Nutrient-regulated control of lysosome function by signaling lipid conversion.

Lysosomes serve dual antagonistic functions in cells by mediating anabolic growth signaling and the catabolic turnover of macromolecules. How these janus-faced activities are regulated in response to cellular nutrient status is poorly understood. We show here that lysosome morphology and function are reversibly controlled by a nutrient-regulated signaling lipid switch that triggers the conversion between peripheral motile mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling-active and static mTORC1-inactive degradative lysosomes clustered at the cell center. Starvation-triggered relocalization of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI(4)P)-metabolizing enzymes reshapes the lysosomal surface proteome to facilitate lysosomal proteolysis and to repress mTORC1 signaling. Concomitantly, lysosomal phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI(3)P), which marks motile signaling-active lysosomes in the cell periphery, is erased. Interference with this PI(3)P/PI(4)P lipid switch module impairs the adaptive response of cells to altering nutrient supply. Our data unravel a key function for lysosomal phosphoinositide metabolism in rewiring organellar membrane dynamics in response to cellular nutrient status.

Local synthesis of the phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate lipid drives focal adhesion turnover.

Focal adhesions are multifunctional organelles that couple cell-matrix adhesion to cytoskeletal force transmission and signaling and to steer cell migration and collective cell behavior. Whereas proteomic changes at focal adhesions are well understood, little is known about signaling lipids in focal adhesion dynamics. Through the characterization of cells from mice with a kinase-inactivating point mutation in the class II PI3K-C2ß, we find that generation of the phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4)P2) membrane lipid promotes focal adhesion disassembly in response to changing environmental conditions. We show that reduced growth factor signaling sensed by protein kinase N, an mTORC2 target and effector of RhoA, synergizes with the adhesion disassembly factor DEPDC1B to induce local synthesis of PtdIns(3,4)P2 by PI3K-C2ß. PtdIns(3,4)P2 then promotes turnover of RhoA-dependent stress fibers by recruiting the PtdIns(3,4)P2-dependent RhoA-GTPase-activating protein ARAP3. Our findings uncover a pathway by which cessation of growth factor signaling facilitates cell-matrix adhesion disassembly via a phosphoinositide lipid switch.

Protein kinase N controls a lysosomal lipid switch to facilitate nutrient signalling via mTORC1.

Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase functions in two multiprotein complexes: lysosomal mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTORC2 at the plasma membrane. mTORC1 modulates the cell response to growth factors and nutrients by increasing protein synthesis and cell growth, and repressing the autophagy-lysosomal pathway1-4; however, dysfunction in mTORC1 is implicated in various diseases3,5,6. mTORC1 activity is regulated by phosphoinositide lipids7-10. Class I phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-mediated production of phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate6,11 at the plasma membrane stimulates mTORC1 signalling, while local synthesis of phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate by starvation-induced recruitment of class II PI3K-ß (PI3KC2-ß) to lysosomes represses mTORC1 activity12. How the localization and activity of PI3KC2-ß are regulated by mitogens is unknown. We demonstrate that protein kinase N (PKN) facilitates mTORC1 signalling by repressing PI3KC2-ß-mediated phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate synthesis downstream of mTORC2. Active PKN2 phosphorylates PI3KC2-ß to trigger PI3KC2-ß complex formation with inhibitory 14-3-3 proteins. Conversely, loss of PKN2 or inactivation of its target phosphorylation site in PI3KC2-ß represses nutrient signalling via mTORC1. These results uncover a mechanism that couples mTORC2-dependent activation of PKN2 to the regulation of mTORC1-mediated nutrient signalling by local lipid signals.

Phosphoinositide conversion in endocytosis and the endolysosomal system.

Phosphoinositides (PIs) are phospholipids that perform crucial cell functions, ranging from cell migration and signaling to membrane trafficking, by serving as signposts of compartmental membrane identity. Although phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, 3-phosphate, and 3,5-bisphosphate are commonly considered as hallmarks of the plasma membrane, endosomes, and lysosomes, these compartments contain other functionally important PIs. Here, we review the roles of PIs in different compartments of the endolysosomal system in mammalian cells and discuss the mechanisms that spatiotemporally control PI conversion in endocytosis and endolysosomal membrane dynamics during endosome maturation and sorting. As defective PI conversion underlies human genetic diseases, including inherited myopathies, neurological disorders, and cancer, PI-converting enzymes represent potential targets for drug-based therapies.

A lipid off-switch for mTORC1.

Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a central regulator of metabolism, cell growth and survival. Our finding that local phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate [PI(3,4)P2] synthesis at late endosomes/ lysosomes by class II PI3Kß (PI3KC2ß) represses mTORC1 identifies PI3KC2ß as a pharmacological target for the treatment of diabetes and cancer.

mTORC1 activity repression by late endosomal phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate.

Nutrient sensing by mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) on lysosomes and late endosomes (LyLEs) regulates cell growth. Many factors stimulate mTORC1 activity, including the production of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate [PI(3,4,5)P3] by class I phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3Ks) at the plasma membrane. We investigated mechanisms that repress mTORC1 under conditions of growth factor deprivation. We identified phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate [PI(3,4)P2], synthesized by class II PI3K ß (PI3KC2ß) at LyLEs, as a negative regulator of mTORC1, whereas loss of PI3KC2ß hyperactivated mTORC1. Growth factor deprivation induced the association of PI3KC2ß with the Raptor subunit of mTORC1. Local PI(3,4)P2 synthesis triggered repression of mTORC1 activity through association of Raptor with inhibitory 14-3-3 proteins. These results unravel an unexpected function for local PI(3,4)P2 production in shutting off mTORC1.