Characterization of S6K2, a novel kinase homologous to S6K1

Characterization of PF-4708671, a novel and highly specific inhibitor of p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (S6K1)

S6K1 (p70 ribosomal S6 kinase 1) is activated by insulin and growth factors via the PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) and mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signalling pathways. S6K1 regulates numerous processes, such as protein synthesis, growth, proliferation and longevity, and its inhibition has been proposed as a strategy for the treatment of cancer and insulin resistance. In the present paper we describe a novel cell-permeable inhibitor of S6K1, PF-4708671, which specifically inhibits the S6K1 isoform with a Ki of 20 nM and IC50 of 160 nM. PF-4708671 prevents the S6K1-mediated phosphorylation of S6 protein in response to IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1), while having no effect upon the PMA-induced phosphorylation of substrates of the highly related RSK (p90 ribosomal S6 kinase) and MSK (mitogen- and stress-activated kinase) kinases. PF-4708671 was also found to induce phosphorylation of the T-loop and hydrophobic motif of S6K1, an effect that is dependent upon mTORC1 (mTOR complex 1). PF-4708671 is the first S6K1-specific inhibitor to be reported and will be a useful tool for delineating S6K1-specific roles downstream of mTOR.

Involvement of heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein F in the regulation of cell proliferation via the mammalian target of rapamycin/S6 kinase 2 pathway

The S6 kinases (S6Ks) have been linked to a number of cellular processes, including translation, insulin metabolism, cell survival, and RNA splicing. Signaling via the phosphotidylinositol 3-kinase and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways is critical in regulating the activity and subcellular localization of S6Ks. To date, nuclear functions of both S6K isoforms, S6K1 and S6K2, are not well understood. To better understand S6K nuclear roles, we employed affinity purification of S6Ks from nuclear preparations followed by mass spectrometry analysis for the identification of novel binding partners. In this study, we report that in contrast to S6K1, the S6K2 isoform specifically associates with a number of RNA-binding proteins, including heterogeneous ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs). We focused on studying the mechanism and physiological relevance of the S6K2 interaction with hnRNP F/H. Interestingly, the S6K2-hnRNP F/H interaction was not affected by mitogenic stimulation, whereas mTOR binding to hnRNP F/H was induced by serum stimulation. In addition, we define a new role of hnRNP F in driving cell proliferation, which could be partially attenuated by rapamycin treatment. S6K2-driven cell proliferation, on the other hand, could be blocked by small interfering RNA-mediated down-regulation of hnRNP F. These results demonstrate that the specific interaction between mTOR and S6K2 with hnRNPs is implicated in the regulation of cell proliferation.

Targeting the translational machinery as a novel treatment strategy for hematologic malignancies

The dysregulation of protein synthesis evident in the transformed phenotype has opened up a burgeoning field of research in cancer biology. Translation initiation has recently been shown to be a common downstream target of signal transduction pathways deregulated in cancer and initiated by mutated/overexpressed oncogenes and tumor suppressors. The overexpression and/or activation of proteins involved in translation initiation such as eIF4E, mTOR, and eIF4G have been shown to induce a malignant phenotype. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms that control protein synthesis is emerging as an exciting new research area with significant potential for developing innovative therapies. This review highlights molecules that are activated or dysregulated in hematologic malignancies, and promotes the transformed phenotype through the deregulation of protein synthesis. Targeting these proteins with small molecule inhibitors may constitute a novel therapeutic approach in the treatment of cancer.

Histone acetyltransferases interact with and acetylate p70 ribosomal S6 kinases in vitro and in vivo

The 70kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinases (S6K1 and S6K2) play important roles in the regulation of protein synthesis, cell growth and survival. S6Ks are activated in response to mitogen stimulation and nutrient sufficiency by the phosphorylation of conserved serine and threonine residues. Here we show for the first time, that in addition to phosphorylation, S6Ks are also targeted by lysine acetylation. Following mitogen stimulation, S6Ks interact with the p300 and p300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF) acetyltransferases. S6Ks can be acetylated by p300 and PCAF in vitro and S6K acetylation is detected in cells expressing p300. Furthermore, it appears that the acetylation sites targeted by p300 lie within the divergent C-terminal regulatory domains of both S6K1 and S6K2. Acetylation of S6K1 and 2 is increased upon the inhibition of class I/II histone deacetylases (HDACs) by trichostatin-A, while the enhancement of S6K1 acetylation by nicotinamide suggests the additional involvement of sirtuin deacetylases in S6K deacetylation. Both expression of p300 and HDAC inhibition cause increases in S6K protein levels, and we have shown that S6K2 is stabilized in cells treated with HDAC inhibitors. The finding that S6Ks are targeted by histone acetyltransferases uncovers a novel mode of crosstalk between mitogenic signalling pathways and the transcriptional machinery and reveals additional complexity in the regulation of S6K function.

Characterization of Rictor phosphorylation sites reveals direct regulation of mTOR complex 2 by S6K1

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) functions within two distinct complexes (mTORC1 and mTORC2) to control cell growth, proliferation, survival, and metabolism. While there has been great progress in our understanding of mTORC1 regulation, the signaling mechanisms that regulate mTORC2 have not been defined. In this study, we use liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analyses to identify 21 phosphorylation sites on the core mTORC2 component Rictor. We find that one site, T1135, undergoes growth factor-responsive phosphorylation that is acutely sensitive to rapamycin and is phosphorylated downstream of mTORC1. We find that Rictor-T1135 is directly phosphorylated by the mTORC1-dependent kinase S6K1. Although this phosphorylation event does not affect mTORC2 integrity or in vitro kinase activity, expression of a phosphorylation site mutant of Rictor (T1135A) in either wild-type or Rictor null cells causes an increase in the mTORC2-dependent phosphorylation of Akt on S473. However, Rictor-T1135 phosphorylation does not appear to regulate mTORC2-mediated effects on SGK1 or PKC alpha. While the precise molecular mechanism affecting Akt is unknown, phosphorylation of T1135 stimulates binding of Rictor to 14-3-3 proteins. We provide evidence that Rictor-T1135 phosphorylation acts in parallel with other mTORC1-dependent feedback mechanisms, such as those affecting IRS-1 signaling to PI3K, to regulate the response of Akt to insulin.

Inhibition of p70S6K2 down-regulates Hedgehog/GLI pathway in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines

Background

The Hedgehog (HH) pathway promotes tumorigenesis in a diversity of cancers. Activation of the HH signaling pathway is caused by overexpression of HH ligands or mutations in the components of the HH/GLI1 cascade, which lead to increased transactivation of GLI transcription factors. Although negative kinase regulators that antagonize the activity of GLI transcription factors have been reported, including GSK3β, PKA and CK1s, little is known regarding positive kinase regulators that are suitable for use on cancer therapeutic targets. The present study attempted to identify kinases whose silencing inhibits HH/GLI signalling in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Results

To find positive kinase regulators in the HH pathway, kinome-wide siRNA screening was performed in a NSCLC cell line, A549, harboring the GLI regulatory reporter gene. This showed that p70S6K2-silencing remarkably reduced GLI reporter gene activity. The decrease in the activity of the HH pathway caused by p70S6K2-inhibition was accompanied by significant reduction in cell viability. We next investigated the mechanism for p70S6K2-mediated inhibition of GLI1 transcription by hypothesizing that GSK3β, a negative regulator of the HH pathway, is activated upon p70S6K2-silencing. We found that phosphorylated-GSK3β (Ser9) was reduced by p70S6K2-silencing, causing a decreased level of GLI1 protein. Finally, to further confirm the involvement of p70S6K2 in GLI1 signaling, down-regulation in GLI-mediated transcription by PI3KCA-inhibition was confirmed, establishing the pivotal role of the PI3K/p70S6K2 pathway in GLI1 cascade regulation.

Conclusion

We report herein that inhibition of p70S6K2, known as a downstream effector of the PI3K pathway, remarkably decreases GLI-mediated transactivation in NSCLC by reducing phosphorylated-GSK3β followed by GLI1 degradation. These results infer that p70S6K2 is a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC with hyperactivated HH/GLI pathway.

S6 kinase 1 knockout inhibits uninephrectomy- or diabetes-induced renal hypertrophy

Removal of one kidney stimulates synthesis of RNA and protein, with minimal DNA replication, in all nephron segments of the remaining kidney, resulting in cell growth (increase in cell size) with minimal cell proliferation (increase in cell number). In addition to the compensatory renal hypertrophy caused by nephron loss, pathophysiological renal hypertrophy can occur as a consequence of early uncontrolled diabetes. However, the molecular mechanism underlying renal hypertrophy in these conditions remains unclear. In the present study, we report that deletion of S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) inhibited renal hypertrophy seen following either contralateral nephrectomy or induction of diabetes. In wild-type mice, hypertrophic stimuli increased phosphorylation of 40S ribosomal protein S6 (rpS6), a known target of S6K1. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that S6K1(-/-) mice exhibited moderately elevated basal levels of rpS6, which did not increase further in response to the hypertrophic stimuli. Northern blotting indicated a moderate upregulation of S6K2 expression in the kidneys of S6K1(-/-) mice. Phosphorylation of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1, another downstream target of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), was stimulated to equivalent levels in S6K1(-/-) and S6K1(+/+) littermates during renal hypertrophy, indicating that mTOR was still activated in the S6K1(-/-) mice. The highly selective mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, inhibited increased phosphorylation of rpS6 and blocked 60-70% of the hypertrophy seen in wild-type mice but failed to prevent the approximately 10% hypertrophy seen in S6K1(-/-) mice in response to uninephrectomy (UNX) although it did inhibit the basal rpS6 phosphorylation. Thus the present study provides the first genetic evidence that S6K1 plays a major role in the development of compensatory renal hypertrophy as well as diabetic renal hypertrophy and indicates that UNX- and diabetes-mediated mTOR activation can selectively activate S6K1 without activating S6K2.

Tuberous sclerosis complex, implication from a rare genetic disease to common cancer treatment

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a relatively rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by widespread benign tumor formation in a variety of organs. Mutations in either TSC1 or TSC2 tumor suppressor gene are responsible for TSC. The gene products of TSC1 and TSC2, also known as hamartin and tuberin, respectively, form a physical and functional complex and inhibit the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling. The mTORC1 pathway is an evolutionarily conserved growth promoting pathway. mTORC1 plays an essential role in a wide array of cellular processes including translation, transcription, trafficking and autophagy. In this review, we will discuss recent progresses in the TSC-mTOR field and their physiological functions and alterations of this pathway in pathophysiology.

S6K1 plays a key role in glial transformation

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a nutrient and ATP sensor suggested to play an important role in tumorigenesis, particularly in the setting of PTEN loss or activated Akt/PKB. Of mTOR's two known effectors, eIF4E has been implicated in tumorigenesis, whereas the role of S6 kinase (S6K1) in transformation is less understood. To assess the contribution of S6K1 to the transformed phenotype, we pharmacologically and genetically manipulated the mTOR-S6K pathway in glioma cells and monitored its effects on growth in soft agar, a hallmark of cellular transformation, and also assessed in vivo intracranial growth. Anchorage-independent growth by HRas(V12)-transformed human astrocytes as well as by U251 and U373 human glioma cells was inhibited by pharmacologic mTOR inhibition. Similarly, short hairpin RNA-mediated suppression of mTOR also reduced anchorage-independent growth of glioma cell lines. Expression of wild-type eIF4E in rapamycin-treated E6/E7/hTert/HRas(V12) and U373 cells failed to rescue colony formation, although expression of wild-type S6K1 or rapamycin-resistant S6K1 in rapamycin-treated U373 and U251 provided partial rescue. Consistent with the latter observation, small interfering RNA-mediated suppression of S6K1 in HRas(V12)-transformed human astrocytes, U251, and U373 cells resulted in a significant loss of anchorage-independent growth. Furthermore, we found that in vivo short hairpin RNA-mediated suppression of S6K1 in HRas(V12)-transformed human astrocytes reduced intracranial tumor size, in association with reduced tumor levels of phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6. These findings implicate the mTOR-S6K pathway as a critical mediator of glial cell transformation.

mGluR-dependent long-term depression is associated with increased phosphorylation of S6 and synthesis of elongation factor 1A but remains expressed in S6K-deficient mice

Metabotropic glutamate receptor-dependent long-term depression (mGluR-LTD) in the hippocampus requires rapid protein synthesis, which suggests that mGluR activation is coupled to signaling pathways that regulate translation. Herein, we have investigated the signaling pathways that couple group I mGluRs to ribosomal S6 protein phosphorylation and 5'oligopyrimidine tract (5'TOP)-encoded protein synthesis during mGluR-LTD. We found that mGluR-LTD was associated with increased phosphorylation of p70S6 kinase (S6K1) and S6, as well as the synthesis of the 5'TOP-encoded protein elongation factor 1A (EF1A). Moreover, we found that LTD-associated increases in S6K1 phosphorylation, S6 phosphorylation, and levels of EF1A were sensitive to inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). However, mGluR-LTD was normal in S6K1 knockout mice and enhanced in both S6K2 knockout mice and S6K1/S6K2 double knockout mice. In addition, we observed that LTD-associated increases in S6 phosphorylation were still increased in S6K1- and S6K2-deficient mice, whereas basal levels of EF1A were abnormally elevated. Taken together, these findings indicate that mGluR-LTD is associated with PI3K-, mTOR-, and ERK-dependent alterations in the phosphorylation of S6 and S6K. Our data also suggest that S6Ks are not required for the expression of mGluR-LTD and that the synthesis of 5'TOP-encoded proteins is independent of S6Ks during mGluR-LTD.

Removal of S6K1 and S6K2 leads to divergent alterations in learning, memory, and synaptic plasticity

Protein synthesis is required for the expression of enduring memories and long-lasting synaptic plasticity. During cellular proliferation and growth, S6 kinases (S6Ks) are activated and coordinate the synthesis of de novo proteins. We hypothesized that protein synthesis mediated by S6Ks is critical for the manifestation of learning, memory, and synaptic plasticity. We have tested this hypothesis with genetically engineered mice deficient for either S6K1 or S6K2. We have found that S6K1-deficient mice express an early-onset contextual fear memory deficit within one hour of training, a deficit in conditioned taste aversion (CTA), impaired Morris water maze acquisition, and hypoactive exploratory behavior. In contrast, S6K2-deficient mice exhibit decreased contextual fear memory seven days after training, a reduction in latent inhibition of CTA, and normal spatial learning in the Morris water maze. Surprisingly, neither S6K1- nor S6K2-deficient mice exhibited alterations in protein synthesis-dependent late-phase long-term potentiation (L-LTP). However, removal of S6K1, but not S6K2, compromised early-phase LTP expression. Furthermore, we observed that S6K1-deficient mice have elevated basal levels of Akt phosphorylation, which is further elevated following induction of L-LTP. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that removal of S6K1 leads to a distinct array of behavioral and synaptic plasticity phenotypes that are not mirrored by the removal of S6K2. Our observations suggest that neither gene by itself is required for L-LTP but instead may be required for other types of synaptic plasticity required for cognitive processing.

Regulation of catalytic activity of S6 kinase 2 during cell cycle

Ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (S6K2) is one of the kinases regulated by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Although it has been identified as a kinase homologous to S6K1, evidence suggests that the two kinases have non-overlapping functions, and the biological function of S6K2 still remains unknown. In order to identify the cell cycle stage(s) during which S6K2 plays a role, we assessed changes in the catalytic activity of S6K2 throughout the cell cycle. Our data show that S6K2 is active throughout the cell cycle with higher activity in G2 and M phases. We also show that S6K1 activity peaks sharply during M phase. Our data suggest that S6K1 and S6K2 likely play yet-unknown roles in G2 and M phases.

Coordinate regulation of ribosome biogenesis and function by the ribosomal protein S6 kinase, a key mediator of mTOR function

Current understanding of the mechanisms by which cell growth is regulated lags significantly behind our knowledge of the complex processes controlling cell cycle progression. Recent studies suggest that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a key regulator of cell growth via the regulation of protein synthesis. The key mTOR effectors of cell growth are eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4EBP-1) and the ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K). Here we will review the current models for mTOR dependent regulation of ribosome function and biogenesis as well as its role in coordinating growth factor and nutrient signaling to facilitate homeostasis of cell growth and proliferation. We will place particular emphasis on the role of S6K1 signaling and will highlight the points of cross talk with other key growth control pathways. Finally, we will discuss the impact of S6K signaling and the consequent feedback regulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway on disease processes including cancer.

Identification of S6K2 as a centrosome-located kinase

Ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (S6K2) acts downstream of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Here, we show that some S6K2 localize at the centrosome throughout the cell cycle. S6K2 is found in the pericentriolar area of the centrosome. S6K2 centrosomal localization is unaffected by serum withdrawal or treatment with rapamycin, wortmannin, U0126, or phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA). Unlike S6K2, S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) does not localize at the centrosome, suggesting the two kinases may also have nonoverlapping functions. Our data suggest that centrosomal S6K2 may have a role in the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway that has also been detected in the centrosome.

mTOR pathway as a target in tissue hypertrophy

Recent work has shown that the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway is an integral cell growth regulator. The mTOR pathway involves two functional complexes, TORC1 and TORC2, which have been defined by both their association with raptor or rictor, respectively, and their sensitivity to short-term rapamycin inhibition. Loss of tumor suppressors TSC1 or TSC2 leads to aberrant activation of TORC1, which has been implicated in the control of cell size. As a result, both physiologic and pathologic tissue hypertrophy are associated with TORC1 activation. Some clinical examples include skeletal and cardiac muscle hypertrophy, vascular restenosis, and compensatory nephrotic hypertrophy. Clarification of the mTOR pathway may lead to increased understanding of both the etiology and consequences of aberrant cell size regulation. This review covers some of the biochemical regulation of the mTOR pathway that may be important to the regulation of cell size, and it will present several potential clinical applications where the control of cell size may be biologically significant.

RAS/ERK signaling promotes site-specific ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation via RSK and stimulates cap-dependent translation

Converging signals from the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways are well established to modulate translation initiation. Less is known regarding the molecular basis of protein synthesis regulated by other inputs, such as agonists of the Ras/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling cascade. Ribosomal protein (rp) S6 is a component of the 40S ribosomal subunit that becomes phosphorylated at several serine residues upon mitogen stimulation, but the exact molecular mechanisms regulating its phosphorylation and the function of phosphorylated rpS6 is poorly understood. Here, we provide evidence that activation of the p90 ribosomal S6 kinases (RSKs) by serum, growth factors, tumor promoting phorbol esters, and oncogenic Ras is required for rpS6 phosphorylation downstream of the Ras/ERK signaling cascade. We demonstrate that while ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) phosphorylates rpS6 at all sites, RSK exclusively phosphorylates rpS6 at Ser(235/236) in vitro and in vivo using an mTOR-independent mechanism. Mutation of rpS6 at Ser(235/236) reveals that phosphorylation of these sites promotes its recruitment to the 7-methylguanosine cap complex, suggesting that Ras/ERK signaling regulates assembly of the translation preinitiation complex. These data demonstrate that RSK provides an mTOR-independent pathway linking the Ras/ERK signaling cascade to the translational machinery.

Phospholipase D2‐derived phosphatidic acid binds to and activates ribosomal p70 S6 kinase independently of mTOR

The product of phospholipase D (PLD) enzymatic action in cell membranes, phosphatidic acid (PA), regulates kinases implicated in NADPH oxidase activation, as well as the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase. However, other protein targets for this lipid second messenger must exist in order to explain other key PA-mediated cellular functions. In this study, PA was found to specifically and saturably bind to and activate recombinant and immunoprecipitated endogenous ribosomal S6 kinase (S6K) with a stoichiometry of 94:1 lipid/protein. Polyphosphoinositides PI4-P and PI4,5P2 and cardiolipin could also bind to and activate S6K, albeit with different kinetics. Conversely, PA with at least one acyl side chain saturated (10:0) was ineffective in binding or activating the enzyme. Transfection of COS-7 cells with a wild-type myc-(pcDNA)-PLD2 construct resulted in high PLD activity, concomitantly with an increase in ribosomal p70S6K enzyme activity and phosphorylation in T389 and T421/S424 as well as phosphorylation of p70S6K's natural substrate S6 protein in S235/S236. Overexpression of a lipase inactive mutant (K758R), however, failed to induce an increase in both PLD and S6K activity or phosphorylation, indicating that the enzymatic activity of PLD2 (i.e., synthesis of PA) must be present to affect S6K. Neither inhibiting mTOR kinase activity with rapamycin nor silencing mTOR gene expression altered the augmentative effect of PLD2 exerted on p70S6K activity. This finding indicates that PA binds to and activates p70S6K, even in the absence of mTOR. Lastly, COS-7 transfection with PLD2 changed the pattern of subcellular expression, and a colocalization of S6K and PLD2 was observed by immunofluorescence microscopy. These results show for the first time a direct (mTOR-independent) participation of PLD in the p70S6K pathway and implicate PA as a nexus that brings together cell phospholipases and kinases.

Regulation of s6 kinase 1 activation by phosphorylation at ser-411

Ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (S6K1), as a key regulator of mRNA translation, plays an important role in cell cycle progression through the G(1) phase of proliferating cells and in the synaptic plasticity of terminally differentiated neurons. Activation of S6K1 involves the phosphorylation of its multiple Ser/Thr residues, including the proline-directed sites (Ser-411, Ser-418, Thr-421, and Ser-424) in the autoinhibitory domain near the C terminus. Phosphorylation at Thr-389 is also a crucial event in S6K1 activation. Here, we report that S6K1 phosphorylation at Ser-411 is required for the rapamycin-sensitive phosphorylation of Thr-389 and the subsequent activation of S6K1. Mutation of Ser-411 to Ala ablated insulin-induced Thr-389 phosphorylation and S6K1 activation, whereas mutation mimicking Ser-411 phosphorylation did not show any effect. Furthermore, phosphomimetic mutation of Thr-389 overcame the inhibitory effect of the mutation S411A. Thus, Ser-411 phosphorylation regulates S6K1 activation via the control of Thr-389 phosphorylation. In nervous system neurons, Cdk5-p35 kinase associates with S6K1 via the direct interaction between p35 and S6K1 and catalyzes S6K1 phosphorylation specifically at Ser-411. Inhibition of the Cdk5 activity or suppression of Cdk5 expression blocked S6K1 phosphorylation at Ser-411 and Thr-389, resulting in S6K1 inactivation. Similar results were obtained by treating asynchronous populations of proliferating cells with the CDK inhibitor compound roscovitine. Altogether, our findings suggest a novel mechanism by which the CDK-mediated phosphorylation regulates the activation of S6K1.

Bcr-Abl signaling through the PI-3/S6 kinase pathway inhibits nuclear translocation of the transcription factor Bach2, which represses the antiapoptotic factor heme oxygenase-1

The malignant phenotype of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is due to the abnormal tyrosine kinase activity of the Bcr-Abl oncoprotein. We have previously reported that expression of the Bach2 transcription factor, which induces apoptosis in response to oxidative stress, is greatly reduced in CML cells. Because these cells are resistant to apoptosis, we tested whether Bach2 could also be regulated through posttranslational mechanisms that promote inhibition of the apoptotic response to mutagenic stimuli in CML. We found that Bach2 is phosphorylated on S521 via the phosphatidylinositol-3/S6 kinase pathway, and substitution of this site to alanine leads to nuclear accumulation of the protein, indicating that this phosphorylation is important for its subcellular localization. Ectopic expression of the S521 mutant imparts greater impairment to CML cell growth than the wild-type factor. Furthermore, we showed that Bach2 transcriptionally represses heme oxygenase-1, an antiapoptotic factor up-regulated in CML. Because CML cells are known to produce high levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species, overexpression of heme oxygenase-1 resulting from inhibition of Bach2 activity may contribute to their genomic instability and leukemic phenotype.

FGF-2 protects small cell lung cancer cells from apoptosis through a complex involving PKCepsilon, B-Raf and S6K2

Patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) die because of chemoresistance. Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) increases the expression of antiapoptotic proteins, XIAP and Bcl-X(L), and triggers chemoresistance in SCLC cells. Here we show that these effects are mediated through the formation of a specific multiprotein complex comprising B-Raf, PKCepsilon and S6K2. S6K1, Raf-1 and other PKC isoforms do not form similar complexes. RNAi-mediated downregulation of B-Raf, PKCepsilon or S6K2 abolishes FGF-2-mediated survival. In contrast, overexpression of PKCepsilon increases XIAP and Bcl-X(L) levels and chemoresistance in SCLC cells. In a tetracycline-inducible system, increased S6K2 kinase activity triggers upregulation of XIAP, Bcl-X(L) and prosurvival effects. However, increased S6K1 kinase activity has no such effect. Thus, S6K2 but not S6K1 mediates prosurvival/chemoresistance signalling.

Nutrient overload, insulin resistance, and ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1, S6K1

Nutrient overload leads to obesity, insulin resistance, and often type 2 diabetes. Whereas increased fat intake is commonly cited as the major factor in diet-induced dysmetabolic states, increased protein consumption also contributes, through elevated circulating amino acids. Recent studies have revealed that ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1, S6K1, an effector of mTOR, is sensitive to both insulin and nutrients, including amino acids. Although S6K1 is an effector of growth, recent reports show that amino acids also negatively affect insulin signaling through mTOR/S6K1 phosphorylation of IRS1. Moreover, rather than signaling through the class 1 PI3K pathway, amino acids appear to mediate mTOR activation through class 3 PI3K, or hVps34. Consistent with this, infusion of amino acids into humans leads to S6K1 activation, inhibition of insulin-induced class 1 PI3K activation, and insulin resistance. Thus, S6K1 may mediate deleterious effects, like insulin resistance, and potentially type 2 diabetes in the face of nutrient excess.

Regulation of protein synthesis by leucine starvation involves distinct mechanisms in mouse C2C12 myoblasts and myotubes

Leucine modulates protein translation in higher eukaryotes by affecting phosphorylation and the function of proteins that regulate the initiation and/or elongation steps. These include the initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1), initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), initiation factor 2 (eIF2alpha), ribosomal S6 kinases (S6K1/2), and elongation factor 2 (eEF2). The alteration of protein translation by leucine starvation was studied during myogenic differentiation using the mouse C2C12 cell line as well as the role of rapamycin-sensitive mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) in the signaling of leucine in myotubes. A time course study showed that 1 h of leucine starvation decreased protein synthesis and S6K1 phosphorylation in myoblasts, whereas 3-5 h of starvation were necessary to induce such an alteration in myotubes. Although S6K1 phosphorylation was reduced in leucine-deprived myotubes, S6K2 and S6 phosphorylation were not affected. In contrast, rapamycin decreased the phosphorylation of S6K2 and S6 in myotubes. It is therefore likely that under the conditions present, the rapamycin-sensitive mTOR was not affected by leucine starvation. S6K1 dephosphorylation may thus be mTOR independent, and the functional mTOR/S6K2 pathway may maintain S6 phosphorylation. An increased phosphorylation of eEF2 in myoblasts and myotubes indicated that global protein synthesis was reduced via a decrease in translation elongation. An increased association between 4E-BP1 and eIF4E, and increased phosphorylation of eIF2alpha also contributed to decreasing protein synthesis in leucine-starved myoblasts. In contrast, in leucine-starved myotubes, there were no change in the 4E-BP1-eIF4E association or eIF2alpha phosphorylation, suggesting that these factors were not rate limiting for decreasing protein synthesis in leucine-deprived myotubes.

S6 kinase 2 potentiates interleukin-3-driven cell proliferation

Interleukin-3 (IL-3) mediates hematopoietic cell survival and proliferation via several signaling pathways such as the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, and phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI-3K) pathway. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is one of the downstream targets of the PI-3K pathway, and it plays an important role in hematopoiesis and immune cell function. To better elucidate how mTOR mediates proliferation signals from IL-3, we assessed the role of S6 kinase 2 (S6K2), one of the downstream targets of mTOR, in IL-3 signaling. We show that S6K2 is activated by IL-3 in the IL-3-dependent Ba/F3 cell line and that this is mediated by mTOR and its upstream activator PI-3K but not by the MAPK kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway. S6K2 is also activated in primary mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells upon IL-3 stimulation. Expression of a rapamycin-resistant form of S6K2, T388E, in Ba/F3 cells provides a proliferation advantage in the absence or presence of rapamycin, indicating that S6K2 can potentiate IL-3-mediated mitogenic signals. In cells expressing T388E, rapamycin still reduces proliferation at all doses of rapamycin, showing that mTOR targets other than S6K2 play an important role in IL-3-dependent proliferation. Cell-cycle analysis shows that T388E-expressing Ba/F3 cells enter S phase earlier than the control cells, indicating that the proliferation advantage may be mediated by a shortened G1 phase. This is the first indication that S6K2 plays a role in IL-3-dependent cell proliferation.

Deletion of ribosomal S6 kinases does not attenuate pathological, physiological, or insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor-phosphoinositide 3-kinase-induced cardiac hypertrophy

Ribosomal S6 kinases (S6Ks) have been depicted as critical effectors downstream of growth factor pathways, which play an important role in the regulation of protein synthesis by phosphorylating the ribosomal protein, S6. The goal of this study was to determine whether S6Ks regulate heart size, are critical for the induction of cardiac hypertrophy in response to a pathological or physiological stimulus, and whether S6Ks are critical downstream effectors of the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1)-phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. For this purpose, we generated and characterized cardiac-specific S6K1 and S6K2 transgenic mice and subjected S6K1(-/-), S6K2(-/-), and S6K1(-/-) S6K2(-/-) mice to a pathological stress (aortic banding) or a physiological stress (exercise training). To determine the genetic relationship between S6Ks and the IGF1-PI3K pathway, S6K transgenic and knockout mice were crossed with cardiac-specific transgenic mice overexpressing the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) or PI3K mutants. Here we show that overexpression of S6K1 induced a modest degree of hypertrophy, whereas overexpression of S6K2 resulted in no obvious cardiac phenotype. Unexpectedly, deletion of S6K1 and S6K2 had no impact on the development of pathological, physiological, or IGF1R-PI3K-induced cardiac hypertrophy. These studies suggest that S6Ks alone are not essential for the development of cardiac hypertrophy.

Ribosomal p70S6K basal activity increases upon induction of differentiation of myelomonocytic leukemic cell lines HL60, AML14 and MPD

The role of ribosomal p70S6K in the cell cycle has been studied extensively, and it is known that this enzyme is crucial for cell advancement through G(1). Conversely, the participation of p70S6K in cell differentiation is not well understood. We have studied the response of p70S6K to the cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in three differentiation-capable leukemic cell lines (MPD, AML-14 and HL-60) and in normal mature neutrophils. Immature leukemic cells starved for 16 h showed a robust ( approximately 3.5-fold over controls) p70S6K phosphorylation on T(421)/S(424) residues in response to an acute (5 min) 10 nM GM-CSF stimulation. On the other hand, cells that had been induced to differentiate and express granulocytic phenotypes, showed an increased ( approximately 6-fold) basal level of p70S6K T(421)/S(424) phosphorylation over immature cells, as well as an increased baseline tyrosyl phosphorylation of the GM-CSF receptor beta subunit (GM-CSF.Rbeta). However, the differentiated cells displayed a weak ( approximately 1.4-fold over controls) response to GM-CSF even at prolonged incubation times (20 min). In vitro p70S6K enzymatic activity paralleled p70S6K T(421)/S(424) phosphorylation in both high basal, unstimulated, levels in immature cells and a low degree of response to GM-CSF. Lastly, peripheral blood mature neutrophils had low basal GM-CSF.Rbeta and p70S6K activity, with both parameters being robustly stimulated following addition of GM-CSF, a situation in contrast with the cell lines, indicative perhaps of their incomplete terminal differentiation. In summary, these findings show the increase in basal phosphorylation of p70S6K upon granulocytic differentiation of myeloid leukemic cells and their responses to GM-CSF that are closely paralleled with tyrosyl phosphorylation of its receptor, and help in pointing to specific cell signaling molecules that are different in leukemic blasts from normal leukocytes.

S6K1(-/-)/S6K2(-/-) mice exhibit perinatal lethality and rapamycin-sensitive 5'-terminal oligopyrimidine mRNA translation and reveal a mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent S6 kinase pathway

Activation of 40S ribosomal protein S6 kinases (S6Ks) is mediated by anabolic signals triggered by hormones, growth factors, and nutrients. Stimulation by any of these agents is inhibited by the bacterial macrolide rapamycin, which binds to and inactivates the mammalian target of rapamycin, an S6K kinase. In mammals, two genes encoding homologous S6Ks, S6K1 and S6K2, have been identified. Here we show that mice deficient for S6K1 or S6K2 are born at the expected Mendelian ratio. Compared to wild-type mice, S6K1(-/-) mice are significantly smaller, whereas S6K2(-/-) mice tend to be slightly larger. However, mice lacking both genes showed a sharp reduction in viability due to perinatal lethality. Analysis of S6 phosphorylation in the cytoplasm and nucleoli of cells derived from the distinct S6K genotypes suggests that both kinases are required for full S6 phosphorylation but that S6K2 may be more prevalent in contributing to this response. Despite the impairment of S6 phosphorylation in cells from S6K1(-/-)/S6K2(-/-) mice, cell cycle progression and the translation of 5'-terminal oligopyrimidine mRNAs were still modulated by mitogens in a rapamycin-dependent manner. Thus, the absence of S6K1 and S6K2 profoundly impairs animal viability but does not seem to affect the proliferative responses of these cell types. Unexpectedly, in S6K1(-/-)/S6K2(-/-) cells, S6 phosphorylation persisted at serines 235 and 236, the first two sites phosphorylated in response to mitogens. In these cells, as well as in rapamycin-treated wild-type, S6K1(-/-), and S6K2(-/-) cells, this step was catalyzed by a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent kinase, most likely p90rsk. These data reveal a redundancy between the S6K and the MAPK pathways in mediating early S6 phosphorylation in response to mitogens.

Translational Regulation of Terminal Oligopyrimidine mRNAs Induced by Serum and Amino Acids Involves Distinct Signaling Events

Various mitogenic or growth inhibitory stimuli induce a rapid change in the association of terminal oligopyrimidine (TOP) mRNAs with polysomes. It is generally believed that such translational control hinges on the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-S6 kinase pathway. Amino acid availability affects the translation of TOP mRNAs, although the signaling pathway involved in this regulation is less well characterized. To investigate both serum- and amino acid-dependent control of TOP mRNA translation and the signaling pathways involved, HeLa cells were subjected to serum and/or amino acid deprivation and stimulation. Our results indicate the following. 1). Serum and amino acid deprivation had additive effects on TOP mRNA translation. 2). The serum content of the medium specifically affected TOP mRNA translation, whereas amino acid availability affected both TOP and non-TOP mRNAs. 3). Serum signaling to TOP mRNAs involved only a rapamycin-sensitive pathway, whereas amino acid signaling depended on both rapamycin-sensitive and rapamycin-insensitive but wortmannin-sensitive events. 4). Eukaryotic initiation factor-2alpha phosphorylation increased during amino acid deprivation, but not following serum deprivation. Interestingly, rapamycin treatment suggests a novel connection between the mTOR pathway and eukaryotic initiation factor-2alpha phosphorylation in mammalian cells, which may not, however, be involved in TOP mRNA translational regulation.

Role of mTOR Signalling in the Control of Translation Initiation and Elongation by Nutrients

Protein synthesis requires nutrients both as precursors (amino acids) and as a source of energy, since this process consumes a high proportion of cellular metabolic energy. Recent work has shown that both types of nutrients directly influence the activities of components of the translational machinery in mammalian cells. Amino acids positively regulate signalling through the mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, although the degree of dependency on external amino acids varies between cell types. mTOR signalling modulates several key components involved in mRNA translation, in particular (via repressor proteins) the cap-binding initiation factor eIF4E, the ribosomal protein S6 kinases, and elongation factor eEF2. The branched-chain amino acid leucine is the most effective one in most cell types. It is currently unclear how mammalian cells sense prevailing amino acid levels, although this may involve intracellular amino acids. Cellular ATP levels can also influence mTOR activity. The activities of some translation factors are modulated by mTOR-independent mechanisms. Examples include the regulation of eEF2 by cellular energy levels, which may be controlled via the AMP-activated protein kinase, and the activity of the guanine nucleotide-exchange factor eIF2B, which is modulated by amino acids and metabolic fuels.

Kinase activities associated with mTOR

Although mTOR is a member of the PI-kinase-related kinase family, mTOR possesses serine-threonine protein kinase activities, which phosphorylate itself and exogenous substrates. mTOR autophosphorylates in vitro and is phosphorylated in vivo on serine residues. Ser2481, which is located in a His-Ser-Phe motif near the conserved carboxyl-terminal mTOR tail, has been reported as an autophosphorylation site in vivo and in vitro. The significance of the autophosphorylation remains unclear. Another phosphorylation site on mTOR in vivo is Ser2448. This site appears not to be an autophosphorylation site but a site potentially phosphorylated by protein kinase B (PKB). mTOR immunopurified from culture cells or tissues phosphorylates in vitro p70 S6 kinase (p70) alpha and p70beta, mainly on Thr412 or Thr401, respectively, located in a Phe-Thr-Tyr motif. Another exogenous substrate phosphorylated by immunopurified mTOR in vitro is eIF4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) at sites corresponding to those phosphorylated in vivo during insulin stimulation in a Ser/Thr-Pro motif. Recently, raptor, a 150-kDa TOR-binding protein that contains a carboxyl-terminal WD-repeat domain, was discovered as a scaffold for the mTOR-catalyzed phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and for the mTOR-mediated phosphorylation and activation of p70alpha. Other potential substrates phosphorylated by mTOR are nPKCdelta, nPKCepsilon, STAT3, and p53. The requirement of raptor for binding to and phosphorylation by mTOR of these potential substrates would clarify their physiological importance in the mTOR signaling pathway.

Nuclear translocation of 3'-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK-1): a potential regulatory mechanism for PDK-1 function

3'-Phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK-1) phosphorylates and activates members of the AGC protein kinase family and plays an important role in the regulation of cell survival, differentiation, and proliferation. However, how PDK-1 is regulated in cells remains elusive. In this study, we demonstrated that PDK-1 can shuttle between the cytoplasm and nucleus. Treatment of cells with leptomycin B, a nuclear export inhibitor, results in a nuclear accumulation of PDK-1. PDK-1 nuclear localization is increased by insulin, and this process is inhibited by pretreatment of cells with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) inhibitors. Consistent with the idea that PDK-1 nuclear translocation is regulated by the PI3-kinase signaling pathway, PDK-1 nuclear localization is increased in cells deficient of PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10). Deletion mapping and mutagenesis studies unveiled that presence of a functional nuclear export signal (NES) in mouse PDK-1 located at amino acid residues 382 to 391. Overexpression of constitutively nuclear PDK-1, which retained autophosphorylation at Ser-244 in the activation loop in cells and its kinase activity in vitro, led to increased phosphorylation of the predominantly nuclear PDK-1 substrate p70 S6KbetaI. However, the ability of constitutively nuclear PDK-1 to induce anchorage-independent growth and to protect against UV-induced apoptosis is greatly diminished compared with the wild-type enzyme. Taken together, these findings suggest that nuclear translocation may be a mechanism to sequestrate PDK-1 from activation of the cytosolic signaling pathways and that this process may play an important role in regulating PDK-1-mediated cell signaling and function.

Muscarinic receptor-mediated activation of p70 S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) in 1321N1 astrocytoma cells: permissive role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase

In 1321N1 astrocytoma cells, carbachol stimulation of M3 muscarinic cholinergic receptors, coupled to phospholipase C, evoked a persistent 10-20-fold activation of p70 S6 kinase (S6K1). This response was abolished by chelation of cytosolic Ca2+ and reproduced by the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin, but was not prevented by down-regulation or inhibition of protein kinase C. Carbachol-stimulated activation and phosphorylation of S6K1 at Thr389 were prevented by rapamycin, an inhibitor of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), or by wortmannin, a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor. Carbachol also stimulated the phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein-1 (4E-BP1), a second mTOR-dependent event, with similar potency to its effect on S6K1. This response was blocked by rapamycin, but was not markedly affected by 100 nM wortmannin, implying separate roles for mTOR and PI3K in S6K1 activation. Wortmannin abolished the carbachol-stimulated rise in PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 and greatly reduced unstimulated levels of this lipid. By contrast, an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor kinase, AG1478, which prevents carbachol-stimulated ErbB3 transactivation, PI3K recruitment and protein kinase B activation in 1321N1 cells, reduced activation of S6K1 by no more than 30%. This effect was overcome by 10 nM insulin, which on its own did not stimulate S6K1, but increased cellular PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 concentrations comparably with carbachol alone. These observations distinguish obligatory roles for mTOR and PI3K in regulating S6K1, but imply that minimal PI3K activity is sufficient to permit stimulation of S6K1 by other activating factors such as increased cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations, which are essential to the muscarinic receptor-mediated response. Moreover, 4E-BP1 and hence, presumably, mTOR can be regulated independently of PI3K activation through these mechanisms.

Mechanism of ribosomal p70S6 kinase activation by granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor in neutrophils: cooperation of a MEK-related, THR421/SER424 kinase and a rapamycin-sensitive, m-TOR-related THR389 kinase

We report here for the first time the detection of the ribosomal p70S6 kinase (p70S6K) in a hematopoietic cell, the neutrophil, and the stimulation of its enzymatic activity by granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). GM-CSF modified the Vmax of the enzyme (from 7.2 to 20.5 pmol/min/mg) and induced a time- and dose-dependent phosphorylation on p70S6K residues Thr389 and Thr421/Ser424. The immunosuppressant macrolide rapamycin caused either a decrease in intensity of phospho-Thr389 bands in Western blots, or as a downshift in the relative mobility of phospho-Thr421/Ser424 bands (consistent with the loss of phosphate), but not both simultaneously. The immunosuppressant FK506 failed to inhibit p70S6K activation, but was able to rescue the rapamycin-induced downshift, pointing to a role for the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase. Rapamycin also caused an inhibition (IC50 0.2 nm) of the in vitro enzymatic activity of p70S6K. However, the inhibition of activity was not complete, but only a 40-50%, indicating that neutrophil p70S6K activity has a rapamycin-resistant component. This component was totally inhibited by pre-incubating the cells with the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD-98059 prior to treatment with rapamycin. This indicated that a kinase from the MEK/MAPK pathway also plays a role in p70S6K activation. Thus, GM-CSF causes the dual activation of a rapamycin-resistant, MAPK-related kinase, that targets Thr421/Ser424 S6K phosphorylation, and a rapamycin-sensitive, mTOR-related kinase, that targets Thr389, both of which are needed in cooperation to achieve full activation of neutrophil p70S6K.

Ca(2+)-independent protein kinase C activity is required for alpha1-adrenergic-receptor-mediated regulation of ribosomal protein S6 kinases in adult cardiomyocytes

The alpha(1)-adrenergic agonist, phenylephrine (PE), exerts hypertrophic effects in the myocardium and activates protein synthesis. Both Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase C (PKC, PKCalpha) and Ca(2+)-independent PKC isoforms (PKCdelta and epsilon ) are detectably expressed in adult rat cardiomyocytes. Stimulation of the alpha(1)-adrenergic receptor by PE results in activation of Ca(2+)-independent PKCs, as demonstrated by translocation of the delta and epsilon isoenzymes from cytosol to membrane fractions. PE also induces activation of p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinases (S6K1 and 2) in adult cardiomyocytes. We have studied the role of Ca(2+)-independent PKCs in the regulation of S6K activity by PE. Activation of S6K1/2 by PE was blocked by the broad-spectrum PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide (BIM) I, whereas Gö6976, a compound that only inhibits Ca(2+)-dependent PKCs, did not inhibit S6K activation. Rottlerin, which selectively inhibits PKCdelta, also prevented PE-induced S6K activation. The isoform-specific PKC inhibitors had similar effects on the phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E)-binding protein 1, a translation repressor that, like the S6Ks, lies downstream of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Infection of cells with adenoviruses encoding dominant-negative PKCdelta or epsilon inhibited the activation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) by PE, and also inhibited the activation and/or phosphorylation of S6Ks 1 and 2. The PE-induced activation of protein synthesis was abolished by BIM I and markedly attenuated by rottlerin. Our data thus suggest that Ca(2+)-independent PKC isoforms play an important role in coupling the alpha(1)-adrenergic receptor to mTOR signalling and protein synthesis in adult cardiomyocytes.

Mutational analysis of ribosomal S6 kinase 2 shows differential regulation of its kinase activity from that of ribosomal S6 kinase 1

Ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (S6K2) is a serine/threonine kinase identified as a homologue of p70 ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (S6K1). S6K1 and S6K2 show different cellular localization as well as divergent amino acid sequences in non-catalytic domains, suggesting that their cellular functions and/or regulation may not be identical. Many of the serine/threonine residues that become phosphorylated and contribute to S6K1 activation are conserved in S6K2. In this study we carry out mutational analyses of these serine/threonine residues on S6K2 in order to elucidate the mechanism of S6K2 regulation. We find that Thr-228 and Ser-370 are crucial for S6K2 activity, and the three proline-directed serines in the autoinhibitory domain, Ser-410, Ser-417 and Ser-423, play a role in S6K2 activity regulation in a mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK)-dependent manner. However, unlike S6K1, changing Thr-388 to glutamic acid in S6K2 renders the kinase fully active. This activity was resistant to the effects of rapamycin or wortmannin, indicating that mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) regulate S6K2 activity via Thr-388. MEK-dependent phosphorylation of the autoinhibitory serines in S6K2 occurs prior to Thr-388 activation. Combining T388E and T228A mutations inhibited S6K2 activation, and a kinase-inactive phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase (PDK1) diminished T388E activity, suggesting that the role of Thr-388 is to allow further phosphorylation of Thr-228 by PDK1. Thr-388 fails to become phosphorylated in Ser-370 mutants, suggesting that the role of Ser-370 phosphorylation may be to allow Thr-388 phosphorylation. Finally, using the rapamycin-resistant T388E mutant, we provide evidence that S6K2 can phosphorylate S6 in vivo.

Coordinate regulation of translation by the PI 3-kinase and mTOR pathways

Control of translation initiation is an important means by which cells tightly regulate the critical processes of growth and proliferation. Multiple effector proteins contribute to translation initiation of specially modified mRNAs that modulate these processes. Coordinated regulation of these translational effectors by multiple signaling pathways allows the integration of information regarding mitogenic signals, energy levels, and nutrient sufficiency. The mTOR protein, in particular, serves as a sensor of all of these signals and is thought to thus serve as a crucial checkpoint control protein. Signals from the mTOR pathway converge with mitogenic inputs from the phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase pathway on translational effector proteins to coordinately control cellular growth, size, and cell proliferation. The translational effectors regulated by the PI 3-kinase and mTOR pathways and their roles in regulation of cellular growth will be the primary focus of this review.

Protein kinase C phosphorylates ribosomal protein S6 kinase betaII and regulates its subcellular localization

The ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K) belongs to the AGC family of Ser/Thr kinases and is known to be involved in the regulation of protein synthesis and the G(1)/S transition of the cell cycle. There are two forms of S6K, termed S6Kalpha and S6Kbeta, which have cytoplasmic and nuclear splice variants. Nucleocytoplasmic shuttling has been recently proposed for S6Kalpha, based on the use of the nuclear export inhibitor, leptomycin B. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating subcellular localization of S6Ks in response to mitogenic stimuli remain to be elucidated. Here we present data on the in vitro and in vivo phosphorylation of S6Kbeta, but not S6Kalpha, by protein kinase C (PKC). The site of phosphorylation was identified as S486, which is located within the C-terminal nuclear localization signal. Mutational analysis and the use of phosphospecific antibodies provided evidence that PKC-mediated phosphorylation at S486 does not affect S6K activity but eliminates the function of its nuclear localization signal and causes retention of an activated form of the kinase in the cytoplasm. Taken together, this study uncovers a novel mechanism for the regulation of nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of S6KbetaII by PKC-mediated phosphorylation.

Transduction of growth or mitogenic signals into translational activation of TOP mRNAs is fully reliant on the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-mediated pathway but requires neither S6K1 nor rpS6 phosphorylation

Translation of terminal oligopyrimidine tract (TOP) mRNAs, which encode multiple components of the protein synthesis machinery, is known to be controlled by mitogenic stimuli. We now show that the ability of cells to progress through the cell cycle is not a prerequisite for this mode of regulation. TOP mRNAs can be translationally activated when PC12 or embryonic stem (ES) cells are induced to grow (increase their size) by nerve growth factor and retinoic acid, respectively, while remaining mitotically arrested. However, both growth and mitogenic signals converge via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase)-mediated pathway and are transduced to efficiently translate TOP mRNAs. Translational activation of TOP mRNAs can be abolished by LY294002, a PI3-kinase inhibitor, or by overexpression of PTEN as well as by dominant-negative mutants of PI3-kinase or its effectors, PDK1 and protein kinase Balpha (PKBalpha). Likewise, overexpression of constitutively active PI3-kinase or PKBalpha can relieve the translational repression of TOP mRNAs in quiescent cells. Both mitogenic and growth signals lead to phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 (rpS6), which precedes the translational activation of TOP mRNAs. Nevertheless, neither rpS6 phosphorylation nor its kinase, S6K1, is essential for the translational response of these mRNAs. Thus, TOP mRNAs can be translationally activated by growth or mitogenic stimuli of ES cells, whose rpS6 is constitutively unphosphorylated due to the disruption of both alleles of S6K1. Similarly, complete inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and its effector S6K by rapamycin in various cell lines has only a mild repressive effect on the translation of TOP mRNAs. It therefore appears that translation of TOP mRNAs is primarily regulated by growth and mitogenic cues through the PI3-kinase pathway, with a minor role, if any, for the mTOR pathway.

Regulation of mammalian translation factors by nutrients

Protein synthesis requires both amino acids, as precursors, and a substantial amount of metabolic energy. It is well established that starvation or lack of nutrients impairs protein synthesis in mammalian cells and tissues. Branched chain amino acids are particularly effective in promoting protein synthesis. Recent work has revealed important new information about the mechanisms involved in these effects. A number of components of the translational machinery are regulated through signalling events that require the mammalian target of rapamycin, mTOR. These include translational repressor proteins (eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding proteins, 4E-BPs) and protein kinases that act upon the small ribosomal subunit (S6 kinases). Amino acids, especially leucine, positively regulate mTOR signalling thereby relieving inhibition of translation by 4E-BPs and activating the S6 kinases, which can also regulate translation elongation. However, the molecular mechanisms by which amino acids modulate mTOR signalling remain unclear. Protein synthesis requires a high proportion of the cell's metabolic energy, and recent work has revealed that metabolic energy, or fuels such as glucose, also regulate targets of the mTOR pathway. Amino acids and glucose modulate a further important regulatory step in translation initiation, the activity of the guanine nucleotide-exchange factor eIF2B. eIF2B controls the recruitment of the initiator methionyl-tRNA to the ribosome and is activated by insulin. However, in the absence of glucose or amino acids, insulin no longer activates eIF2B. Since control of eIF2B is independent of mTOR, these data indicate the operation of additional, and so far unknown, regulatory mechanisms that control eIF2B activity.

Role of the p70 S6 kinase cascade in neutrophilic differentiation and proliferation of HL-60 cells-a study of transferrin receptor-positive and -negative cells obtained from dimethyl sulfoxide- or retinoic acid-treated HL-60 cells

Previously, we suggested that p70 S6 kinase (p70 S6K) plays an important role in the regulation of neutrophilic differentiation of HL-60 cells; this conclusion was based on our analysis of transferrin receptor (Trf-R) positive (Trf-R(+)) and negative (Trf-R(-)) cells that appeared after treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide (Me(2)SO). In this study, we analyzed the upstream of p70 S6K in relation to the differentiation and proliferation of both cell types. The granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-induced enhancement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activity in Trf-R(+) cells was markedly higher than that in Trf-R(-) cells. Wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of PI3K, partially inhibited G-CSF-induced p70 S6K activity and G-CSF-dependent proliferation, whereas rapamycin, an inhibitor of p70 S6K, completely inhibited these activities. The wortmannin-dependent enhancement of neutrophilic differentiation was similar to that induced by rapamycin. From these results, we conclude that the PI3K/p70 S6K cascade may play an important role in negative regulation of neutrophilic differentiation in HL-60 cells. For the G-CSF-dependent proliferation, however, p70 S6K appears to be a highly important pathway through not only a PI3K-dependent but also possibly an independent cascade.

Regulation of ribosomal S6 kinase 2 by mammalian target of rapamycin

Phosphorylation of the ribosomal S6 subunit is tightly correlated with enhanced translation initiation of a subset of mRNAs that encodes components of the protein synthesis machinery, which is an important early event that controls mammalian cell growth and proliferation. The recently identified S6 kinase 2 (S6K2), together with its homologue S6K1, is likely responsible for the mitogen-stimulated phosphorylation of S6. Like S6K1, the activation of S6K2 requires signaling from both the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Here we report the investigation of the mechanisms of S6K2 regulation by mTOR. We demonstrate that similar to S6K1 the serum activation of S6K2 in cells is dependent on mTOR kinase activity, amino acid sufficiency, and phosphatidic acid. Previously we have shown that mTOR is a cytoplasmic-nuclear shuttling protein. As a predominantly nuclear protein, S6K2 activation was facilitated by enhanced mTOR nuclear import with the tagging of an exogenous nuclear localization signal and diminished by enhanced mTOR nuclear export with the tagging of a nuclear export sequence. However, further increase of mTOR nuclear import by the tagging of four copies of nuclear localization signal resulted in its decreased ability to activate S6K2, suggesting that mTOR nuclear export may also be an integral part of the activation process. Consistently, the nuclear export inhibitor leptomycin B inhibited S6K2 activation. Taken together, our observations suggest a novel regulatory mechanism in which an optimal cytoplasmic-nuclear distribution or shuttling rate for mTOR is required for maximal activation of the nuclear S6K2.

Raptor, a binding partner of target of rapamycin (TOR), mediates TOR action

mTOR controls cell growth, in part by regulating p70 S6 kinase alpha (p70alpha) and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4EBP1). Raptor is a 150 kDa mTOR binding protein that also binds 4EBP1 and p70alpha. The binding of raptor to mTOR is necessary for the mTOR-catalyzed phosphorylation of 4EBP1 in vitro, and it strongly enhances the mTOR kinase activity toward p70alpha. Rapamycin or amino acid withdrawal increases, whereas insulin strongly inhibits, the recovery of 4EBP1 and raptor on 7-methyl-GTP Sepharose. Partial inhibition of raptor expression by RNA interference (RNAi) reduces mTOR-catalyzed 4EBP1 phosphorylation in vitro. RNAi of C. elegans raptor yields an array of phenotypes that closely resemble those produced by inactivation of Ce-TOR. Thus, raptor is an essential scaffold for the mTOR-catalyzed phosphorylation of 4EBP1 and mediates TOR action in vivo.

c-Raf/MEK/ERK pathway controls protein kinase C-mediated p70S6K activation in adult cardiac muscle cells

p70S6 kinase (S6K1) plays a pivotal role in hypertrophic cardiac growth via ribosomal biogenesis. In pressure-overloaded myocardium, we show S6K1 activation accompanied by activation of protein kinase C (PKC), c-Raf, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). To explore the importance of the c-Raf/MAPK kinase (MEK)/MAPK pathway, we stimulated adult feline cardiomyocytes with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), insulin, or forskolin to activate PKC, phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase, or protein kinase A (PKA), respectively. These treatments resulted in S6K1 activation with Thr-389 phosphorylation as well as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and S6 protein phosphorylation. Thr-421/Ser-424 phosphorylation of S6K1 was observed predominantly in TPA-treated cells. Dominant negative c-Raf expression or a MEK1/2 inhibitor (U0126) treatment showed a profound blocking effect only on the TPA-stimulated phosphorylation of S6K1 and mTOR. Whereas p38 MAPK inhibitors exhibited only partial effect, MAPK-phosphatase-3 expression significantly blocked the TPA-stimulated S6K1 and mTOR phosphorylation. Inhibition of mTOR with rapamycin blocked the Thr-389 but not the Thr-421/Ser-424 phosphorylation of S6K1. Therefore, during PKC activation, the c-Raf/MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway mediates both the Thr-421/Ser-424 and the Thr-389 phosphorylation in an mTOR-independent and -dependent manner, respectively. Together, our in vivo and in vitro studies indicate that the PKC/c-Raf/MEK/ERK pathway plays a major role in the S6K1 activation in hypertrophic cardiac growth.

Hypoxia enhances vascular cell proliferation and angiogenesis in vitro via rapamycin (mTOR)-dependent signaling

Angiogenesis and vascular cell proliferation are pivotal in physiological and pathological processes including atherogenesis, restenosis, wound healing, and cancer development. Here we show that mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling plays a key role in hypoxia-triggered smooth muscle and endothelial proliferation and angiogenesis in vitro. Hypoxia significantly increased DNA synthesis and proliferative responses to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) in rat and human smooth muscle and endothelial cells. In an in vitro 3-dimensional model of angiogenesis, hypoxia increased PDGF- and FGF-stimulated sprout formation from rat and mouse aortas. Hypoxia did not modulate PDGF receptor mRNA, protein, or phosphorylation. PI3K activity was essential for cell proliferation under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Activities of PI3K-downstream target PKB under hypoxia and normoxia were comparable. However, mTOR inhibition by rapamycin specifically abrogated hypoxia-mediated amplification of proliferation and angiogenesis, but was without effect on proliferation under normoxia. Accordingly, hypoxia-mediated amplification of proliferation was further augmented in mTOR-overexpressing endothelial cells. Thus, signaling via mTOR may represent a novel mechanism whereby hypoxia augments mitogen-stimulated vascular cell proliferation and angiogenesis.

A new role for the p85-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase regulatory subunit linking FRAP to p70 S6 kinase activation

The serine/threonine kinase p70 S6 kinase (p70S6K) phosphorylates the 40 S ribosomal protein S6, modulating the translation of an mRNA subset that encodes ribosomal proteins and translation elongation factors. p70S6K is activated in response to mitogenic stimuli and is required for progression through the G(1) phase of the cell cycle and for cell growth. Activation of p70S6K is regulated by phosphorylation of seven different residues distributed throughout the protein, a subset of which depends on the activity of p85/p110 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K); in fact, the phosphorylation status of Thr(229) and Thr(389) is intimately linked to PI3K activity. In the full-length enzyme, however, these sites are also acutely sensitive to the action of FKBP 12-rapamycin-associated protein (FRAP). The mechanism by which PI3K and FRAP cooperate to induce p70S6K activation remains unclear. Here we show that the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3K also controls p70S6K activation by mediating formation of a ternary complex with p70S6K and FRAP. The p85 C-terminal SH2 domain is responsible for p85 coupling to p70S6K and FRAP, because deletion of the C-terminal SH2 domain inhibits complex formation and impairs p70S6K activation by PI3K. Formation of this complex is not required for activation of a FRAP-independent form of p70S6K, however, underscoring the role of p85 in regulating FRAP-dependent p70S6K activation. These studies thus show that, in addition to the contribution of PI3K activity, the p85 regulatory subunit plays a critical role in p70S6K activation.

Amino acid-induced translation of TOP mRNAs is fully dependent on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-mediated signaling, is partially inhibited by rapamycin, and is independent of S6K1 and rpS6 phosphorylation

Vertebrate TOP mRNAs contain an oligopyrimidine tract at their 5' termini (5'TOP) and encode components of the translational machinery. Previously it has been shown that they are subject to selective translational repression upon growth arrest and that their translational behavior correlates with the activity of S6K1. We now show that the translation of TOP mRNAs is rapidly repressed by amino acid withdrawal and that this nutritional control depends strictly on the integrity of the 5'TOP motif. However, neither phosphorylation of ribosomal protein (rp) S6 nor activation of S6K1 per se is sufficient to relieve the translational repression of TOP mRNAs in amino acid-starved cells. Likewise, inhibition of S6K1 activity and rpS6 phosphorylation by overexpression of dominant-negative S6K1 mutants failed to suppress the translational activation of TOP mRNAs in amino acid-refed cells. Furthermore, TOP mRNAs were translationally regulated by amino acid sufficiency in embryonic stem cells lacking both alleles of the S6K1 gene. Inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin led to fast and complete repression of S6K1, as judged by rpS6 phosphorylation, but to only partial and delayed repression of translational activation of TOP mRNAs. In contrast, interference in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase)-mediated pathway by chemical or genetic manipulations blocked rapidly and completely the translational activation of TOP mRNAs. It appears, therefore, that translational regulation of TOP mRNAs, at least by amino acids, (i) is fully dependent on PI3-kinase, (ii) is partially sensitive to rapamycin, and (iii) requires neither S6K1 activity nor rpS6 phosphorylation.

Ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation and function during late gestation liver development in the rat

The phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 is thought to be required for biosynthesis of the cell's translational apparatus, a critical component of cell growth and proliferation. We have studied the signal transduction pathways involved in hepatic S6 phosphorylation during late gestation in the rat. This is a period during which hepatocytes show a high rate of proliferation that is, at least in part, independent of mitogenic signaling pathways that are operative in mature hepatocytes. Our initial studies demonstrated that there was low basal activity of two S6 kinases in liver, S6K1 and S6K2, on embryonic day 19 (2 days preterm). In addition, insulin- and growth factor-mediated S6K1 and S6K2 activation was markedly attenuated compared with that in adult liver. Nonetheless, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis demonstrated that fetal liver S6 itself was highly phosphorylated. To characterize the fetal hepatocyte pathway for S6 phosphorylation, we went on to study the sensitivity of hepatocyte proliferation to the S6 kinase inhibitor rapamycin. Unexpectedly, administration of rapamycin to embryonic day 19 fetuses in situ did not affect hepatocyte DNA synthesis. This resistance to the growth inhibitory effect of rapamycin occurred even though S6K1 and S6K2 were inhibited. Furthermore, fetal hepatocyte proliferation was sustained even though rapamycin administration resulted in the dephosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6. In contrast, rapamycin blocked hepatic DNA synthesis in adult rats following partial hepatectomy coincident with S6 dephosphorylation. We conclude that hepatocyte proliferation in the late gestation fetus is supported by a rapamycin-resistant mechanism that can function independently of ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation.

Novel cross talk between MEK and S6K2 in FGF-2 induced proliferation of SCLC cells

Here, we show that fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) induces proliferation of H-510 and H-69 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells. However, the optimal response to FGF-2 was obtained at 10-fold lower concentrations in H-510 cells. This correlated with the selective activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) pathway in H-510, but not H-69 cells. Moreover, inhibition of MEK with PD098059 blocked FGF-2-induced proliferation in H-510 cells only. Similarly, ribosomal protein S6 kinase 2 (S6K2), a recently identified homologue of S6K1 was activated by FGF-2 in H-510, but not H-69 cells. This activation was independent of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, but was sensitive to inhibition of the MEK pathway. These data suggest that S6K2 is a novel downstream target of MEK. The potency of FGF-2 in H-510 cells might reflect this additional MEK/S6K2 signalling. In contrast to S6K2, S6K1 was activated in both SCLC cell lines. Inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin with 10 ng/ml rapamycin blocked S6K1 activation and proliferation of both lines. However, even at 100 ng/ml, rapamycin only partially inhibited S6K2. Strikingly, this correlated with inhibition of MEK signalling. Our data indicate that S6K1, and possibly S6K2, are involved in FGF-2-induced SCLC cell growth, a notion supported by the overexpression and higher baseline activity of both isoforms in SCLC lines, as compared to normal human type-II pneumocytes.

Distinct regulatory mechanism for p70 S6 kinase beta from that for p70 S6 kinase alpha

BACKGROUND

A novel ribosomal S6 kinase, termed p70 S6 kinase beta (p70beta), has a highly homologous amino acid sequence to that of p70/p85 S6 kinase (p70alpha). This includes the critical phosphorylation sites, Thr252, Ser394 and Thr412 in p70alpha1, which correspond to Thr241, Ser383 and Thr401 in p70beta1, respectively. However, the regulatory mechanism for p70beta remains to be elucidated.

RESULTS

We report here the expression and the mechanism of in vivo regulation of p70beta. Two isoforms, p70beta1 and p70beta2, were expressed in a variety of tissues at a different level. p70beta1 was mainly targeted to the nucleus, whereas p70beta2 dispersed throughout the cytoplasm including nucleoplasm. The kinase activity of p70beta1 was less sensitive to the inhibition induced by rapamycin, wortmannin and amino acid withdrawal than that of p70alpha. The portion of p70beta activity inhibited by rapamycin was rescued by the rapamycin-resistant mutant of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Mutational analysis revealed that the phosphorylation of Thr241 and Thr401 in p70beta1 was indispensable for the kinase activity. In contrast, a p70beta1 mutant in which Ser383 was substituted with Gly (S383G) still retained nearly the half maximal activity. Sequential phosphorylation of wild-type and S383G mutant of p70beta1 with mTOR and 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) in vitro synergistically activated their kinase activities.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that p70beta is regulated by the mTOR- and PDK1-signalling pathways through a synergistic interaction between phosphorylated Thr241 and Thr401, while Ser383 plays minor role in their activation mechanism. Activated p70beta may be less sensitive to dephosphorylation mediated by putative phosphatases activated by rapamycin, amino acid withdrawal, and probably wortmannin.