New insights into mTOR signaling: mTORC2 and beyond

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Dario R Alessi1, Laura R Pearce, Juan M García-Martínez

  • 1MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD15EH, Scotland, UK. d.r.alessi@dundee.ac.uk

Science Signaling
|April 23, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) regulates cell growth and proliferation. It activates SGK and phosphorylates Akt and PKC isoforms, potentially by influencing kinase or phosphatase activity.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) is a crucial regulator of cell growth and proliferation.
  • mTORC2 influences key signaling pathways involved in cell survival and metabolism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of mTORC2 in cell growth and proliferation.
  • To understand mTORC2's role in the activation of downstream kinases like SGK, Akt, and protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms.

Main Methods:

  • Investigating the effects of mTORC2 on serum glucocorticoid-induced protein kinase (SGK) activation.
  • Analyzing the phosphorylation status of specific serine/threonine sites in Akt and PKC isoforms.
  • Exploring the potential involvement of kinases and phosphatases in mediating mTORC2-dependent phosphorylation.

Main Results:

  • mTORC2 was found to promote the activation of SGK.
  • Constitutive phosphorylation of proline-directed serine or threonine sites in the turn motif of Akt and PKC isoforms was observed.
  • Evidence suggests mTORC2 may regulate this phosphorylation by modulating kinase or phosphatase activity.

Conclusions:

  • mTORC2 plays a significant role in cellular processes through the regulation of SGK, Akt, and PKC.
  • The findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms by which mTORC2 controls cell growth and proliferation.
  • Further research is warranted to fully delineate the kinase-phosphatase interplay in mTORC2 signaling.

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