title: Inhibition of mTORC1 by astrin and stress granules prevents apoptosis in cancer cells.
abstract: Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) controls growth and survival in response to metabolic cues. Oxidative stress affects mTORC1 via inhibitory and stimulatory inputs. Whereas downregulation of TSC1-TSC2 activates mTORC1 upon oxidative stress, the molecular mechanism of mTORC1 inhibition remains unknown. Here, we identify astrin as an essential negative mTORC1 regulator in the cellular stress response. Upon stress, astrin inhibits mTORC1 association and recruits the mTORC1 component raptor to stress granules (SGs), thereby preventing mTORC1-hyperactivation-induced apoptosis. In turn, balanced mTORC1 activity enables expression of stress factors. By identifying astrin as a direct molecular link between mTORC1, SG assembly, and the stress response, we establish a unifying model of mTORC1 inhibition and activation upon stress. Importantly, we show that in cancer cells, apoptosis suppression during stress depends on astrin. Being frequently upregulated in tumors, astrin is a potential clinically relevant target to sensitize tumors to apoptosis.
authors: Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany. k.thedieck@umcg.nl
authors: Kathrin
authors: K
authors: Thedieck
authors: Birgit
authors: B
authors: Holzwarth
authors: Mirja Tamara
authors: MT
authors: Prentzell
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Boehlke
authors: Kathrin
authors: K
authors: Kläsener
authors: Stefanie
authors: S
authors: Ruf
authors: Annika Gwendolin
authors: AG
authors: Sonntag
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Maerz
authors: Sushma-Nagaraja
authors: SN
authors: Grellscheid
authors: Elisabeth
authors: E
authors: Kremmer
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Nitschke
authors: E Wolfgang
authors: EW
authors: Kuehn
authors: Johan W
authors: JW
authors: Jonker
authors: Albert K
authors: AK
authors: Groen
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Reth
authors: Michael N
authors: MN
authors: Hall
authors: Ralf
authors: R
authors: Baumeister
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D000076222:Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D000076223:Regulatory-Associated Protein of mTOR; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; C463659:RPTOR protein, human; D000076223:Regulatory-Associated Protein of mTOR; C486663:SPAG5 protein, human; D000076222:Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases