Spatial coupling of mTOR and autophagy augments secretory phenotypes

M Narita, ARJ Young, S Arakawa, SA Samarajiwa… - Science, 2011 - science.org
M Narita, ARJ Young, S Arakawa, SA Samarajiwa, T Nakashima, S Yoshida, S Hong…
Science, 2011science.org
Protein synthesis and autophagic degradation are regulated in an opposite manner by
mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), whereas under certain conditions it would be
beneficial if they occurred in unison to handle rapid protein turnover. We observed a distinct
cellular compartment at the trans side of the Golgi apparatus, the TOR-autophagy spatial
coupling compartment (TASCC), where (auto) lysosomes and mTOR accumulated during
Ras-induced senescence. mTOR recruitment to the TASCC was amino acid–and Rag …
Protein synthesis and autophagic degradation are regulated in an opposite manner by mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), whereas under certain conditions it would be beneficial if they occurred in unison to handle rapid protein turnover. We observed a distinct cellular compartment at the trans side of the Golgi apparatus, the TOR-autophagy spatial coupling compartment (TASCC), where (auto)lysosomes and mTOR accumulated during Ras-induced senescence. mTOR recruitment to the TASCC was amino acid– and Rag guanosine triphosphatase–dependent, and disruption of mTOR localization to the TASCC suppressed interleukin-6/8 synthesis. TASCC formation was observed during macrophage differentiation and in glomerular podocytes; both displayed increased protein secretion. The spatial coupling of cells’ catabolic and anabolic machinery could augment their respective functions and facilitate the mass synthesis of secretory proteins.
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