Module 3 Flashcards
What are the three primary classes of signals that activate the mTOR pathway?
- Mechanical stress/force
- nutrient/amino acid availability (particularly leucine)
- growth factors (primarily insulin and IGF-1)
These signals are integrated by the mTORC1 protein complex.
What mechanical stimulus activates the mTORC1 pathway during muscle contraction?
Force pulling on the cell membrane
Stretching of the muscle can also contribute.
What is the role of α7β1 integrin in the mTORC1 activation pathway?
Binds to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and recruits focal adhesion kinase (FAK)
This binding leads to FAK activation.
What is the function of Insulin (AKT) in the mTORC1 signaling pathway?
Promotes mTORC1 signaling through disinhibition
AKT inhibits TSC1/2, relieving its inhibition on Rheb.
What activates the hippo (yap/taz) pathway?
- sarcomere sensors
- costameres
costameres are in the ECM and act on the nucleus
What effect does the Hippo pathway have on mTORC1 signaling?
YAP/TAZ promote mTORC1 signaling by suppressing PTEN
This enhances the PI3K/AKT pathway.
What is the relationship between intracellular leucine and GATOR2?
Intracellular leucine relieves the inhibition on GATOR2 by Sestrin2
This allows GATOR2 to activate GATOR1.
How do RagA/B GTPases contribute to mTORC1 activation?
Bind to the mTORC1 complex and promote its translocation to the lysosomal membrane
This is facilitated by their activation from GATOR1.
What stimuli activate the mTORC1 pathway via growth factors?
Binding of insulin and IGF-1 to their receptors
This activates the PI3K/AKT pathway.
Fill in the blank: mTORC1 acts as a central integrator of ________, amino acid availability, and growth factors.
mechanical stimuli
This integration promotes muscle protein synthesis and hypertrophy.
True or False: The Hippo pathway directly promotes the activation of mTORC1.
True
True or False: the yap/taz pathway affects leucine uptake
TRUE! it mediates LAT1 expression, helping with leucine uptake
What does mTORC1 translocate to after activation?
Lysosomal membrane
What does translational efficiency refer to?
Protein synthesis per unit RNA
How does mTOR enhance translational efficiency?
Influencing the initiation and elongation phases of translation
What is the role of p70S6K in protein synthesis?
Phosphorylates ribosomal protein S6 (rpS6)
What is the effect of phosphorylating rpS6?
Enhances translation of mRNAs encoding ribosomal proteins
What happens when mTOR phosphorylates 4EBP1?
Leads to its dissociation from eIF4E
What is eIF4E a component of?
eIF4F complex
What is the role of the eIF4F complex?
Binds to the 5’ cap of mRNA and recruits ribosomes
How does mTOR promote translation initiation?
By freeing eIF4E to form the active eIF4F complex
What is translational capacity determined by?
Total number of ribosomes present in the muscle cell
What is ribosome biogenesis?
Process by which new ribosomes are created
Where does ribosome biogenesis begin?
In the nucleus