Control of TSC2-Rheb signaling axis by arginine regulates mTORC1 activity
Authors: Bernadette Carroll
Gisela Otten
Oliver Dk Maddocks
Graham R Smith
Elaine A Dunlop
Andrew R Tee
Viktor I Korolchuk
Matthew Ratcliff
Owen R Davies
Jo√£o F Passos
Rudolf Jaenisch
Dorothea Maetzel
Sovan Sarkar
Journal: eLife (2016)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: amino acids; autophagy; cell biology; human; mTOR
Affiliations: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom., Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States., The Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom., Institute of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom., Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Abstract:  The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is the key signaling hub that regulates cellular protein homeostasis, growth, and proliferation in health and disease. As a prerequisite for activation of mTORC1 by hormones and mitogens, there first has to be an available pool of intracellular amino acids. Arginine, an amino acid essential during mammalian embryogenesis and early development is one of the key activators of mTORC1. Herein, we demonstrate that arginine acts independently of its metabolism to allow maximal activation of mTORC1 by growth factors via a mechanism that does not involve regulation of mTORC1 localization to lysosomes. Instead, arginine specifically suppresses lysosomal localization of the TSC complex and interaction with its target small GTPase protein, Rheb. By interfering with TSC-Rheb complex, arginine relieves allosteric inhibition of Rheb by TSC. Arginine cooperates with growth factor signaling which further promotes dissociation of TSC2 from lysosomes and activation of mTORC1. Arginine is the main amino acid sensed by the mTORC1 pathway in several cell types including human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Dependence on arginine is maintained once hESCs are differentiated to fibroblasts, neurons, and hepatocytes, highlighting the fundamental importance of arginine-sensing to mTORC1 signaling. Together, our data provide evidence that different growth promoting cues cooperate to a greater extent than previously recognized to achieve tight spatial and temporal regulation of mTORC1 signaling. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Figure 2. Much more similar than expected.  , 
 Thank you for pointing this out, we have now gone back to the original files and found that indeed the loading control (total S6K) for Supplementary Figure 1B was inadvertently duplicated from Supplementary Figure S1D, a mistake that occurred during figure preparation. S6K in S1B will be replaced with the correct blot and the corrigendum will follow shortly. , 
 #2 Don t eLife require full, public data sharing for publication? Where are the original gel images? , 
 Dec 2020 correction. https: elifesciences.org articles 65744 It has come to our attention that in the published article, the loading control (total S6K) for Figure 1-figure supplement 1B was inadvertently duplicated from Figure 1-figure supplement 1D, a mistake that occurred during figure preparation. Figure 1-figure supplement 1B has now been corrected and no other changes were made to figures, figure legends or text. ,