Bidirectional transport of amino acids regulates mTOR and autophagy.
Cell
; 136(3): 521-34, 2009 Feb 06.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19203585
ABSTRACT
Amino acids are required for activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase which regulates protein translation, cell growth, and autophagy. Cell surface transporters that allow amino acids to enter the cell and signal to mTOR are unknown. We show that cellular uptake of L-glutamine and its subsequent rapid efflux in the presence of essential amino acids (EAA) is the rate-limiting step that activates mTOR. L-glutamine uptake is regulated by SLC1A5 and loss of SLC1A5 function inhibits cell growth and activates autophagy. The molecular basis for L-glutamine sensitivity is due to SLC7A5/SLC3A2, a bidirectional transporter that regulates the simultaneous efflux of L-glutamine out of cells and transport of L-leucine/EAA into cells. Certain tumor cell lines with high basal cellular levels of L-glutamine bypass the need for L-glutamine uptake and are primed for mTOR activation. Thus, L-glutamine flux regulates mTOR, translation and autophagy to coordinate cell growth and proliferation.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Protein Kinases
/
Autophagy
/
Glutamine
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Cell
Year:
2009
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United kingdom