Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 8 (Erk8) controls estrogen-related receptor alpha cellular localization and inhibits its transcriptional activity.

Erk8 (MAPK15) is a large MAP kinase already implicated in the regulation of the functions of different nuclear receptors and in cellular proliferation and transformation. Here, we identify ERRα as a novel Erk8-interacting protein. As a consequence of such interaction, Erk8 induces Crm1-dependent translocation of ERRα to the cytoplasm and inhibits its transcriptional activity. Also, we identify in Erk8 two LXXLL motifs, typical of agonist-bound nuclear receptor corepressors, as necessary features for this MAP kinase to interact with ERRα and to regulate its cellular localization and transcriptional activity. Ultimately, based on the well-established positive role of ERRα in mammary carcinogenesis, we demonstrate that Erk8 is able to counteract, in immortalized human mammary cells, ERRα activation induced by the EGF receptor pathway, often deregulated in breast cancer. Altogether, these results reveal a novel function for Erk8 as a bona fide ERRα corepressor, involved in the control of its cellular localization by nuclear exclusion, and suggest a key role for this MAP kinase in the biological activities of this nuclear receptor.