Protor-1 is required for efticient mT0RC2-mediated activation of SGK1 in the kidney

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Laura R. Pearce
  • Eeva M. Sommer
  • Sakamoto, Kei
  • Stephan Wullschleger
  • Dario R. Alessi

The mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) protein kinase is an important regulator of cell growth and is a key target for therapeutic intervention in cancer. Two complexes of mTOR have been identified: complex 1 (mTORC1), consisting of mTOR, Raptor (regulatory associated protein of mTOR) and mLST8 (mammalian lethal with SEC13 protein 8) and complex 2 (mTORC2) consisting of mTOR, Rictor (rapamycin-insensitive companion of mTOR), Sin1 (stress-activated protein kinase-interacting protein 1), mLST8 and Protor-1 or Protor-2. Both complexes phosphorylate the hydrophobic motifs of AGC kinase family members: mTORC1 phosphorylates S6K (S6 kinase), whereas mTORC2 regulates phosphorylation of Akt, PKCα (protein kinase Cα) and SGK1 (serum- and glucocorticoid-induced protein kinase 1). To investigate the roles of the Protor isoforms, we generated single as well as double Protor-1- and Protor-2-knockout mice and studied how activation of known mTORC2 substrates was affected. We observed that loss of Protor-1 and/or Protor-2 did not affect the expression of the other mTORC2 components, nor their ability to assemble into an active complex. Moreover, Protor knockout mice display no defects in the phosphorylation of Akt and PKCα at their hydrophobic or turn motifs. Strikingly, we observed that Protor-1 knockout mice displayed markedly reduced hydrophobic motif phosphorylation of SGK1 and its physiological substrate NDRG1 (N-Myc downregulated gene 1) in the kidney. Taken together, these results suggest that Protor-1 may play a role in enabling mTORC2 to efficiently activate SGK1, at least in the kidney.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBiochemical Journal
Volume436
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)169-179
Number of pages11
ISSN0264-6021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 May 2011
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2), N-Myc down-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1), Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), Protor/PRR5, Serum- and glucocorticoid-induced protein kinase 1 (SGK1)

ID: 239568128