[PDF][PDF] Multiallelic disruption of the rictor gene in mice reveals that mTOR complex 2 is essential for fetal growth and viability

C Shiota, JT Woo, J Lindner, KD Shelton… - Developmental cell, 2006 - cell.com
C Shiota, JT Woo, J Lindner, KD Shelton, MA Magnuson
Developmental cell, 2006cell.com
The rapamycin-insensitive mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2) has been suggested to play an
important role in growth factor-dependent signaling. To explore this possibility further in a
mammalian model system, we disrupted the expression of rictor, a specific component of
mTORC2, in mice by using a multiallelic gene targeting strategy. Embryos that lack rictor
develop normally until E9. 5, and then exhibit growth arrest and die by E11. 5. Although
placental defects occur in null embryos, an epiblast-specific knockout of rictor only delayed …
Summary
The rapamycin-insensitive mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2) has been suggested to play an important role in growth factor-dependent signaling. To explore this possibility further in a mammalian model system, we disrupted the expression of rictor, a specific component of mTORC2, in mice by using a multiallelic gene targeting strategy. Embryos that lack rictor develop normally until E9.5, and then exhibit growth arrest and die by E11.5. Although placental defects occur in null embryos, an epiblast-specific knockout of rictor only delayed lethality by a few days, thereby suggesting other important roles for this complex in the embryo proper. Analyses of rictor null embryos and fibroblasts indicate that mTORC2 is a primary kinase for Ser473 of Akt/PKB. Rictor null fibroblasts exhibit low proliferation rates, impaired Akt/PKB activity, and diminished metabolic activity. Taken together, these findings indicate that both rictor and mTORC2 are essential for the development of both embryonic and extraembryonic tissues.
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