The GATOR2 complex maintains lysosomal-autophagic function by inhibiting the protein degradation of MiT/TFEs

Abstract

Lysosomes are central to metabolic homeostasis. The microphthalmia bHLH-LZ transcription factors (MiT/TFEs) family members MITF, TFEB, and TFE3 promote the transcription of lysosomal and autophagic genes and are often deregulated in cancer. Here, we show that the GATOR2 complex, an activator of the metabolic regulator TORC1, maintains lysosomal function by protecting MiT/TFEs from proteasomal degradation independent of TORC1, GATOR1, and the RAG GTPase. We determine that in GATOR2 knockout HeLa cells, members of the MiT/TFEs family are ubiquitylated by a trio of E3 ligases and are degraded, resulting in lysosome dysfunction. Additionally, we demonstrate that GATOR2 protects MiT/TFE proteins in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and Xp11 translocation renal cell carcinoma, two cancers that are driven by MiT/TFE hyperactivation. In summary, we find that the GATOR2 complex has independent roles in TORC1 regulation and MiT/TFE protein protection and thus is central to coordinating cellular metabolism with control of the lysosomal-autophagic system.