Stress pathway outputs are encoded by pH-dependent phase separation of its components

Signal processing by intracellular kinases control near all biological processes but how precise functions of signal pathways evolve with changed cellular contexts is poorly understood. Functional specificity of c-Jun N-terminal Kinases (JNK) activated in response to a broad range of pathological and physiological stimuli are partly encoded by signal strength. Here we reveal that intracellular pH (pHi) is a significant component of the JNK regulatory network and defines JNK signal response to precise stimuli. We showed that nuanced fluctuations in physiological pHi regulates JNK activity in response to cell stress. Interestingly, the relationship between pHi and JNK activity was dependent on specific stimuli and upstream kinases involved in pathway activation. Cytosolic alkalinisation promoted phase transition of upstream ASK1 to augment JNK activation. While increased pHi similarly induced JNK2 to form condensates, this led to attenuated JNK activity. Mathematical modelling of feedback signalling incorporating pHi and differential contribution by JNK2 and ASK1 condensates was sufficient to delineate the strength of JNK signal response to specific stimuli. This new knowledge of pHi regulation with consideration of JNK2 and ASK1 contribution to signal transduction may delineate oncogenic versus tumour suppressive functions of the JNK pathway and cancer cell drug responses.