Akt regulates growth by directly phosphorylating Tsc2

Nat Cell Biol. 2002 Sep;4(9):658-65. doi: 10.1038/ncb840.

Abstract

The direct mechanism by which the serine/threonine kinase Akt (also known as protein kinase B (PKB)) regulates cell growth is unknown. Here, we report that Drosophila melanogaster Akt/PKB stimulates growth by phosphorylating the tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (Tsc2) tumour suppressor and inhibiting formation of a Tsc1-Tsc2 complex. We show that Akt/PKB directly phosphorylates Drosophila Tsc2 in vitro at the conserved residues, Ser 924 and Thr 1518. Mutation of these sites renders Tsc2 insensitive to Akt/PKB signalling, increasing the stability of the Tsc1-Tsc2 complex within the cell. Stimulating Akt/PKB signalling in vivo markedly increases cell growth/size, disrupts the Tsc1-Tsc2 complex and disturbs the distinct subcellular localization of Tsc1 and Tsc2. Furthermore, all Akt/PKB growth signals are blocked by expression of a Tsc2 mutant lacking Akt phosphorylation sites. Thus, Tsc2 seems to be the critical target of Akt in mediating growth signals for the insulin signalling pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Division
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster / growth & development
  • Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism
  • Eye / growth & development
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases*
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Subcellular Fractions / metabolism
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 1 Protein
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Insulin
  • Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • TSC1 protein, human
  • TSC2 protein, human
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 1 Protein
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • AKT1 protein, human
  • Akt1 protein, Drosophila
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt