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A small molecule inhibitor of Rheb selectively targets mTORC1 signaling
Abstract
The small G-protein Rheb activates the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) in response to growth factor signals. mTORC1 is a master regulator of cellular growth and metabolism; aberrant mTORC1 signaling is associated with fibrotic, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, and rare disorders. Point mutations in the Rheb switch II domain impair its ability to activate mTORC1. Here, we report the discovery of a small molecule (NR1) that binds Rheb in the switch II domain and selectively blocks mTORC1 signaling. NR1 potently inhibits mTORC1 driven phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 (S6K1) but does not inhibit phosphorylation of AKT or ERK. In contrast to rapamycin, NR1 does not cause inhibition of mTORC2 upon prolonged treatment. Furthermore, NR1 potently and selectively inhibits mTORC1 in mouse kidney and muscle in vivo. The data presented herein suggest that pharmacological inhibition of Rheb is an effective approach for selective inhibition of mTORC1 with therapeutic potential.
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“mTORC1 is able to phosphorylate its substrates only after allosteric interaction with Rheb-GTP, which activates mTORC1 by promoting the alignment of kinase-site residues 163,164.”
From Targeting the biology of aging with mTOR inhibitors (2023) · cites this paper as [164]
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“One of the best examples of these is the compound is NR1, which binds the mTORC1 activator Rheb and prevents it from allosterically activating mTORC1 164.”
From Targeting the biology of aging with mTOR inhibitors (2023) · cites this paper as [164]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“mTORC1 is able to phosphorylate its substrates only after allosteric interaction with Rheb-GTP, which activates mTORC1 by promoting the alignment of kinase-site residues 163,164.”
From Targeting the biology of aging with mTOR inhibitors (2023) · cites this paper as [164]
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Cites
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PRAS40 is an insulin-regulated inhibitor of the mTORC1 protein kinase
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Self-citationRegulation and function of ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K) within mTOR signalling networks
Magnuson, B., Ekim, B., & Fingar, D. C. (2012) · Biochemical Journal · doi:10.1042/bj20110892 · Cited by 1,015
The CASTOR Proteins Are Arginine Sensors for the mTORC1 Pathway
Chantranupong, L., Scaria, S. M., Saxton, R. A., Gygi, M. P., Shen, K., Wyant, G. A., Wang, T., Harper, J. W., Gygi, S. P., & Sabatini, D. M. (2016) · Cell · doi:10.1016/j.cell.2016.02.035 · Cited by 843
Mechanisms of mTORC1 activation by RHEB and inhibition by PRAS40
Yang, H., Jiang, X., Li, B., Yang, H. J., Miller, M., Yang, A., Dhar, A., & Pavletich, N. P. (2017) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature25023 · Cited by 548
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Metadata
- Authors
- Mahoney, S. J., Narayan, S., Molz, L., Berstler, L. A., Kang, S. A., Vlasuk, G. P., & Saiah, E.
- ORCID
- Mahoney, Sarah J.
- Venue
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2018-02-07
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 1
- ISSN
- 2041-1723
- PMC
- PMC5803267
- Cited by
- 88
- References
- 10
- Language
- en
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