Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein M associates with mTORC2 and regulates muscle differentiation

Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 20:7:41159. doi: 10.1038/srep41159.

Abstract

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays a range of crucial roles in cell survival, growth, proliferation, metabolism, and morphology. However, mTOR forms two distinct complexes, mTOR complex 1 and mTOR complex 2 (mTORC1 and mTORC2), via association with a series of different components; this allows the complexes to execute their wide range of functions. This study explores further the composition of the mTORC2 complex. Utilizing Rictor knock-out cells, immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, a novel Rictor associated protein, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein M (hnRNP M), was identified. The association between hnRNP M and Rictor was verified using recombinant and endogenous protein and the binding site was found to be within aa 1~532 of hnRNP M. The presence of hnRNP M significantly affects phosphorylation of SGK1 S422, but not of Akt S473, PKCα S657 and PKCζ T560. Furthermore, hnRNP M also plays a critical role in muscle differentiation because knock-down of either hnRNP M or Rictor in C2C12 myoblasts reduced differentiation. This decrease is able to be rescued by overexpression SGK S422D in hnRNP M knockdown C2C12 myoblasts. Taken together, we have identified a novel Rictor/mTOR binding molecule, hnRNP M, that allows mTORC2 signaling to phosphorylate SGK1 thus regulating muscle differentiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Line
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group M / chemistry
  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group M / genetics
  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group M / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / chemistry
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Myoblasts / cytology*
  • Myoblasts / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Kinase C-alpha / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase C-alpha / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / chemistry
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Rapamycin-Insensitive Companion of mTOR Protein / genetics*
  • Rapamycin-Insensitive Companion of mTOR Protein / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group M
  • Immediate-Early Proteins
  • Rapamycin-Insensitive Companion of mTOR Protein
  • rictor protein, mouse
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • serum-glucocorticoid regulated kinase
  • Prkca protein, mouse
  • Protein Kinase C-alpha