Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: UNIPROT:P42345 (mTOR)
26,049 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Rictor is an essential component of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) complex 2 (mTORC2), a kinase complex that phosphorylates Akt at Ser473 upon activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3 kinase). Since little is known about the role of either rictor or mTORC2 in PI-3 kinase-mediated physiological processes in adult animals, we generated muscle-specific rictor knockout mice. Muscle from male rictor knockout mice exhibited decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, and the mice showed glucose intolerance. In muscle lacking rictor, the phosphorylation of Akt at Ser473 was reduced dramatically in response to insulin. Furthermore, insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the Akt substrate AS160 at Thr642 was reduced in rictor knockout muscle, indicating a defect in insulin signaling to stimulate glucose transport. However, the phosphorylation of Akt at Thr308 was normal and sufficient to mediate the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3). Basal glycogen synthase activity in muscle lacking rictor was increased to that of insulin-stimulated controls. Consistent with this, we observed a decrease in basal levels of phosphorylated glycogen synthase at a GSK-3/protein phosphatase 1 (PP1)-regulated site in rictor knockout muscle. This change in glycogen synthase phosphorylation was associated with an increase in the catalytic activity of glycogen-associated PP1 but not increased GSK-3 inactivation. Thus, rictor in muscle tissue contributes to glucose homeostasis by positively regulating insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and negatively regulating basal glycogen synthase activity.
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PMID:Muscle-specific deletion of rictor impairs insulin-stimulated glucose transport and enhances Basal glycogen synthase activity. 1796 79

Tau is an important microtubule-stabilizing protein in neurons. In its hyperphosphorylated form, Tau protein loses its ability to bind to microtubules and then accumulates and is part of pathological lesions characterizing tauopathies, e.g. Alzheimer disease. Glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta), antagonized by protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), regulates Tau phosphorylation at many sites. Diabetes mellitus is linked to an increased risk of developing Alzheimer disease. This could be partially caused by dysregulated GSK-3beta. In a long term experiment (-16 h) using primary murine neuron cultures, we interfered in the insulin/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) (LY294002 treatment and insulin boost) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTor) (AICAR and rapamycin treatment) signaling pathways and examined consequent changes in the activities of PP2A, GSK-3beta, and Tau phosphorylation. We found that the coupling of PI3K with mTor signaling, in conjunction with a regulatory interaction between PP2A and GSK-3beta, changed activities of both enzymes always in the same direction. These balanced responses seem to ensure the steady Tau phosphorylation at GSK/PP2A-dependent sites observed over a long period of time (>/=6 h). This may help in preventing severe changes in Tau phosphorylation under conditions when neurons undergo transient fluctuations either in insulin or nutrient supply. On the other hand, the investigation of Tau protein at Ser-262 showed that interference in the insulin/PI3K and mTor signaling potentially influenced the Tau phosphorylation status at sites where only one of two enzymes (in this case PP2A) is involved in the regulation.
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PMID:Coupling of mammalian target of rapamycin with phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling pathway regulates protein phosphatase 2A- and glycogen synthase kinase-3 -dependent phosphorylation of Tau. 1797 49

Recent evidence supports that TNF-alpha, long considered a catabolic factor, may also have a physiological function in skeletal muscle. The catabolic view, mainly based on correlative studies in human and in vivo animal models, was challenged by experiments with myoblasts, in which TNF-alpha induced differentiation. The biological effects of TNF-alpha in differentiated muscle, however, remain poorly understood. In the present study, we tested whether TNF-alpha has growth-promoting effects in myotubes, and we characterized the mechanisms leading to these effects. Treatment of C(2)C(12) myotubes with TNF-alpha for 24 h increased protein synthesis (PS) and enhanced cellular dehydrogenase activity by 22 and 26%, respectively, without changing cell numbers. These effects were confirmed in myotubes differentiated from primary rat myoblasts. TNF-alpha activated two signaling cascades: 1) ERK1/2 and its target eIF4E and 2) Akt and its downstream effectors GSK-3, p70(S6K), and 4E-BP1. TNF-alpha-induced phosphorylation of Akt, and ERK1/2 was inhibited by an antibody against TNF-alpha receptor 1 (TNF-R1). PD-98059 pretreatment abolished TNF-alpha-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and eIF4E, whereas PS was only partially inhibited. LY-294002 completely abolished TNF-alpha-induced stimulation of PS as well as phosphorylation of Akt and its downstream targets GSK-3, p70(S6K), and 4E-BP1. Rapamycin inhibited TNF-alpha-induced phosphorylation of the mTOR C1 target p70(S6K) without altering TNF-alpha-induced PS and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation. In conclusion, our results provide evidence that TNF-alpha enhances PS in myotubes and that this is based on enhanced protein translation mediated by the TNF-R1 and PI3K-Akt and MEK-ERK signaling cascades.
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PMID:TNF-alpha increases protein content in C2C12 and primary myotubes by enhancing protein translation via the TNF-R1, PI3K, and MEK. 1797 16

Prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induces vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) hypertrophy by largely unknown mechanism(s). To investigate the signaling events governing PGF2alpha-induced VSMC hypertrophy we examined the ability of the PGF2alpha analog, fluprostenol to elicit phosphorylation of Akt, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6k), glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in growth arrested A7r5 VSMC. Fluprostenol-induced hypertrophy was associated with increased ROS, mTOR translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, along with Akt, mTOR, GSK-3beta, PTEN and ERK1/2 but not JNK phosphorylation. Whereas inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) by LY-294002 blocked fluprostenol-induced changes in total protein content, pre-treatment with rapamycin or with the MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126 did not. Taken together, these findings suggest that fluprostenol-induced changes in A7r5 hypertrophy involve mTOR translocation and occur through PI3K-dependent mechanisms.
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PMID:PGF2alpha-associated vascular smooth muscle hypertrophy is ROS dependent and involves the activation of mTOR, p70S6k, and PTEN. 1816 Mar 24

Functional characterization of signaling pathways that critically control mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cell growth and survival is relevant to designing new therapies for this lymphoma. We herein demonstrate that the constitutive activation of Akt correlates with the expression of the phosphorylated, inactive form of PTEN. Phosphatidyl-inositol-3 kinase (PI3-K)/Akt or mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibition decreased the growth of both primary MCL cultures and established cell lines and antagonizes the growth-promoting activity of CD40 triggering and IL-4. These effects are mediated by nuclear accumulation of the p27(Kip1) inhibitor induced by down-regulation of the p45(Skp2) and Cks1 proteins, which target p27(Kip1) for degradation. Moreover, Akt inhibition down-regulated cyclin D1 by promoting its proteasome-dependent degradation driven by GSK-3. Intriguingly, mTOR inhibition affected cyclin D1 proteolysis only in MCL cells in which GSK-3 is under the direct control of mTOR, suggesting that different MCL subsets could be differently responsive to mTOR inhibition. Finally, PI3-K/Akt inhibitors, but not rapamycin, induced variable levels of caspase-dependent apoptosis and reduced telomerase activity. These results indicate that Akt and mTOR activation have distinct functional relevance in MCL and suggest that targeting Akt may result in more effective therapeutic effects compared with mTOR inhibition.
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PMID:Distinct functional significance of Akt and mTOR constitutive activation in mantle cell lymphoma. 1833 99

The bipartite transcription factor beta-catenin/TCF (cat/TCF) has been recognized as the major effector of the Wnt signaling pathway for more than a decade, and its over-activation has been associated with malignancy such as colon and breast cancer. Extensive examination in different cell lineages has shown that the activity of cat/TCF can be stimulated by mechanisms other than via the Wnt glycoproteins, including the stimulation of beta-cat nuclear translocation and enhanced binding of cat/TCF to the Wnt target gene promoters by insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). In addition, the heterotrimeric G proteins of the G(12) subfamily can interact with the cytoplasmic domain of cadherins, resulting in the release of the transcriptional activator beta-cat. Furthermore, certain peptide hormones may stimulate cat/TCF-mediated gene transcription via activation of their corresponding G-protein coupled receptors. Recently, the serine/threonine kinase GSK-3 has been recognized to coordinate with AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) in phosphorylation and activation of TSC2, the major component of the tumor suppressor complex TSC1/2. Thus, Wnt activation can stimulate protein translation via GSK-3 and TSC1/2 inactivation, followed by mTOR activation. Finally, beta-cat also functions as a pivotal molecule in defense against oxidative stress via serving as a partner of forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factors. Thus, FOXO proteins, which mainly mediate aging and stress signaling, and TCF factors, which mainly mediate developmental and proliferation signaling, compete for a limited pool of free beta-cat. Insulin and growth factors, on the other hand, control the balance between TCF- and FOXO-mediated gene transcription via phosphorylation and nuclear exclusion of FOXO proteins. These observations provide new insight to understand how Wnt, insulin/growth factors, and FOXOs are involved in versatile physiological events and the development and progression of various human diseases.
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PMID:Wnt and beyond Wnt: multiple mechanisms control the transcriptional property of beta-catenin. 1855 64

We investigated the effect of resistance exercise and feeding on the activation of signaling proteins involved in translation initiation. Nine young men (23.7+/-0.41 yr; BMI=25.5+/-1.0 kg/m2; means+/-SE) were tested twice after they performed a strenuous bout of unilateral resistance exercise, such that their contralateral leg acted as a nonexercised comparator, in either the fasted and fed [1,000 kJ, each 90 min (3 doses): 10 g protein, 41 g carbohydrate, 4 g fat] states. Muscle biopsies were obtained 6 h postexercise from both legs, resulting in four experimental conditions: rest-fasted, rest-fed, exercise-fasted, and exercise-fed. Feeding increased PKB/Akt (Ser473) phosphorylation (P<0.05), while exercise increased the phosphorylation of Akt and the downstream 70 kDa S6 protein kinase (p70S6K1, Thr389) and ribosomal protein S6 (rpS6, Ser235/236, Ser240/244; all P<0.05). The combination of resistance exercise and feeding increased the phosphorylation of p70S6K1 (Thr389) and rpS6 (Ser240/244) above exercise alone (P<0.05). Exercise also reduced phosphorylation of the catalytic epsilon subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2B (eIF2Bepsilon, Ser540; P<0.05). Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR, Ser2448), glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta, Ser9), and focal adhesion kinase (FAK, Tyr576/577) phosphorylation were unaffected by either feeding or resistance exercise (all P>0.14). In summary, feeding resulted in phosphorylation of Akt, while resistance exercise stimulated phosphorylation of Akt, p70S6K1, rpS6, and dephosphorylation eIF2Bepsilon with a synergistic effect of feeding and exercise on p70(S6K1) and its downstream target rpS6. We conclude that resistance exercise potentiates the effect of feeding on the phosphorylation and presumably activation of critical proteins involved in the regulation of muscle protein synthesis in young men.
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PMID:Resistance exercise decreases eIF2Bepsilon phosphorylation and potentiates the feeding-induced stimulation of p70S6K1 and rpS6 in young men. 1856 37

Insulin resistance (IR) and consequent hyperinsulinemia are hallmarks of Type 2 diabetes (DM2). Akt kinase (Akt) is an important molecule in insulin signaling, implicated in regulation of glucose uptake, cell growth, cell survival, protein synthesis, and endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production. Impaired Akt activation in insulin-sensitive tissues contributes to IR. However, Akt activity in other tissues, particularly those affected by complications of DM2, has been less studied. We hypothesized that hyperinsulinemia could have an impact on activity of Akt and its effectors involved in regulation of renal morphology and function in DM2. To address this issue, renal cortical Akt was determined in obese Zucker rats (ZO), a model of DM2, and lean controls (ZL). We also studied expression and phosphorylation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), molecules downstream of Akt in the insulin signaling cascade, and documented modulators of renal injury. Akt activity was measured by a kinase assay with GSK-3 as a substrate. Expression of phosphorylated (active) and total proteins was measured by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Renal Akt activity was increased in ZO as compared to ZL rats, in parallel with progressive hyperinsulinemia. No differences in Akt were observed in the skeletal muscle. Corresponding to increases in Akt activity, ZO rats demonstrated enhanced phosphorylation of renal mTOR. Acute PI3K inhibition with wortmannin (100 mug/kg) attenuated renal Akt and mTOR activities in ZO, but not in ZL rats. In contrast to mTOR, eNOS phosphorylation was similar in ZO and ZL rats, despite higher total eNOS expression. In conclusion, ZO rats demonstrated increases in renal Akt and mTOR activity and expression. However, eNOS phosphorylation did not follow this pattern. These data suggest that DM2 is associated with selective IR in the kidney, allowing pro-growth signaling via mTOR, whereas potentially protective effects mediated by eNOS are blunted.
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PMID:Renal activity of Akt kinase in obese Zucker rats. 1864 Oct 49

Glucose transport is a highly regulated process and is dependent on a variety of signaling events. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) has been implicated in various aspects of the regulation of glucose transport, but the mechanisms by which GSK-3 activity affects glucose uptake have not been well defined. We report that basal glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) activity regulates glucose transport in several cell types. Chronic inhibition of basal GSK-3 activity (8-24 h) in several cell types, including vascular smooth muscle cells, resulted in an approximately twofold increase in glucose uptake due to a similar increase in protein expression of the facilitative glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1). Conversely, expression of a constitutively active form of GSK-3beta resulted in at least a twofold decrease in GLUT1 expression and glucose uptake. Since GSK-3 can inhibit mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling via phosphorylation of the tuberous sclerosis complex subunit 2 (TSC2) tumor suppressor, we investigated whether chronic GSK-3 effects on glucose uptake and GLUT1 expression depended on TSC2 phosphorylation and TSC inhibition of mTOR. We found that absence of functional TSC2 resulted in a 1.5-to 3-fold increase in glucose uptake and GLUT1 expression in multiple cell types. These increases in glucose uptake and GLUT1 levels were prevented by inhibition of mTOR with rapamycin. GSK-3 inhibition had no effect on glucose uptake or GLUT1 expression in TSC2 mutant cells, indicating that GSK-3 effects on GLUT1 and glucose uptake were mediated by a TSC2/mTOR-dependent pathway. The effect of GSK-3 inhibition on GLUT1 expression and glucose uptake was restored in TSC2 mutant cells by transfection of a wild-type TSC2 vector, but not by a TSC2 construct with mutated GSK-3 phosphorylation sites. Thus, TSC2 and rapamycin-sensitive mTOR function downstream of GSK-3 to modulate effects of GSK-3 on glucose uptake and GLUT1 expression. GSK-3 therefore suppresses glucose uptake via TSC2 and mTOR and may serve to match energy substrate utilization to cellular growth.
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PMID:A GSK-3/TSC2/mTOR pathway regulates glucose uptake and GLUT1 glucose transporter expression. 1865 Feb 61

The purpose of this study was to determine whether exogenous zinc prevents cardiac reperfusion injury by targeting the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) via glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta). The treatment of cardiac H9c2 cells with ZnCl2 (10 microM) in the presence of zinc ionophore pyrithione for 20 min significantly enhanced GSK-3beta phosphorylation at Ser9, indicating that exogenous zinc can inactivate GSK-3beta in H9c2 cells. The effect of zinc on GSK-3beta activity was blocked by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY-294002 but not by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor rapamycin or the PKC inhibitor chelerythrine, implying that PI3K but not mTOR or PKC accounts for the action of zinc. In support of this interpretation, zinc induced a significant increase in Akt but not mTOR phosphorylation. Further experiments found that zinc also increased mitochondrial GSK-3beta phosphorylation. This may indicate an involvement of the mitochondria in the action of zinc. The effect of zinc on mitochondrial GSK-3beta phosphorylation was not altered by the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ channel blocker 5-hydroxydecanoic acid. Zinc applied at reperfusion reduced cell death in cells subjected to simulated ischemia/reperfusion, indicating that zinc can prevent reperfusion injury. However, zinc was not able to exert protection in cells transfected with the constitutively active GSK-3beta (GSK-3beta-S9A-HA) mutant, suggesting that zinc prevents reperfusion injury by inactivating GSK-3beta. Cells transfected with the catalytically inactive GSK-3beta (GSK-3beta-KM-HA) also revealed a significant decrease in cell death, strongly supporting the essential role of GSK-3beta inactivation in cardioprotection. Moreover, zinc prevented oxidant-induced mPTP opening through the inhibition of GSK-3beta. Taken together, these data suggest that zinc prevents reperfusion injury by modulating the mPTP opening through the inactivation of GSK-3beta. The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is responsible for the inactivation of GSK-3beta by zinc.
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PMID:Exogenous zinc protects cardiac cells from reperfusion injury by targeting mitochondrial permeability transition pore through inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta. 1911 35


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