Farnesyltransferase inhibitor induces rapid growth arrest and blocks p70s6k activation by multiple stimuli

We have previously shown that the peptidomimetic farnesyltransferase inhibitor L-744,832 (FTI) inhibits p70s6k activation and cell growth in a mouse keratinocyte cell line but only at concentrations of FTI significantly higher than those required for the inhibition of Ras farnesylation. Here we show that the rapid kinetics of FTI inhibition of DNA synthesis (within 1.5 h) in both normal and v-K-Ras transformed keratinocytes matches the rapid kinetics of p70s6k inhibition observed previously. It is further shown that FTI inhibits p70s6k activation in response to serum, phorbol myristate acetate, and increased amino acid levels. The phosphatase inhibitor calyculin A partially reverses the FTI-induced dephosphorylation of p70s6k, suggesting that FTI may act upstream of a protein phosphatase. A rapamycin-resistant mutant of p70s6k is shown to be resistant to FTI-induced dephosphorylation of the major rapamycin-sensitive phosphorylation site of p70s6k, Thr(389). Together, these data demonstrate that FTI rapidly inhibits DNA synthesis irrespective of the presence of v-K-Ras and that FTI inhibits p70s6k activation in response to multiple stimuli. Because the FTI L-744,832 mimics many of the effects of rapamycin, this FTI may prove effective against tumors that exhibit inappropriate activation of the mTOR/p70s6k pathway.