ARTICLE: PKG1-modified TSC2 regulates mTORC1 activity to counter adverse cardiac stress
AUTHORS: Mark J. Ranek, Kristen M. Kokkonen-Simon, Anna Chen, Brittany L. Dunkerly-Eyring, Miguel Pinilla Vera, Christian U. Oeing, Chirag H. Patel, Taishi Nakamura, Guangshuo Zhu, Djahida Bedja, Masayuki Sasaki, Ronald J. Holewinski, Jennifer E. Van Eyk, Jonathan D. Powell, Dong Ik Lee & David A. Kass
JOURNAL: Nature. 2019 Jan 30. doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-0895-y. [Epub ahead of print]
Brief Summary
Protein kinase G has long been considered to provide protection against a variety of cardiac disorders. In the new work, we have discovered a new mechanism, whereby PKG modifies a critical protein (TSC2) to act like a volume dial for the activation of the master growth and metabolism regulator-mechanistic target of rapamycin-complex 1 (mTORC1). This is a critical component of how PKG can ameliorate heart disease stimulated by pressure-stress. Beyond revealing new potential disease targets for PKG activators that feature mTORC1 hyperactivity–including many forms of heart disease, the new study unmasks a powerful new tool for mTORC1 regulation that may find major therapeutic utility in the rapidly growing field of adoptive cell therapies.
Abstract
The mechanistic target of rapamycin complex-1 (mTORC1) coordinates regulation of growth, metabolism, protein synthesis and autophagy1. Its hyperactivation contributes to disease in numerous organs, including the heart1,2, although broad inhibition of mTORC1 risks interference with its homeostatic roles. Tuberin (TSC2) is a GTPase-activating protein and prominent intrinsic regulator of mTORC1 that acts through modulation of RHEB (Ras homologue enriched in brain). TSC2 constitutively inhibits mTORC1; however, this activity is modified by phosphorylation from multiple signalling kinases that in turn inhibits (AMPK and GSK-3β) or stimulates (AKT, ERK and RSK-1) mTORC1activity3-9. Each kinase requires engagement of multiple serines, impeding analysis of their role in vivo. Here we show that phosphorylation or gain- or loss-of-function mutations at either of two adjacent serine residues in TSC2 (S1365 and S1366 in mice; S1364 and S1365 in humans) can bidirectionally control mTORC1 activity stimulated by growth factors or haemodynamic stress, and consequently modulate cell growth and autophagy. However, basal mTORC1 activity remains unchanged. In the heart, or in isolated cardiomyocytes or fibroblasts, protein kinase G1 (PKG1) phosphorylates these TSC2 sites. PKG1 is a primary effector of nitric oxide and natriuretic peptide signalling, and protects against heart disease10-13. Suppression of hypertrophy and stimulation of autophagy in cardiomyocytes by PKG1 requires TSC2phosphorylation. Homozygous knock-in mice that express a phosphorylation-silencing mutation in TSC2 (TSC2(S1365A)) develop worse heart disease and have higher mortality after sustained pressure overload of the heart, owing to mTORC1 hyperactivity that cannot be rescued by PKG1 stimulation. However, cardiac disease is reduced and survival of heterozygote Tsc2S1365A knock-in mice subjected to the same stress is improved by PKG1 activation or expression of a phosphorylation-mimicking mutation (TSC2(S1365E)). Resting mTORC1activity is not altered in either knock-in model. Therefore, TSC2 phosphorylation is both required and sufficient for PKG1-mediated cardiacprotection against pressure overload. The serine residues identified here provide a genetic tool for bidirectional regulation of the amplitude of stress-stimulated mTORC1 activity.
For a link to the full article, click here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-0895-y
Link to abstract online: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=PKG1-modified+TSC2+regulates+mTORC1+activity+to+counter+adverse+cardiac+stress
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