Cited by 562PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in cancerAutophagy in Disease and TherapyCalcium signaling and nucleotide metabolism

Lysosomal cholesterol activates mTORC1 via an SLC38A9–Niemann-Pick C1 signaling complex

Open access
Castellano, Brian M., Thelen, Ashley M., Moldavski, Ofer, Feltes, McKenna, van der Welle, Reini E. N., Mydock-McGrane, Laurel, Jiang, Xuntian, van Eijkeren, Robert J +7 more·2017·Science

Abstract

The mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) protein kinase is a master growth regulator that becomes activated at the lysosome in response to nutrient cues. Here, we identify cholesterol, an essential building block for cellular growth, as a nutrient input that drives mTORC1 recruitment and activation at the lysosomal surface. The lysosomal transmembrane protein, SLC38A9, is required for mTORC1 activation by cholesterol through conserved cholesterol-responsive motifs. Moreover, SLC38A9 enables mTORC1 activation by cholesterol independently from its arginine-sensing function. Conversely, the Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) protein, which regulates cholesterol export from the lysosome, binds to SLC38A9 and inhibits mTORC1 signaling through its sterol transport function. Thus, lysosomal cholesterol drives mTORC1 activation and growth signaling through the SLC38A9-NPC1 complex.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.aag1417

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  • Comparisons of circulating testosterone between vegans and omnivores have revealed no differences.

    “and comparisons of circulating testosterone between vegans and omnivores have revealed no differences [132].”

    From Nutritional Considerations for the Vegan Athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [132]

  • There is currently no evidence suggesting that vegans are deficient in the fat-soluble vitamins.

    “However, there is currently no evidence suggesting that vegans are deficient in the fat-soluble vitamins, and comparisons of circulating testosterone between vegans and omnivores have revealed no differences [132].”

    From Nutritional Considerations for the Vegan Athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [132]

  • NPC1 has been implicated in cholesterol-dependent signaling to mTORC1 through SLC38A9.

    “Additionally, NPC1 has been implicated in cholesterol-dependent signaling to mTORC1 through SLC38A9 (Castellano et al., 2017)”

    From Signal integration in the (m)TORC1 growth pathway (2018) · cites this paper as Castellano et al., 2017

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Authors
Castellano, B. M., Thelen, A. M., Moldavski, O., Feltes, M., van der Welle, R. E. N., Mydock-McGrane, L., Jiang, X., van Eijkeren, R. J., Davis, O. B., Louie, S. M., Perera, R. M., Covey, D. F., Nomura, D. K., Ory, D. S., & Zoncu, R.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Berkeley (US)
  • Washington University in St. Louis (US)
  • Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
  • University of California, San Francisco (US)
Corresponding author
  • Castellano, Brian M.
  • Thelen, Ashley M.
  • Zoncu, Roberto
Venue
Science
Published
2017-03-24
Volume
355
Issue
6331
Pages
1306-1311
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W2603916465
Cited by
562
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 40 · 2025: 65 · 2024: 57 · 2023: 77 · 2022: 70 · 2021: 63 · 2020: 69 · 2019: 58 · 2018: 41 · 2017: 22
FWCI
21.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • NIH (1DP2CA195761-01)
  • Pew-Stewart Scholarship for Cancer Research
  • Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award
  • Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr. Foundation
  • National Institutes of Health (R01 HL067773)
  • Taylor Family Institute for Innovative Psychiatric Research
  • National Science Foundation (DGE 1106400)
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellow
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in cancer
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Physiology › Calcium signaling and nucleotide metabolism
Keywords
mTORC1, lysosomal cholesterol, SLC38A9, Niemann-Pick C1, lysosomes, sterol transport, nutrient signaling, growth regulation, arginine sensing, protein complexes
MeSH terms
Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1, Animals, Biological Transport, Carrier Proteins, Cholesterol, Cricetulus, Enzyme Activation, Fibroblasts, Humans, Cholesterol, HDL, Lysosomes, Mutation, Nuclear Proteins, Signal Transduction, CHO Cells, Amino Acid Motifs, Amino Acid Transport Systems, Multiprotein Complexes, Mice, HEK293 Cells, TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

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