Monomethyl branched-chain fatty acid mediates amino acid sensing upstream of mTORC1

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ArfGAP1 inhibits mTORC1 lysosomal localization and activation

The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) integrates nutrients, growth factors, stress, and energy status to regulate cell growth and metabolism. Amino acids promote mTORC1 lysosomal localization and subsequent activation. However, the subcellular location or interacting proteins of mTORC1 under amino acid‐deficient conditions is not completely understood. Here, we identify ADP‐ribosylation factor GTPase‐activating protein 1 (ArfGAP1) as a crucial regulator of mTORC1. ArfGAP1 interacts with mTORC1 in the absence of amino acids and inhibits mTORC1 lysosomal localization and activation. Mechanistically, the membrane curvature‐sensing amphipathic lipid packing sensor (ALPS) motifs that bind to vesicle membranes are crucial for ArfGAP1 to interact with and regulate mTORC1 activity. Importantly, ArfGAP1 represses cell growth through mTORC1 and is an independent prognostic factor for the overall survival of pancreatic cancer patients. Our study identifies ArfGAP1 as a critical regulator of mTORC1 that functions by preventing the lysosomal transport and activation of mTORC1, with potential for cancer therapeutics.     

Prolonged deprivation of arginine or leucine induces PI3K/Akt-dependent reactivation of mTORC1

The mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a serine/threonine kinase complex that promotes anabolic processes including protein, lipid, and nucleotide synthesis, while suppressing catabolic processes such as macroautophagy. mTORC1 activity is regulated by growth factors and amino acids, which signal through distinct but integrated molecular pathways: growth factors largely signal through the PI3K/Akt-dependent pathway, whereas the availabilities of amino acids leucine and arginine are communicated to mTORC1 by the Rag-GTPase pathway. While it is relatively well described how acute changes in leucine and arginine levels affect mTORC1 signaling, the effects of prolonged amino acid deprivation remain less well understood. Here, we demonstrate that prolonged deprivation of arginine and/or leucine leads to reactivation of mTORC1 activity, which reaches activation levels similar to those observed in nutrient-rich conditions. Surprisingly, we find that this reactivation is independent of the regeneration of amino acids by canonical autophagy or proteasomal degradation but is dependent on PI3K/Akt signaling. Together, our data identify a novel crosstalk between the amino acid and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways upstream of mTORC1. These observations extend our understanding of the role of mTORC1 in growth-related diseases and indicate that dietary intervention by removal of leucine and/or arginine may be an ineffective therapeutic approach.     

Rab12 regulates mTORC1 activity and autophagy through controlling the degradation of amino‐acid transporter PAT4

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved catabolic mechanism that targets intracellular molecules and damaged organelles to lysosomes. Autophagy is achieved by a series of membrane trafficking events, but their regulatory mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we report small GTPase Rab12 as a new type of autophagic regulator that controls the degradation of an amino‐acid transporter. Knockdown of Rab12 results in inhibition of autophagy and in increased activity of mTORC1 (mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1), an upstream regulator of autophagy. We also found that Rab12 promotes constitutive degradation of PAT4 (proton‐coupled amino‐acid transporter 4), whose accumulation in Rab12‐knockdown cells modulates mTORC1 activity and autophagy. Our findings reveal a new mechanism of regulation of mTORC1 signalling and autophagy, that is, quality control of PAT4 by Rab12.     

mTORC1通路中氨基酸信号转导相关机制研究进展

雷帕霉素靶点蛋白（target of rapamycin,TOR）作为细胞内重要的生长和代谢调节中枢,主要通过形成两种复合物TORC1与TORC2发挥其功能。其中TORC1接收广泛的细胞内信号,如氨基酸水平、生长因子、能量以及缺氧状态等,通过调控蛋白质合成来促进细胞的增殖与生长。在这些信号当中,氨基酸不仅能够激活TORC1通路,还同时作为其他信号激活TORC1的必需条件。目前,对于生长因子和能量水平激活TORC1过程的分子机制已有较深入的认识,而对于氨基酸信号如何转导至TORC1的分子机制直到近年来才有了新的突破。该文通过梳理已发表的哺乳动物细胞中氨基酸信号调控mTORC1分子机制的相关实验结论,对该领域的研究方向进行了总结和展望。     

Mitochondrial Threonyl-tRNA Synthetase TARS2 Is Required for Threonine-Sensitive mTORC1 Activation

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Airway secretory cell fate conversion via YAP‐mTORC1‐dependent essential amino acid metabolism

Tissue homeostasis requires lineage fidelity of stem cells. Dysregulation of cell fate specification and differentiation leads to various diseases, yet the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing these processes remain elusive. We demonstrate that YAP/TAZ activation reprograms airway secretory cells, which subsequently lose their cellular identity and acquire squamous alveolar type 1 (AT1) fate in the lung. This cell fate conversion is mediated via distinctive transitional cell states of damage‐associated transient progenitors (DATPs), recently shown to emerge during injury repair in mouse and human lungs. We further describe a YAP/TAZ signaling cascade to be integral for the fate conversion of secretory cells into AT1 fate, by modulating mTORC1/ATF4‐mediated amino acid metabolism in vivo. Importantly, we observed aberrant activation of the YAP/TAZ‐mTORC1‐ATF4 axis in the altered airway epithelium of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, including substantial emergence of DATPs and AT1 cells with severe pulmonary fibrosis. Genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of mTORC1 activity suppresses lineage alteration and subepithelial fibrosis driven by YAP/TAZ activation, proposing a potential therapeutic target for human fibrotic lung diseases.     

氨基酸转运载体LAT1研究进展

哺乳动物氨基酸的跨膜运输由多种氨基酸转运载体蛋白介导,其中L型氨基酸转运载体1（LAT1）属于L系统,主要转运大分子支链氨基酸和芳香族中性氨基酸。研究表明,LAT1广泛存在于哺乳动物肝脏、骨髓、大脑、胎盘、心脏和睾丸组织中,LAT1在恶性肿瘤中大量表达,对其不断的增殖起着重要的作用。目前国内对氨基酸转运载体LAT1的研究仍是空白,鉴于LAT1的研究在医学、营养等生命科学领域的研究意义,本文就氨基酸转运载体蛋白LAT1的表达、调节及其相关研究进展作一综述。     

The Circadian Protein Period2 Suppresses mTORC1 Activity via Recruiting Tsc1 to mTORC1 Complex

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Helicobacter pylori Infection Modulates Host Cell Metabolism through VacA-Dependent Inhibition of mTORC1

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mTORC1 signaling in hepatic lipid metabolism

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway regulates many metabolic and physiological processes in different organs or tissues. Dysregulation of mTOR signaling has been implicated in many human diseases including obesity, diabetes, cancer, fatty liver diseases, and neuronal disorders. Here we review recent progress in understanding how mTORC1 (mTOR complex 1) signaling regulates lipid metabolism in the liver.     

mTORC1 and p53

A balance must be struck between cell growth and stress responses to ensure that cells proliferate without accumulating damaged DNA. This balance means that optimal cell proliferation requires the integration of pro-growth and stress-response pathways. mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) is a pleiotropic kinase found in complex 1 (mTORC1). The mTORC1 pathway governs a response to mitogenic signals with high energy levels to promote protein synthesis and cell growth. In contrast, the p53 DNA damage response pathway is the arbiter of cell proliferation, restraining mTORC1 under conditions of genotoxic stress. Recent studies suggest a complicated integration of these pathways to ensure successful cell growth and proliferation without compromising genome maintenance. Deciphering this integration could be key to understanding the potential clinical usefulness of mTORC1 inhibitors like rapamycin. Here we discuss how these p53-mTORC1 interactions might play a role in the suppression of cancer and perhaps the development of cellular senescence and organismal aging.     

IRS1 phosphorylation does not mediate mTORC1-induced insulin resistance

Increased mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) activity has been suggested to play important roles in development of insulin resistance in obesity. mTORC1 hyperactivity also increases endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which in turn contributes to development of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Increased IRS1 phosphorylation at Ser307 in vitro is correlated with mTORC1- and ER stress-induced insulin resistance. This phosphorylation site correlates strongly with impaired insulin receptor signaling in diabetic mice and humans. In contrast, evidence from knock-in mice suggests that phosphorylation of IRS1 at Ser307 is actually required to maintain insulin sensitivity. To study the involvement of IRS1^Ser307 phosphorylation in mTORC1-mediated glucose intolerance and insulin sensitivity in vivo, we investigated the effects of liver specific TSC1 depletion in IRS1^Ser307Ala mice and controls. Our results demonstrate that blockade of IRS1^Ser307 phosphorylation in vivo does not prevent mTORC1-mediated glucose intolerance and insulin resistance.