Abstract
The tumor suppressor p53 is activated upon genotoxic and oxidative stress and in turn inhibits cell proliferation and growth through induction of specific target genes. Cell growth is positively regulated by mTOR, whose activity is inhibited by the TSC1:TSC2 complex. Although genotoxic stress has been suggested to inhibit mTOR via p53-mediated activation of mTOR inhibitors, the precise mechanism of this link was unknown. We now demonstrate that the products of two p53 target genes, Sestrin1 and Sestrin2, activate the AMP-responsive protein kinase (AMPK) and target it to phosphorylate TSC2 and stimulate its GAP activity, thereby inhibiting mTOR. Correspondingly, Sestrin2-deficient mice fail to inhibit mTOR signaling upon genotoxic challenge. Sestrin1 and Sestrin2 therefore provide an important link between genotoxic stress, p53 and the mTOR signaling pathway.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
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Animals
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Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
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Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
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Cell Line
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Cell Line, Tumor
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DNA Damage
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Humans
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism
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Nuclear Proteins
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Peroxidases
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
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Proteins / genetics
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Proteins / metabolism*
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Signal Transduction*
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Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 1 Protein
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Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*
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Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*
Substances
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Cell Cycle Proteins
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Multienzyme Complexes
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Nuclear Proteins
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Proteins
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Sesn1 protein, mouse
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TSC1 protein, human
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TSC2 protein, human
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Tsc1 protein, mouse
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Tsc2 protein, mouse
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Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 1 Protein
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Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
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Tumor Suppressor Proteins
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Peroxidases
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Sesn2 protein, mouse
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
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AMP-Activated Protein Kinases