Proline-rich Akt Substrate Of 40-kDa Research Articles

The Role of the Akt Signaling Pathway in Sjögren's Syndrome.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder with diverse clinical picture and high prevalence of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), that possibly raises from the chronic activation of B-cells. The mechanisms underlying the development of neoplasia in pSS remain elusive. Activated Akt/mTOR pathway is a uniform finding in cancer, whereas its significance in haematologic malignancies is highlighted by the plethora of inhibitors with promising therapeutic efficacy. PI3K-Akt activation has been involved in the TLR3-induced apoptosis of cultured salivary gland epithelial cells (SGECs), whereas upregulated expression of the phosphorylated ribosomal S6 protein (pS6), an end-result of PI3K signalling, has been detected in the infiltrating T and B lymphocytes at the MSG lesions of pSS patients; nevertheless, without specifying if this was mediated by the Akt/mTOR or Ras/ERK pathways. To this end, the role of Akt/mTOR pathway in pSS and associated lymphomagenesis, will be investigated by the immunohistochemical detection of the entire and phosphorylated protein forms of Akt kinase and two of its substrates, namely the FoxO1 transcription factor and the proline-rich Akt substrate of 40-kDa (PRAS40) in MSGs of pSS patients with variable histological and clinical phenotype, as well as sicca-complaining controls. Subsequently, the role of this pathway will be evaluated in in-vitro inhibition experiments, studying the effect of specific inhibitors in the phenotype, function, and interaction of SGECs and B cells. The current proposal is expected to promote the understanding of pSS pathogenesis, enlighten the mechanisms underlying related lymphomagenesis and possible therapeutic targets.

The Role of Insulin, IGF-1 and PRAS40 in the Processes of Oncogenesis in Women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Endometrial Cancer

The objective of the research was to investigate the content of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 and phosphorylated protein kinase proline-rich Akt substrate of 40kDa and to determine their role in the activation of oncogenesis processes in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus and endometrial cancer.
 Materials and methods. There were examined 46 women who were divided into 4 groups: Group I included healthy women; Group II comprised women with type 2 diabetes mellitus; Group III included women with endometrial cancer; Group IV comprised women with endometrial cancer and co-existent type 2 diabetes mellitus. The levels of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, phospho- proline-rich Akt substrate of 40kDa were determined by immune-enzyme analysis. The compensation of diabetes mellitus was evaluated by hemoglobin A1c level using method of ion-exchange chromatography. The results obtained were analyzed using statistical analysis.
 Results. Women of all study groups had increased levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 as compared to the control group (p<0.05). The level of phospho-proline-rich Akt substrate of 40kDa increased in the patients of Group II (p<0.05) and the patients of Group III (p<0.05) and decreased in the patients of Group IV (p<0.05). According to correlation analysis, phospho-proline-rich Akt substrate of 40kDa was found to correlate with body mass index, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 in Group II, body mass index and insulin-like growth factor-1 in Group III and body mass index in Group IV (p<0.05).
 Conclusions. There was found an association between type 2 diabetes mellitus and endometrial cancer through obesity, hyperinsulinemia and insulin-like growth factor-1. The increase in phospho- proline-rich Akt substrate of 40kDa level was a sign of activation of mTOR and oncogenesis processes in the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The decrease in phospho-proline-rich Akt substrate of 40kDa in the patients with endometrial cancer and co-existent type 2 diabetes mellitus can be explained by the influence of other intracellular regulatory systems or the effects of antidiabetic drugs, that requires additional study.

Small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of G-protein-coupled receptor 137 inhibits growth of osteosarcoma cells

PurposeOsteosarcoma is the most widespread primary carcinoma in bones. Osteosarcoma cells are highly metastatic and frequently develop resistance to chemotherapy making this disease harder to treat. This identifies an urgent need of novel therapeutic strategies for osteosarcoma. G-Protein-coupled receptor 137 (GPR137) is involved in several human cancers and may be a novel therapeutic target. MethodsThe expression of GPR137 was assessed in one osteoblast and three human osteosarcoma cell lines via the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot assays. Stable GPR137 knockdown cell lines were established using an RNA interference lentivirus system. Viability, colony formation, and flow cytometry assays were performed to measure the effects of GPR137 depletion on cell growth. The underlying molecular mechanism was determined using signaling array analysis and western blot assays. ResultsGPR137 expression was higher in the three human osteosarcoma cell lines, Saos-2, U2OS, and SW1353, than in osteoblast hFOB 1.19 cells. Lentivirus-mediated small interfering RNA targeting GPR137 successfully knocked down GPR137 mRNA and protein expression in both Saos-2 and U2OS cells. In the absence of GPR137, cell viability and colony formation ability were seriously impaired. The extent of apoptosis was also increased in both cell lines. Moreover, AMP-activated protein kinase α, proline-rich AKT substrate of 40kDa, AKT, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation levels were down-regulated in GPR137 knockdown cells. ConclusionsThe results of this study highlight the crucial role of GPR137 in promoting osteosarcoma cell growth in vitro. GPR137 could serve as a potential therapeutic target against osteosarcoma.

Abstract 472: The mTOR-Dependent Translatome Adapts Early Changes in Gene Expression During Cardiac Growth

Introduction: The mTOR kinase links nutrient and growth factor signaling to cell growth by controlling mRNA translation, but the role of translationally controlled networks during cardiac stress remains unknown. We hypothesized that activation of mTOR controls translation of networks of mRNAs, independent from transcription, to rapidly adapt gene expression to physiologic and pathologic stress. We tested this hypothesis by monitoring the transcriptome and the translatome after pharmacologic and genetic inhibition of mTOR in cardiac myocytes. Methods and Results: To define the mTOR-dependent translatome, we performed ribosome profiling after pharmacologic mTOR inhibition by Torin1. We found 166 decreased and 199 unchanged mRNAs that we used for further analysis. Among the decreased mRNAs, 17% have a known TOP or TOP like motif in the 5’UTR, explaining why mTOR inhibition selectively suppresses their translation. Gene ontology analyses of Torin1-suppressed mRNAs showed enrichment for genes involved in translation and metabolism. P roline -r ich A KT s ubstrate of 40 kDa (Pras40) inhibits mTORC1 activity. In vivo, mTOR inhibition by overexpression of Pras40 blocked pathologic growth, and improved cardiac function after transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Conversely, in a cardiomyocyte-specific Pras40 knock-out mouse, heart function was reduced and growth response attenuated after TAC surgery. Similarly, physiological heart growth was inhibited after Pras40 deletion. Mechanistically and in line with the pharmacologic results, global translation rates were decreased after Pras40 depletion. Mass-spectrometric analysis identified ribonucleoproteins, ribosomal proteins and chaperones as Pras40 interaction partners, suggesting a direct function in the protein synthesis and folding machinery downstream of mTOR. Monitoring the translatome in vivo after Pras40 depletion using a ribosome tagging approach, followed by ribosome profiling, identified the mTOR-dependent translatome. Conclusions: mTOR-dependent translational control might represent a crucial way of controlling gene expression during stress in the myocardium. Once elucidated, mTOR-based therapies could be a powerful approach to prevent worsening of cardiac function.

Montelukast Induces Apoptosis-Inducing Factor-Mediated Cell Death of Lung Cancer Cells.

Developing novel chemo-prevention techniques and advancing treatment are key elements to beating lung cancer, the most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Our previous cohort study showed that cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonists, mainly montelukast, decreased the lung cancer risk in asthma patients. In the current study, we conducted in vivo and in vitro experiments to demonstrate the inhibiting effect of montelukast on lung cancer and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Using Lewis lung carcinoma-bearing mice, we showed that feeding montelukast significantly delayed the tumor growth in mice (p < 0.0001). Montelukast inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation and induced the cell death of lung cancer cells. Further investigation showed the down-regulation of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), up-regulation of Bcl-2 homologous antagonist/killer (Bak), and nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) in montelukast-treated lung cancer cells. Montelukast also markedly decreased the phosphorylation of several proteins, such as with no lysine 1 (WNK1), protein kinase B (Akt), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2), MAPK/Erk kinase (MEK), and proline-rich Akt substrate of 40-kDa (PRAS40), which might contribute to cell death. In conclusion, montelukast induced lung cancer cell death via the nuclear translocation of AIF. This study confirmed the chemo-preventive effect of montelukast shown in our previous cohort study. The utility of montelukast in cancer prevention and treatment thus deserves further studies.

PRAS40 alleviates neurotoxic prion peptide-induced apoptosis via mTOR-AKT signaling.

The proline-rich Akt substrate of 40-kDa (PRAS40) protein is a direct inhibitor of mTORC1 and an interactive linker between the Akt and mTOR pathways. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is considered to be a central regulator of cell growth and metabolism. Several investigations have demonstrated that abnormal mTOR activity may contribute to the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders and lead to cognitive deficits. Here, we used the PrP peptide 106-126 (PrP106-126 ) in a cell model of prion diseases (also known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, TSEs) to investigate the mechanisms of mTOR-mediated cell death in prion diseases. We have shown that, upon stress caused by PrP106-126 , the mTOR pathway activates and contributes to cellular apoptosis. Moreover, we demonstrated that PRAS40 down-regulates mTOR hyperactivity under stress conditions and alleviates neurotoxic prion peptide-induced apoptosis. The effect of PRAS40 on apoptosis is likely due to an mTOR/Akt signaling. PRAS40 inhibits mTORC1 hyperactivation and plays a key role in protecting cells against neurotoxic prion peptide-induced apoptosis. Thus, PRAS40 is a potential therapeutic target for prion disease.

MTOR activity in AIDS-related diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

BackgroundPatients infected with HIV have a significantly increased risk of developing non–Hodgkin lymphomas despite the widespread use of HAART.To investigate mTOR pathway activity in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) related diffuse large B-cell lymphoma AR-DLBCL, we used immunohistochemistry to examine the presence of the phosphorylated 70 ribosomal S6 protein-kinase (p70S6K), an extensively studied effector of mTOR Complex 1 (mTORC1) and the phosphorylated phosphatase and tensin homolog (pPTEN), a negative regulator of mTORC1 pathway.Materials and methodsWe evaluated tissue samples from 126 patients with AR-DLBCL. Among them, 98 samples were from tissue microarrays (TMAs) supplied by the Aids and Cancer Specimen Resource (ACSR), the remaining 28 samples were from cases diagnosed and treated at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). The presence of p70S6K was evaluated with two antibodies directed against the combined epitopes Ser235/236 and Ser240/244, respectively; and additional monoclonal anti-bodies were used to identify pPTEN and phosphorylated proline-rich Akt substrate of 40kDa (pPRAS40). The degree of intensity and percentage of cells positive for p70S6K and pPTEN were assessed in all the samples. In addition, a subgroup of 28 patients from UCSD was studied to assess the presence of pPRAS40, an insulin-regulated activator of the mTORC1. The expression of each of these markers was correlated with clinical and histopathologic features.ResultsThe majority of the patients evaluated were males (88%); only two cases (1.6%) were older than 65 years of age. We found high levels of both p70S6K-paired epitopes studied, 48% positivity against Ser235/236 (44% in ACSR and 64% in UCSD group), and 86% positivity against Ser240/244 (82% in ACSR and 100% in UCSD group). We observed more positive cells and stronger intensity with epitope Ser240/244 in comparison to Ser235/236 (p<0.0001). The degree of intensity and percentage of cells positive for pPTEN was positively correlated with p70S6K levels (p = 0.016 for 235/236 and p = 0.007 for 240/244). High levels of pPRAS40 were observed in the majority of the cases evaluated (64.3%), but no correlation was found with either pPTEN (p = 0.9) or p70S6K (p = 0.9) levels.ConclusionAR-DLBCL frequently contain p70S6K, a main downstream effector of the mTOR pathway. The presence of p70S6K is positively correlated with pPTEN, an inactive form of PTEN, which makes mTORC1 activated. The presence of p70S6K was independent of HIV viral load or CD4 (+) counts. These results suggest that the mTOR pathway is active in the majority of AR-DLBCL, and p70S6K, particularly the Ser240/244 epitope immunohistochemistry is an excellent surrogate biomarker, which could be used to identify cases expected to be responsive to mTOR inhibitors.

Ischemia-Induced Changes of PRAS40 and p-PRAS40 Immunoreactivities in the Gerbil Hippocampal CA1 Region After Transient Cerebral Ischemia.

Proline-rich Akt substrate of 40-kDa (PRAS40) is one of the important interactive linkers between Akt and mTOR signaling pathways. The increase of PRAS40 is related with the reduction of brain damage induced by cerebral ischemia. In the present study, we investigated time-dependent changes in PRAS40 and phospho-PRAS40 (p-PRAS40) immunoreactivities in the hippocampal CA1 region of the gerbil after 5min of transient cerebral ischemia. PRAS40 immunoreactivity in the CA1 region was decreased in pyramidal neurons from 12h after ischemic insult in a time-dependent manner, and, at 5days post-ischemia, PRAS40 immunoreactivity was newly expressed in astrocytes. p-PRAS40 immunoreactivity in the CA1 pyramidal neurons was hardly found 12h and apparently detected again 1 and 2days after ischemic insult. At 5days post-ischemia, p-PRAS40 immunoreactivity in the CA1 pyramidal neurons was not found. These results indicate that ischemia-induced changes in PRAS40 and p-PRAS40 immunoreactivities in CA1 pyramidal neurons and astrocytes may be closely associated with delayed neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region following transient cerebral ischemia.

Proline-rich AKT substrate of 40-kDa (PRAS40) in the pathophysiology of cancer

Dysregulation of PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway has been reported in various pathologies, such as cancer and insulin resistance. The proline-rich AKT substrate of 40-kDa (PRAS40), also known as AKT substrate 1 (AKT1S1), lies at the crossroads of these cascades and inhibits the activity of the mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) kinase. This review discusses the role of PRAS40 and possible feedback mechanisms, and alterations in AKT/PRAS40/mTOR signaling that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of tumor progression. Additionally, we probed new datasets extracted from Oncomine, a cancer microarray database containing datasets derived from patient samples, to further understand the role of PRAS40 (AKT1S1). These data strongly supports the hypothesis that PRAS40 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for various cancers.

Abstract 20445: Pras40 Prevents Development of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Introduction: Diabetes is a multi organ disease and diabetic cardiomyopathy can result in heart failure, which is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Defects in mTOR signaling are believed to contribute to metabolic dysfunctions in diabetic liver and hearts, but evidence is missing that mTOR activation is causal to the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. PRAS40 (Proline Rich Akt Substrate of 40kDa) is a specific component of mTORC1 that interacts with RAPTOR to inhibit mTORC1 kinase activity Methods and Results: The db/db mouse exhibits key characteristics of T2DM, namely hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and develops diabetic cardiomyopathy with decreased cardiac function. Selective mTORC1 inhibition in cardiomyocytes from db/db mice in vivo was achieved using PRAS40 delivered via recombinant cardiotropic adeno-associated vector serotype 9 (AAV9) driven by a cardiomyocyte-specific myosin light chain (MLC2v) promoter construct. Myocardial dysfunction was prevented in AAV-PRAS40 treated db/db mice compared to the AAV-Control group, as seen by significantly higher cardiac ejection fraction (EF%), fractional shortening (FS%) measured by serial echocardiography, despite similar increases in body weight, serum glucose levels, and fat deposition in the liver. The effects of PRAS40 were tested in a model of T2DM induced by high fat diet (HFD). AAV-PRAS40 or AAV-Control was injected at 7 weeks of age and mice were fed HFD chow of or standard for an additional 25 weeks. Decreased cardiac function was observed in the HFD control group measured by echocardiography. This preservation of function was associated with decreased left ventricular diastolic dimension (LVID) and improved diastolic function. This phenotype was associated with improved metabolic function, blunted hypertrophic growth, and preserved insulin sensitivity. Conclusions: mTORC1 inhibition with PRAS40 prevents diabetic cardiomyopathy and improves metabolic function in diabetic mice. These findings may open novel avenues for therapeutic strategies using PRAS40 directed against diabetic-related diseases.

PRAS40 plays a pivotal role in protecting against stroke by linking the Akt and mTOR pathways

The proline-rich Akt substrate of 40kDa (PRAS40) protein is not only a substrate of the protein kinase Akt but also a component of the mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1), thus it links the Akt and the mTOR pathways. We investigated the potential protective role of PRAS40 in cerebral ischemia and its underlying mechanisms by using rats with lentiviral over-expression of PRAS40 and mice with PRAS40 gene knockout (PRAS40 KO). Our results show that gene transfer of PRAS40 reduced infarction size in rats by promoting phosphorylation of Akt, FKHR (FOXO1), PRAS40, and mTOR. In contrast, PRAS40 KO increased infarction size. Although the PRAS40 KO under normal condition did not alter baseline levels of phosphorylated proteins in the Akt and mTOR pathways, PRAS40 KO that underwent stroke exhibited reduced protein levels of p-S6K and p-S6 in the mTOR pathway but not p-Akt, or p-PTEN in the Akt pathway. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation suggests that there were less interactive effects between Akt and mTOR in the PRAS40 KO. In conclusion, PRAS40 appears to reduce brain injury by converting cell signaling from Akt to mTOR.

Over-expression of PRAS40 enhances insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle

Context: Silencing proline-rich Akt substrate of 40-kDa (PRAS40) impairs insulin signalling in skeletal muscle. Objective: This study assessed the effects of over-expressing wild type or mutant AAA-PRAS40, in which the major phosphorylation sites and mTORC1-binding site were mutated, on insulin signalling in skeletal muscle. Results: Over-expression of WT-PRAS40, but not AAA-PRAS40, impaired the insulin-mediated activation of the mTORC1-pathway in human skeletal muscle cells (hSkMC). However, insulin-mediated Akt-phosphorylation was increased upon over-expression of WT-PRAS40 both in hSkMC and mouse skeletal muscle. Also over-expression of AAA-PRAS40 had an insulin-sensitizing effect, although to a lesser extent as WT-PRAS40. The insulin-sensitizing effect associated with increased IRS1 protein abundance and inhibition of proteasome activity. Finally, over-expression of WT-PRAS40 reversed hyperinsulinemia-induced insulin resistance. Conclusion: This study identifies PRAS40 as a regulator of insulin sensitivity in hSkMC. In contrast to the mTORC1-pathway, the insulin-sensitizing action of PRAS40 occurs independent of binding of PRAS40 to the mTORC1-complex.

Proline-rich Akt substrate of 40-kDa contains a nuclear export signal

The proline-rich Akt substrate of 40-kDa (PRAS40) has been linked to the regulation of the activity of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 as well as insulin action. Despite these cytosolic functions, PRAS40 was originally identified as nuclear phosphoprotein in Hela cells. This study aimed to detail mechanisms and consequences of the nucleocytosolic trafficking of PRAS40. Sequence analysis identified a potential leucine-rich nuclear export signal (NES) within PRAS40. Incubation of A14 fibroblasts overexpressing human PRAS40 (hPRAS40) resulted in nuclear accumulation of the protein. Furthermore, mutation of the NES mimicked the effects of leptomycin B, a specific inhibitor of nuclear export, on the subcellular localization of hPRAS40. Finally, A14 cells expressing the NES-mutant showed impaired activation of components of the Akt-pathway as well as of the mTORC1 substrate p70 S6 kinase after insulin stimulation. This impaired insulin signaling could be ascribed to reduced protein levels of insulin receptor substrate 1 in cells expressing mutant NES. In conclusion, PRAS40 contains a functional nuclear export signal. Furthermore, enforced nuclear accumulation of PRAS40 impairs insulin action, thereby substantiating the function of this protein in the regulation of insulin sensitivity.

Abstract 112: An endogenous mTOR inhibitor, PRAS40, is upregulated in lung cancer and contributes to tumor cell invasion and chemoresistance

Abstract The proline-rich Akt substrate of 40-kDa (PRAS40) has recently been identified as a regulatory component of, TORC1 (a complex composed of mTOR, GβL, DEPTOR, RAPTOR and PRAS40)Phosphorylation of Thr246 on PRAS40 by PKB/Akt, and Ser183 and Ser221 by mTOR results in the dissociation of PRAS40 from TORC1, and binding of PRAS40 to 14-3-3 proteins. Negative mTOR regulators usually play anti-tumorigenesis roles (like TSC1-TSC2, LKB1 and PTEN). Unexpectedly, PRAS40 has been shown to acted as a pro-tumorigenic factor in certain types of cancer cells. To better understand the role of PRAS40 in cancer, we have carried out a series of cell culture and patient tumor tissue based studies. Here, we report that PRAS40 was upregulated in most of the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines examined when compared to normal lung epithelial cell lines. Further immonuhistochemistry (IHC) studies confirmed the overexpression of PRAS40 in tumor tissues from NSCLC patients. Significantly, nearly 60% of cancer tissues from NSCLC patients exhibited considerably higher levels of PRAS40 protein than those in paired normal lung tissue. Such high levels of PRAS40 expression appear to be required for tumor progression as silencing of PRAS40 by shRNA decreased the cell invasion ability of NSCLC cells. Subsequently, we investigated whether PRAS40 can influence the sensitivity of NSCLC cells to chemotharepitic drugs. Our data demonstrated that downregulation of PRAS40 protein increased the sensitivity of NSCLC cells to chemotherapeutic agents, such as etopside and perifosine. In summary, our results strongly support a pro-tumorigenic role for PRAS40 and suggest PRAS40 could be a potential NSCLC therapeutic target. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 112. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-112

Abstract 4986: Nuclear PRAS40 regulates the cellular response to nucleolar stress

Abstract The Proline-rich Akt Substrate of 40kDA (PRAS40) has recently been identified as a binding partner and inhibitor of the mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1), a growth factor- and nutrient-sensitive kinase whose activity promotes protein synthesis and cell growth. Despite its inhibitory effect on mTORC1, PRAS40 has been shown to promote cell survival in rodent models of spinal cord injury and tumorigenesis. Importantly, PRAS40 levels have also been found to correlate with poor prognosis in lung cancer patients, an effect not readily explained by mTORC1 inhibition. Here we demonstrate that in addition to its known cytoplasmic role in inhibiting mTORC1, PRAS40 also actively shuttles to the nucleus, where it congregates at the periphery of nucleoli and exists in a high-molecular weight complex void of mTORC1 components. Through immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry analyses we have begun to identify members of this nuclear PRAS40 complex. Furthermore, we demonstrate that PRAS40 overexpression attenuates Actinomycin D-mediated induction of nucleolar stress markers. These findings may help to explain the apparent pro-tumorigenic effects of PRAS40 and identify the PRAS40 nuclear complex as a potential target for anti-cancer drug discovery. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4986. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4986

Insulin-like growth factor-1 induces the phosphorylation of PRAS40 via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in PC12 cells

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is a polypeptide tropic factor that plays an important role in the survival and differentiation of both neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Numerous studies have demonstrated that IGF-1 promotes neuronal cell survival via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Proline-rich Akt substrate of 40kDa (PRAS40) is a recently discovered downstream target of Akt. However, the relationship between IGF-1 and PRAS40 is not known. In this study, we characterized the phosphorylation of PRAS40 induced by IGF-1 in PC12 cells and explored the signaling pathway responsible for the effect of IGF-1. IGF-1 induced the phosphorylation of Akt at Thr473 and PRAS40 at Thr246 in PC12 cells. The phosphorylation of Akt and PRAS40 induced by IGF-1 (100ng/ml) was inhibited by the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) specific inhibitor LY294002 (50μM), while no inhibitory effect was observed for a MAPK kinase pathway specific inhibitor PD98059 nor a p38 MAPK inhibitor PD169316, suggesting that the phosphorylation of PRAS40 induced by IGF-1 is mediated by the PI3K pathway in PC12 cells and primary cultured neurons. In further support this hypothesis, an Akt kinase specific inhibitor, Akt inhibitor VIII, attenuated IGF-1-induced phosphorylation of PRAS40 at the concentration that blocked the phosphorylation of Akt induced by IGF-1. Taken together, these data demonstrate that IGF-1 stimulates the phosphorylation of PRAS40 at Thr246 in neuronal cells and the effect of IGF-1 is mediated, at least in part, by the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Phosphorylation of PRAS40 on Thr246 by PKB/AKT facilitates efficient phosphorylation of Ser183 by mTORC1

Type 2 diabetes is associated with alterations in protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signalling. The proline-rich Akt substrate of 40-kDa (PRAS40) is a component of mTORC1, which has a regulatory function at the intersection of the PKB/Akt and mTORC1 signalling pathway. Phosphorylation of PRAS40-Thr246 by PKB/Akt, and PRAS40-Ser183 and PRAS40-Ser221 by mTORC1 results in dissociation from mTORC1, and its binding to 14-3-3 proteins. Although all phosphorylation sites within PRAS40 have been implicated in 14-3-3 binding, substitution of Thr246 by Ala alone is sufficient to abolish 14-3-3 binding under conditions of intact mTORC1 signalling. This suggests that phosphorylation of PRAS40-Thr246 may facilitate efficient phosphorylation of PRAS40 on its mTORC1-dependent sites. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of PRAS40-Ser183 phosphorylation in response to insulin. Insulin promoted PRAS40-Ser183 phosphorylation after a euglycaemic–hyperinsulinaemic clamp in human skeletal muscle. The insulin-induced PRAS40-Ser183 phosphorylation was further evidenced in vivo in rat skeletal and cardiac muscle, and in vitro in A14 fibroblasts, 3T3L1 adipocytes and L6 myotubes. Inhibition of mTORC1 by rapamycin or amino acid deprivation partially abrogated insulin-mediated PRAS40-Ser183 phosphorylation in cultured cell lines. However, lowering insulin-induced PRAS40-Thr246 phosphorylation using wortmannin or palmitate in cell lines, or by feeding rats a high-fat diet, completely abolished insulin-mediated PRAS40-Ser183 phosphorylation. In addition, replacement of Thr246 by Ala reduced insulin-mediated PRAS40-Ser183 phosphorylation. We conclude that PRAS40-Ser183 is a component of insulin action, and that efficient phosphorylation of PRAS40-Ser183 by mTORC1 requires the phosphorylation of PRAS40-Thr246 by PKB/Akt.

IGF-1 stimulates protein synthesis by enhanced signaling through mTORC1 in bovine mammary epithelial cells

Using the MAC-T cell line as a model, the effects of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 on the regulation of protein synthesis through the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling in bovine mammary epithelial cells were evaluated. Global rates of protein synthesis increased by 47% within 30 min of IGF-1 treatment. The effect of IGF-1 on protein synthesis was associated with enhanced association of the eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E with eIF4G and a concomitant reduction of eIF4E association with eIF4E-binding protein-1 (4E-BP1). There was a progressive increase in the phosphorylation state of ribosomal protein S6 kinase-1, a downstream target of mTORC1 in response to IGF-1. In addition, IGF-1 stimulated mTORC1 kinase activity toward 4E-BP1 in vitro. Phosphorylation on Ser473 of Akt was induced by IGF-1 within 5 min and remained elevated throughout a 30-min time course. The effect of IGF-1 on Akt phosphorylation was also concentration dependent. Activation of Akt by IGF-1 led to increased phosphorylation of tuberous sclerosis complex 2 on Thr1426, without any change in its association with tuberous sclerosis complex 1. Phosphorylation of proline-rich Akt substrate of 40-kDa (PRAS40) at Thr246 was stimulated by IGF-1. The amount of PRAS40 associated with mTORC1 decreased in response to IGF-1, and PRAS40 binding to mTORC1 was inversely related to its phosphorylation level. Overall, these results suggest that activation of the PI3K-Akt pathway by IGF-1 stimulated global protein synthesis in bovine mammary epithelial cells through changes in the phosphorylation and association state of components of the mTORC1 signaling pathway.