ATF4-Mediated Upregulation of REDD1 and Sestrin2 Suppresses mTORC1 Activity during Prolonged Leucine Deprivation.

Background: The protein kinase target of rapamycin (mTOR) in complex 1 (mTORC1) is activated by amino acids and in turn upregulates anabolic processes. Under nutrient-deficient conditions, e.g.

Suppression of p16 Induces mTORC1-Mediated Nucleotide Metabolic Reprogramming.

Reprogrammed metabolism and cell cycle dysregulation are two cancer hallmarks. p16 is a cell cycle inhibitor and tumor suppressor that is upregulated during oncogene-induced senescence (OIS). Loss of p16 allows for uninhibited cell cycle progression, bypass of OIS, and tumorigenesis.

Evidence for a role for Sestrin1 in mediating leucine-induced activation of mTORC1 in skeletal muscle.

Previous studies established that leucine stimulates protein synthesis in skeletal muscle to the same extent as a complete mixture of amino acids, and the effect occurs through activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin in complex 1 (mTORC1). Recent studies using cells in culture showed that the Sestrins bind leucine and are required for leucine-dependent activation of mTORC1. However, the role they play in mediating leucine-dependent activation of the kinase in vivo has been questioned because the dissociation constant of Sestrin2 for leucine is well below circulating and intramuscular levels of the amino acid.

Validation of a commercially available anti-REDD1 antibody using RNA interference and REDD1-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

REDD1 is a transcriptional target gene of p53 and HIF-1, and an inhibitor of mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) complex 1 (mTORC1)-signaling through PP2A-dependent interaction, making it an important convergence point of both tumor suppression and cell growth pathways. In accordance with this positioning, REDD1 levels are transcriptionally upregulated in response to a variety of cellular stress factors such as nutrient deprivation, hypoxia and DNA damage. In the absence of such conditions, and in particular where growth factor signaling is activated, REDD1 expression is typically negligible; therefore, it is necessary to induce REDD1 prior to experimentation or detection in model systems.

Disruption of genes encoding eIF4E binding proteins-1 and -2 does not alter basal or sepsis-induced changes in skeletal muscle protein synthesis in male or female mice.

Sepsis decreases skeletal muscle protein synthesis in part by impairing mTOR activity and the subsequent phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and S6K1 thereby controlling translation initiation; however, the relative importance of changes in these two downstream substrates is unknown. The role of 4E-BP1 (and -BP2) in regulating muscle protein synthesis was assessed in wild-type (WT) and 4E-BP1/BP2 double knockout (DKO) male mice under basal conditions and in response to sepsis. At 12 months of age, body weight, lean body mass and energy expenditure did not differ between WT and DKO mice.

Toll-like receptor activation suppresses ER stress factor CHOP and translation inhibition through activation of eIF2B.

Activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) induces the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) unfolded protein response (UPR) to accommodate essential protein translation. However, despite increased levels of phosphorylated eIF2α (p-eIF2α), a TLR-TRIF-dependent pathway assures that the cells avoid CHOP induction, apoptosis and translational suppression of critical proteins. As p-eIF2α decreases the functional interaction of eIF2 with eIF2B, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), we explored the hypothesis that TLR-TRIF signalling activates eIF2B GEF activity to counteract the effects of p-eIF2α.

Multi-modal proteomic analysis of retinal protein expression alterations in a rat model of diabetic retinopathy.

Background: As a leading cause of adult blindness, diabetic retinopathy is a prevalent and profound complication of diabetes. We have previously reported duration-dependent changes in retinal vascular permeability, apoptosis, and mRNA expression with diabetes in a rat model system. The aim of this study was to identify retinal proteomic alterations associated with functional dysregulation of the diabetic retina to better understand diabetic retinopathy pathogenesis and that could be used as surrogate endpoints in preclinical drug testing studies.

Rapid turnover of the mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) repressor REDD1 and activation of mTORC1 signaling following inhibition of protein synthesis.

mTORC1 is a complex of proteins that includes the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and several regulatory proteins. It is activated by a variety of hormones (e.g.