect on LRRK2 kinase activity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that type I LRRK2 kinase inhibitor, which stabilizes the kinase domain in its active conformation, reduces 14-3-3 binding and promotes dephosphorylation at pS910 and pS935. Together, these findings provide a structural basis for understanding how LRRK2 is maintained in an inactive state, elucidate the mechanistic role of 14-3-3 in LRRK2 regulation, inform the interpretation of PD biomarkers, and suggest therapeutic strategies aimed at enhancing LRRK2-14-3-3 interactions to treat PD and related disorders.