FMRP S499 is phosphorylated independent of mTORC1-S6K1 activity

PLoS One. 2014 May 7;9(5):e96956. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096956. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Hyperactive mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is associated with cognitive deficits in several neurological disorders including tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). The phosphorylation of the mRNA-binding protein FMRP reportedly depends on mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) activity via p70 S6 kinase 1 (S6K1). Because this phosphorylation is thought to regulate the translation of messages important for synaptic plasticity, we explored whether FMRP phosphorylation of the S6K1-dependent residue (S499) is altered in TSC and states of dysregulated TSC-mTORC1 signaling. Surprisingly, we found that FMRP S499 phosphorylation was unchanged in heterozygous and conditional Tsc1 knockout mice despite significantly elevated mTORC1-S6K1 activity. Neither up- nor down-regulation of the mTORC1-S6K1 axis in vivo or in vitro had any effect on phospho-FMRP S499 levels. In addition, FMRP S499 phosphorylation was unaltered in S6K1-knockout mice. Collectively, these data strongly suggest that FMRP S499 phosphorylation is independent of mTORC1-S6K1 activity and is not altered in TSC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Multiprotein Complexes / genetics
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism*
  • Neuronal Plasticity / genetics
  • Phosphorylation
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 90-kDa / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Tuberous Sclerosis / genetics*
  • Tuberous Sclerosis / mortality
  • Tuberous Sclerosis / pathology

Substances

  • Fmr1 protein, mouse
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 90-kDa
  • Rps6ka1 protein, mouse
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases