Obestatin stimulates Akt signalling in gastric cancer cells through beta-arrestin-mediated epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation

Endocr Relat Cancer. 2009 Jun;16(2):599-611. doi: 10.1677/ERC-08-0192. Epub 2009 Jan 19.

Abstract

Obestatin was identified as a gut peptide encoded by the ghrelin gene that interacts with the G protein-coupled receptor, GPR39. In this work, a sequential analysis of its transmembrane signalling pathway has been undertaken to characterize the intracellular mechanisms responsible for Akt activation. The results show that Akt activation requires the phosphorylation of T308 in the A-loop by the phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1) and S473 within the HM by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase complex 2 (mTORC2: Rictor, mLST8, mSin1, mTOR kinase) with participation neither of G(i)(/o)-protein nor Gbetagamma dimers. Obestatin induces the association of GPR39/beta-arrestin 1/Src signalling complex resulting in the transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and downstream Akt signalling. Upon administration of obestatin, phosphorylation of mTOR (S2448) and p70S6K1 (T389) rise with a time course that parallels that of Akt activation. Based on the experimental data obtained, a signalling pathway involving a beta-arrestin 1 scaffolding complex and EGFR to activate Akt signalling is proposed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arrestins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Arrestins / genetics
  • Arrestins / metabolism*
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics*
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Ghrelin
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Peptide Hormones / pharmacology*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stomach Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • beta-Arrestin 1
  • beta-Arrestins

Substances

  • ARRB1 protein, human
  • Arrestins
  • Ghrelin
  • Peptide Hormones
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • beta-Arrestin 1
  • beta-Arrestins
  • obestatin, human
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt