Rheb is an essential regulator of S6K in controlling cell growth in Drosophila

Understanding the mechanisms through which multicellular organisms regulate cell, organ and body growth is of relevance to developmental biology and to research on growth-related diseases such as cancer. Here we describe a new effector in growth control, the small GTPase Rheb (Ras homologue enriched in brain). Mutations in the Drosophila melanogaster Rheb gene were isolated as growth-inhibitors, whereas overexpression of Rheb promoted cell growth. Our genetic and biochemical analyses suggest that Rheb functions downstream of the tumour suppressors Tsc1 (tuberous sclerosis 1)-Tsc2 in the TOR (target of rapamycin) signalling pathway to control growth, and that a major effector of Rheb function is ribosomal S6 kinase (S6K).     

The Rheb family of GTP-binding proteins

Rheb proteins represent a novel and unique family of the Ras superfamily GTP-binding proteins that is conserved from yeast to human. Biochemical studies establish that they bind and hydrolyze GTP. Molecular modeling studies reveal a few structural differences between Rheb and Ras, which may suggest that residues involved in biochemical activities differ between the two G-proteins. The function of Rheb has been studied in a number of organisms that point to the involvement of Rheb in cell growth and cell cycle progression. In addition, studies in fungi suggest that Rheb is involved in arginine uptake. Further studies in Drosophila and mammalian cells have shown that the effects of Rheb on growth and cell cycle progression are mediated by the effect on the insulin/TOR/S6K signaling pathway. These studies have also shown that a complex consisting of the tuberous sclerosis gene products, Tsc1/Tsc2, serves as a GTPase activating protein (GAP) for Rheb, implying Rheb's role in this genetic disorder. Finally, Rheb proteins have been shown to be farnesylated and small molecule inhibitors of protein farnesyltransferase can block the ability of Rheb to activate the TOR/S6K signaling.     

Tsc tumour suppressor proteins antagonize amino-acid-TOR signalling

Target of Rapamycin (TOR) mediates a signalling pathway that couples amino acid availability to S6 kinase (S6K) activation, translational initiation and cell growth. Here, we show that tuberous sclerosis 1 (Tsc1) and Tsc2, tumour suppressors that are responsible for the tuberous sclerosis syndrome, antagonize this amino acid-TOR signalling pathway. We show that Tsc1 and Tsc2 can physically associate with TOR and function upstream of TOR genetically. In Drosophila melanogaster and mammalian cells, loss of Tsc1 and Tsc2 results in a TOR-dependent increase of S6K activity. Furthermore, although S6K is normally inactivated in animal cells in response to amino acid starvation, loss of Tsc1-Tsc2 renders cells resistant to amino acid starvation. We propose that the Tsc1-Tsc2 complex antagonizes the TOR-mediated response to amino acid availability. Our studies identify Tsc1 and Tsc2 as regulators of the amino acid-TOR pathway and provide a new paradigm for how proteins involved in nutrient sensing function as tumour suppressors.     

Akt regulates growth by directly phosphorylating Tsc2

The direct mechanism by which the serine/threonine kinase Akt (also known as protein kinase B (PKB)) regulates cell growth is unknown. Here, we report that Drosophila melanogaster Akt/PKB stimulates growth by phosphorylating the tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (Tsc2) tumour suppressor and inhibiting formation of a Tsc1-Tsc2 complex. We show that Akt/PKB directly phosphorylates Drosophila Tsc2 in vitro at the conserved residues, Ser 924 and Thr 1518. Mutation of these sites renders Tsc2 insensitive to Akt/PKB signalling, increasing the stability of the Tsc1-Tsc2 complex within the cell. Stimulating Akt/PKB signalling in vivo markedly increases cell growth/size, disrupts the Tsc1-Tsc2 complex and disturbs the distinct subcellular localization of Tsc1 and Tsc2. Furthermore, all Akt/PKB growth signals are blocked by expression of a Tsc2 mutant lacking Akt phosphorylation sites. Thus, Tsc2 seems to be the critical target of Akt in mediating growth signals for the insulin signalling pathway.     

A small G protein Rhb1 and a GTPase-activating protein Tsc2 involved in nitrogen starvation-induced morphogenesis and cell wall integrity of Candida albicans

Rheb is a new member of the small G proteins of the Ras superfamily in eukaryotic organisms and controls various physiological processes. Activity of Rheb is regulated by Tsc2, a GTPase-activating protein (GAP). In this study, we have identified Candida albicans homologs of Rheb (named as Rhb1) and Tsc2. Deletion of the RHB1 gene showed enhanced sensitivity to rapamycin (an inhibitor of TOR kinase), suggesting that Rhb1 is associated with the TOR signaling pathway in C. albicans. Further analysis indicated RHB1 and TSC2 are involved in nitrogen starvation-induced filamentation, likely by controlling the expression of MEP2 whose gene product is an ammonium permease and a sensor for the nitrogen signal. Moreover, we have demonstrated that Rhb1 is also involved in cell wall integrity pathway, by transferring signals through the TOR kinase and the Mkc1 MAP kinase pathway. Together, this study brings new insights into the complex interplay of signaling and regulatory pathways in C. albicans.     

Critical role of T-loop and H-motif phosphorylation in the regulation of S6 kinase 1 by the tuberous sclerosis complex

The tuberous sclerosis gene products Tsc1 and Tsc2 behave as tumor suppressors by restricting cell growth, a function conserved among metazoans. Recent evidence has indicated that hyperactivation of S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) may represent an important biochemical change in the development of tuberous sclerosis-associated lesions. We show here that deletion of either Tsc1 or Tsc2 or expression of the Rheb (Ras homolog enriched in brain) GTPase leads to hyperphosphorylation of S6K1 at a subset of regulatory sites, particularly those of two essential residues functionally conserved among AGC superfamily serine/threonine kinases, i.e. the activation loop (T-loop; Thr-229) and the hydrophobic motif (H-motif; Thr-389). These sites are reciprocally and dose-dependently regulated when S6K1 is coexpressed with the Tsc1-Tsc2 complex. Mutations that render S6K1 mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin)-resistant also protect S6K1 activity and phosphorylation from down-regulation by Tsc1/2. We demonstrate that two disease-associated mutations in Tsc2 fail to negatively regulate S6K1 activity concomitant with a failure to modify T-loop and H-motif phosphorylation. Finally, we identify one pathological Tsc2 mutation that retains its ability to negatively regulate S6K1, suggesting that, in some cases, tuberous sclerosis may develop independently of S6K1 hyperactivation. These results also highlight the importance of dual control of T-loop and H-motif phosphorylation of S6K1 by the Tsc1-Tsc2 complex.     

Opposite effects of tor1 and tor2 on nitrogen starvation responses in fission yeast

The TOR protein kinases exhibit a conserved role in regulating cellular growth and proliferation. In the fission yeast two TOR homologs are present. tor1(+) is required for starvation and stress responses, while tor2(+) is essential. We report here that Tor2 depleted cells show a phenotype very similar to that of wild-type cells starved for nitrogen, including arrest at the G(1) phase of the cell cycle, induction of nitrogen-starvation-specific genes, and entrance into the sexual development pathway. The phenotype of tor2 mutants is in a striking contrast to the failure of tor1 mutants to initiate sexual development or arrest in G(1) under nitrogen starvation conditions. Tsc1 and Tsc2, the genes mutated in the human tuberous sclerosis complex syndrome, negatively regulate the mammalian TOR via inactivation of the GTPase Rheb. We analyzed the genetic relationship between the two TOR genes and the Schizosaccharomyces pombe orthologs of TSC1, TSC2, and Rheb. Our data suggest that like in higher eukaryotes, the Tsc1-2 complex negatively regulates Tor2. In contrast, the Tsc1-2 complex and Tor1 appear to work in parallel, both positively regulating amino acid uptake through the control of expression of amino acid permeases. Additionally, either Tsc1/2 or Tor1 are required for growth on a poor nitrogen source such as proline. Mutants lacking Tsc1 or Tsc2 are highly sensitive to rapamycin under poor nitrogen conditions, suggesting that the function of Tor1 under such conditions is sensitive to rapamycin. We discuss the complex genetic interactions between tor1(+), tor2(+), and tsc1/2(+) and the implications for rapamycin sensitivity in tsc1 or tsc2 mutants.     

Rheb is essential for murine development

Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb) couples growth factor signaling to activation of the target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1). To study its role in mammals, we generated a Rheb knockout mouse. In contrast to mTOR or regulatory-associated protein of mTOR (Raptor) mutants, the inner cell mass of Rheb(-/-) embryos differentiated normally. Nevertheless, Rheb(-/-) embryos died around midgestation, most likely due to impaired development of the cardiovascular system. Rheb(-/-) embryonic fibroblasts showed decreased TORC1 activity, were smaller, and showed impaired proliferation. Rheb heterozygosity extended the life span of tuberous sclerosis complex 1-deficient (Tsc1(-/-)) embryos, indicating that there is a genetic interaction between the Tsc1 and Rheb genes in mouse.     

Mechanisms of TSC-mediated control of synapse assembly and axon guidance

Tuberous sclerosis complex is a dominant genetic disorder produced by mutations in either of two tumor suppressor genes, TSC1 and TSC2; it is characterized by hamartomatous tumors, and is associated with severe neurological and behavioral disturbances. Mutations in TSC1 or TSC2 deregulate a conserved growth control pathway that includes Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb) and Target of Rapamycin (TOR). To understand the function of this pathway in neural development, we have examined the contributions of multiple components of this pathway in both neuromuscular junction assembly and photoreceptor axon guidance in Drosophila. Expression of Rheb in the motoneuron, but not the muscle of the larval neuromuscular junction produced synaptic overgrowth and enhanced synaptic function, while reductions in Rheb function compromised synapse development. Synapse growth produced by Rheb is insensitive to rapamycin, an inhibitor of Tor complex 1, and requires wishful thinking, a bone morphogenetic protein receptor critical for functional synapse expansion. In the visual system, loss of Tsc1 in the developing retina disrupted axon guidance independently of cellular growth. Inhibiting Tor complex 1 with rapamycin or eliminating the Tor complex 1 effector, S6 kinase (S6k), did not rescue axon guidance abnormalities of Tsc1 mosaics, while reductions in Tor function suppressed those phenotypes. These findings show that Tsc-mediated control of axon guidance and synapse assembly occurs via growth-independent signaling mechanisms, and suggest that Tor complex 2, a regulator of actin organization, is critical in these aspects of neuronal development.     

Rheb is a direct target of the tuberous sclerosis tumour suppressor proteins

Mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes cause tuberous sclerosis, a benign tumour syndrome in humans. Tsc2 possesses a domain that shares homology with the GTPase-activating protein (GAP) domain of Rap1-GAP, suggesting that a GTPase might be the physiological target of Tsc2. Here we show that the small GTPase Rheb (Ras homologue enriched in brain) is a direct target of Tsc2 GAP activity both in vivo and in vitro. Point mutations in the GAP domain of Tsc2 disrupted its ability to regulate Rheb without affecting the ability of Tsc2 to form a complex with Tsc1. Our studies identify Rheb as a molecular target of the TSC tumour suppressors.     

Thinking globally and acting locally with TOR

The target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway regulates ribosome biogenesis, protein synthesis, nutrient import, autophagy and cell cycle progression. After 30 years of concentrated attention, how TOR controls these processes is only now beginning to be understood. Recent advances have identified a wide array of TOR inputs, including amino acids, oxygen, ATP and growth factors, as well the regulatory proteins that facilitate their effects on TOR. Such proteins include AMPK, Rheb and the tumor suppressors LKB1, p53, and Tsc1/2. It has only recently been appreciated that TOR resides in two distinct signaling complexes with differing regulatory roles, only one of which is rapamycin-sensitive, thus opening a new avenue of inquiry into TOR function. Finally, TOR appears to regulate feeding behavior by facilitating communication between organ systems, and is thus implicated in the regulation of glucose and fat homeostasis, and possibly diabetes and obesity. TOR thus functions to coordinate growth-permitting inputs with growth-promoting outputs on both a cellular and an organismal level.     

Diet and energy-sensing inputs affect TorC1-mediated axon misrouting but not TorC2-directed synapse growth in a Drosophila model of tuberous sclerosis

The Target of Rapamycin (TOR) growth regulatory system is influenced by a number of different inputs, including growth factor signaling, nutrient availability, and cellular energy levels. While the effects of TOR on cell and organismal growth have been well characterized, this pathway also has profound effects on neural development and behavior. Hyperactivation of the TOR pathway by mutations in the upstream TOR inhibitors TSC1 (tuberous sclerosis complex 1) or TSC2 promotes benign tumors and neurological and behavioral deficits, a syndrome known as tuberous sclerosis (TS). In Drosophila, neuron-specific overexpression of Rheb, the direct downstream target inhibited by Tsc1/Tsc2, produced significant synapse overgrowth, axon misrouting, and phototaxis deficits. To understand how misregulation of Tor signaling affects neural and behavioral development, we examined the influence of growth factor, nutrient, and energy sensing inputs on these neurodevelopmental phenotypes. Neural expression of Pi3K, a principal mediator of growth factor inputs to Tor, caused synapse overgrowth similar to Rheb, but did not disrupt axon guidance or phototaxis. Dietary restriction rescued Rheb-mediated behavioral and axon guidance deficits, as did overexpression of AMPK, a component of the cellular energy sensing pathway, but neither was able to rescue synapse overgrowth. While axon guidance and behavioral phenotypes were affected by altering the function of a Tor complex 1 (TorC1) component, Raptor, or a TORC1 downstream element (S6k), synapse overgrowth was only suppressed by reducing the function of Tor complex 2 (TorC2) components (Rictor, Sin1). These findings demonstrate that different inputs to Tor signaling have distinct activities in nervous system development, and that Tor provides an important connection between nutrient-energy sensing systems and patterning of the nervous system.     

Identification of novel single amino acid changes that result in hyperactivation of the unique GTPase, Rheb, in fission yeast

Rheb GTPase is a key player in the control of growth, cell cycle and nutrient uptake that is conserved from yeast to humans. To further our understanding of the Rheb pathway, we sought to identify hyperactivating mutations in the Schizosaccharomyces pombe Rheb, Rhb1. Hyperactive forms of Rhb1 were found to result from single amino acid changes at valine-17, serine-21, lysine-120 or asparagine-153. Expression of these mutants confers resistance to canavanine and thialysine, phenotypes which are similar to phenotypes exhibited by cells lacking the Tsc1/Tsc2 complex that negatively regulates Rhb1. The thialysine-resistant phenotype of the hyperactive Rhb1 mutants is suppressed by a second mutation in the effector domain. Purified mutant proteins exhibit dramatically decreased binding of GDP, while their GTP binding is not drastically affected. In addition, some of the mutant proteins show significantly decreased GTPase activities. Thus the hyperactivating mutations are expected to result in an increase in the GTP-bound/GDP-bound ratio of Rhb1. By using the hyperactive mutant, Rhb1(K120R), we have been able to demonstrate that Rhb1 interacts with Tor2, one of the two S. pombe TOR (Target of Rapamycin) proteins. These fission yeast results provide the first evidence for a GTP-dependent association of Rheb with Tor.     

Rheb Protein Binds CAD (Carbamoyl-phosphate Synthetase 2, Aspartate Transcarbamoylase,and Dihydroorotase) Protein in a GTP- and Effector Domain-dependent Manner and Influences Its Cellular Localization and Carbamoyl-phosphate Synthetase (CPSase) Activity

Rheb small GTPases, which consist of Rheb1 and Rheb2 (also known as RhebL1) in mammalian cells, are unique members of the Ras superfamily and play central roles in regulating protein synthesis and cell growth by activating mTOR. To gain further insight into the function of Rheb, we carried out a search for Rheb-binding proteins and found that Rheb binds to CAD protein (carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, aspartate transcarbamoylase, and dihydroorotase), a multifunctional enzyme required for the de novo synthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides. CAD binding is more pronounced with Rheb2 than with Rheb1. Rheb binds CAD in a GTP- and effector domain-dependent manner. The region of CAD where Rheb binds is located at the C-terminal region of the carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase domain and not in the dihydroorotase and aspartate transcarbamoylase domains. Rheb stimulated carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase activity of CAD in vitro. In addition, an elevated level of intracellular UTP pyrimidine nucleotide was observed in Tsc2-deficient cells, which was attenuated by knocking down of Rheb. Immunostaining analysis showed that expression of Rheb leads to increased accumulation of CAD on lysosomes. Both a farnesyltransferase inhibitor that blocks membrane association of Rheb and knockdown of Rheb mislocalized CAD. These results establish CAD as a downstream effector of Rheb and suggest a possible role of Rheb in regulating de novo pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis.     

Regulation of TOR by small GTPases

TOR is a conserved serine/threonine kinase that responds to nutrients, growth factors, the bioenergetic status of the cell and cellular stress to control growth, metabolism and ageing. A diverse group of small GTPases including Rheb, Rag, Rac1, RalA and Ryh1 play a variety of roles in the regulation of TOR. For example, while Rheb binds to and activates TOR directly, Rag and Rac1 regulate its localization and RalA activates it indirectly through the production of phosphatidic acid. Here, we review recent findings on the regulation of TOR by small GTPases.     

Identification of dominant negative mutants of Rheb GTPase and their use to implicate the involvement of human Rheb in the activation of p70S6K

Rheb GTPases represent a unique family of the Ras superfamily of G-proteins. Studies on Rheb in Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Drosophila have shown that this small GTPase is essential and is involved in cell growth and cell cycle progression. The Drosophila studies also raised the possibility that Rheb is involved in the TOR/S6K signaling pathway. In this paper, we first report identification of dominant negative mutants of S. pombe Rheb (SpRheb). Screens of a randomly mutagenized SpRheb library yielded a mutant, SpRhebD60V, whose expression in S. pombe results in growth inhibition, G1 arrest, and induction of fnx1+, a gene whose expression is induced by the disruption of Rheb. Alteration of the Asp-60 residue to all possible amino acids by site-directed mutagenesis led to the identification of two particularly strong dominant negative mutants, D60I and D60K. Characterization of these dominant negative mutant proteins revealed that D60V and D60I exhibit preferential binding of GDP, while D60K lost the ability to bind both GTP and GDP. A possible use of the dominant negative mutants in the study of mammalian Rheb was explored by introducing dominant negative mutations into human Rheb. We show that transient expression of the wild type Rheb1 or Rheb2 causes activation of p70S6K, while expression of Rheb1D60K mutant results in inhibition of basal level activity of p70S6K. In addition, Rheb1D60K and Rheb1D60V mutants blocked nutrient- or serum-induced activation of p70S6K. This provides critical evidence that Rheb plays a role in the mTOR/S6K pathway in mammalian cells.     

Characterization of TCTP, the Translationally Controlled Tumor Protein, from Arabidopsis thaliana

The translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is an important component of the TOR (target of rapamycin) signaling pathway, the major regulator of cell growth in animals and fungi. TCTP acts as the guanine nucleotide exchange factor of the Ras GTPase Rheb that controls TOR activity in Drosophila melanogaster. We therefore examined the role of Arabidopsis thaliana TCTP in planta. Plant TCTPs exhibit distinct sequence differences from nonplant homologs but share the key GTPase binding surface. Green fluorescent protein reporter lines show that Arabidopsis TCTP is expressed throughout plant tissues and developmental stages with increased expression in meristematic and expanding cells. Knockout of TCTP leads to a male gametophytic phenotype with normal pollen formation and germination but impaired pollen tube growth. Silencing of TCTP by RNA interference slows vegetative growth; leaf expansion is reduced because of smaller cell size, lateral root formation is reduced, and root hair development is impaired. Furthermore, these lines show decreased sensitivity to an exogenously applied auxin analog and have elevated levels of endogenous auxin. These results identify TCTP as an important regulator of growth in plants and imply a function of plant TCTP as a mediator of TOR activity similar to that known in nonplant systems.     

Binding of Gbetagamma subunits to cRaf1 downregulates G-protein-coupled receptor signalling.

Receptors of the seven transmembrane domain family are coupled to heterotrimeric G proteins [1]. Binding of ligand to these receptors induces dissociation of the heterotrimeric complex into free GTP-Galpha and Gbetagamma subunits, which then interact with their respective effector molecules to stimulate specific cellular responses. In some cases, these cellular responses involve mitogenic signalling [2]. The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade is initiated by the protein kinase cRaf1 and links growth factor receptor signalling to cell growth and differentiation [3]. The main activator of cRaf1 is the small GTP-binding protein Ras [4], and the binding of cRaf1 to GTP-Ras translocates cRaf1 to the plasma membrane, where it is activated [5]. It has been reported that cRaf1 associates directly with the beta subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins in vitro, and with the betagamma subunit complex in vivo [6], but the role of this association is not yet understood. Here, we show that cRaf1 associates with Gbeta1gamma2, and that this association in mammalian cells is significantly enhanced when active p21(Ras) is present or when cRaf1 is otherwise targeted to the membrane. Association with Gbeta1gamma2 has no effect on the kinase activity of cRaf1, but cRaf1 can affect Gbetagamma-mediated signalling events. Thus, membrane-localised cRaf1 inhibits G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-stimulated activation of phospholipase Cbeta (PLCbeta) by sequestration of Gbetagamma subunits, an effect also observed with endogenous levels of cRaf1. Our data suggest that cRaf1 may be an important regulator of signalling by Gbetagamma, particularly in those GPCR systems that stimulate the MAP kinase cascade through the activation of p21(Ras).     

Rheb binds and regulates the mTOR kinase

BACKGROUND: The target of rapamycin (TOR), in complex with the proteins raptor and LST8 (TOR complex 1), phosphorylates the p70S6K and 4E-BP1 to promote mRNA translation. Genetic evidence establishes that TOR complex activity in vivo requires the small GTPase Rheb, and overexpression of Rheb can rescue TOR from inactivation in vivo by amino-acid withdrawal. The Tuberous Sclerosis heterodimer (TSC1/TSC2) functions as a Rheb GTPase activator and inhibits TOR signaling in vivo. RESULTS: Here, we show that Rheb binds to the TOR complex specifically, independently of its ability to bind TSC2, through separate interactions with the mTOR catalytic domain and with LST8. Rheb binding to the TOR complex in vivo and in vitro does not require Rheb guanyl nucleotide charging but is modulated by GTP and impaired by certain mutations (Ile39Lys) in the switch 1 loop. Nucleotide-deficient Rheb mutants, although capable of binding mTOR in vivo and in vitro, are inhibitory in vivo, and the mTOR polypeptides that associate with nucleotide-deficient Rheb in vivo lack kinase activity in vitro. Reciprocally, mTOR polypeptides bound to Rheb(Gln64Leu), a mutant that is nearly 90% GTP charged, exhibit substantially higher protein kinase specific activity than mTOR bound to wild-type Rheb. CONCLUSIONS: The TOR complex 1 is a direct target of Rheb-GTP, whose binding enables activation of the TOR kinase.     

TOR pathway activation in Zea mays L. tissues: Conserved function between animal and plant kingdoms

In most non-photosynthetic eukaryotes it has been demonstrated a conserved signal transduction pathway, namely TOR-S6K, that coordinates growth and cell proliferation. This pathway targets the translational apparatus to induce selective translation of ribosomal mRNAs as well as stimulate the cell cycle transition through the G₁/S phase. Thus, by activation of this pathway through environmental signals, nutrients, stress, or specific growth factors, such as insulin or insulin-like growth factors (IGF), this pathway allows organisms to regulate growth and cell division. In plants, evidence has shown that TOR protein has been highly conserved through evolution, being involved in growth and cell proliferation control as well. Particularly in maize, a peptide named ZmIGF has been found in actively growing tissues. It targets the maize TOR pathway at the same extent as insulin and, by doing so it induces growth, as well as ribosomal proteins and DNA synthesis. Thus, higher metazoans and plants seem to conserve similar biochemical paths to regulate cell growth through equivalent targets that conduce to activation of the TOR-S6K pathway. Recent research shows evidence that supports this proposal by uncovering the ZmIGF receptor in maize, providing further means for analyzing the role of the conserved TOR signaling pathway in this plant.